Academy Frequently Asked Questions

What courses does The Charles MacPherson Academy offer?

Click here to review our current course offerings. To receive Academy updates and be the first to know about upcoming courses, sign up here.

How do I register for courses? Are there any course prerequisites?

We encourage you to review the courses offered and click on the appropriate links to enroll in the specific course you’re interested in. The application process and course prerequisites if applicable are listed for each course.

Do I have to work in Private Service to take courses?

While our professional development courses are designed with private service professionals in mind, there are many components of our courses that you may find value in. If you are considering attending one of our courses but are unsure if it applies to you, please email academy@charlesmacpherson.com, and we will be in touch shortly.

Where can I find out the price of your courses?

Please review the course overview for pricing details.

How many people are in attendance at each course?

The number of spaces available in our professional development courses corresponds with the subject matter and method of delivery. Outside of our lecture series, class sizes are intentionally kept small to ensure quality of program delivery. If a course is full, please add your name to the wait list.

 Why does the course note that the location is “to be announced”?

Our goal is to offer courses in major cities across North America to best accommodate those who would like to attend. The exact location of our courses will be released no later than 30 days in advance of the course start date. Unless stated otherwise, our courses will be delivered in a central area of the city that is easily accessible by multiple modes of transportation.

I can no longer attend the course I registered for, can I get a refund or can someone else attend the course in my absence?

Registration for courses delivered by The Charles MacPherson Academy are non-refundable. Those who attend the course must be registered a minimum of 24-hours prior to the start time.

If you are no longer able to attend a course you have already registered for but would like someone else to attend in your absence, please email academy@charlesmacpherson.com with your request and we will be in touch shortly.

What do I need to bring with me to the course?

We recommend bringing a notebook and pen if you would like to take notes during the course. In order to stay fully engaged, and for the benefit of fellow attendees, we ask that you refrain from taking notes on a laptop or other digital device. Photographing, videotaping, or any other means of recording a course is not permitted.

Is there a dress code?

The dress code is business casual, unless otherwise specified in the course overview. Please keep in mind that temperatures fluctuate in meeting rooms, so we recommend dressing in layers.

What other courses will be offered in the future?

The courses offered by The Charles MacPherson Academy will evolve over time. If you are interested in a particular topic that is not covered in one of the courses offered, please email academy@charlesmacpherson.com.

Click here to receive Academy updates and be the first to know about upcoming courses.

Are any courses available online?

Currently, all of our courses are delivered in an interactive, in-person setting.

When will the next round of courses be released?

The best way to stay apprised of upcoming programming is to subscribe to The Charles MacPherson Academy updates. Click here to sign-up and be the first to know about upcoming courses.

Who will be delivering these courses?

The Charles MacPherson Academy has a number of qualified instructors with working experience in private service and/or hospitality who are experts in their particular field of work. Our core team of instructors include Charles MacPherson himself and Senior Associate, Andrew Gayman. From time to time, the Academy partners with guest instructors based on their subject matter expertise. Our goal is to convene the industry’s best to teach today’s private service professionals.

What will I receive after completing a course?

Should you require written acknowledgement that you attended one of our professional development courses, please email academy@charlesmacpherson.com with your request.

Why is the 4-week Household Management program no longer offered?

Our goal is to provide more access to continued education and professional development opportunities for a wider range of private service professionals. Executing on this goal required us to re-envision how we deliver programming, which resulted in our shift to offering courses in more condensed timeframes, more frequently, in Toronto and in cities across North America. We believe increasing accessibility to our programming will result in a brighter future for private service professionals and for the growth of the industry overall.

Will the 4-week Household Management Program be offered again?

The Charles MacPherson Academy is focused on delivering professional development courses in more condensed timeframes, more frequently, in Toronto and in cities across North America. There are no plans to offer the 4-week Household Management Program at this time.

Is my Household Management certification from The Charles MacPherson Academy still valid?

While The Charles MacPherson Academy is no longer offering the 4-week Household Management Program, we stand behind our graduates and uphold their certification. Should your employer or prospective employer require verification of your graduation, please email academy@charlesmacpherson.com.

I am a graduate of the 4-week Household Management Program, which courses apply to me?

It depends on what you’re looking to accomplish. We’re huge proponents of continuous improvement and know the value of learning in a classroom full of your peers. That said, if you are a graduate of our former 4-week Household Management Program, we encourage you to speak with a member of our team prior to registering for our courses. Please email academy@charlesmacpherson.com or complete a contact form, and we will be in touch shortly.

I would like to speak with someone about a course, who should I contact?

We would love to hear from you! To speak with a member of our team about a course, please email academy@charlesmacpherson.com , and we’ll be in touch shortly.

Is private training an option?

Charles MacPherson Associates (CMA) offers private in-home training for private service professionals and household consultation and advisory for employers. For more information on these offerings, please email academy@charlesmacpherson.com, and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.