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The Examination Process

Attaining the CRM designation is based on educational background, professional work experience and successful completion of a six part examination consisting of:

  • Part 1 Management Principles and the Records and Information Management Program
  • Part 2 Records Creation and Use
  • Part 3 Records Systems, Storage and Retrieval
  • Part 4 Records Appraisal, Retention, Protection and Disposition
  • Part 5 Technology, Equipment and Supplies
  • Part 6 Case Studies

Parts 1 to 5 each consist of 100 multiple choice questions. The multiple choice questions for Parts 1-5 are chosen as equally as possible from all parts of the subject matter outline. Part 6 consists of case study problems.

All examination questions are in English. The answers to Part 6 must be written in the English language. The questions in each part are based on fundamental records management practices. Questions are NOT allowed in the test bank if they refer solely to the practices of a specific country, vendor or company.

Taking the Examination

The first five examination parts may be taken in any sequence the candidate desires or a candidate may sit for Parts 1 to 5 of the examination at one time. Part 6 may be taken only after the candidate has passed the first five parts. Candidates may retake any part of the examination as often as necessary, within a five year period.

Examinees are allowed 80 minutes for each part when taking parts 1 to 5 of the examination including 5 minutes of time needed for administrative purposes. Part 6 (Case Studies) has a four hour time period, including 5 minutes of time needed for administrative purposes.

Completion Time Required

All parts of the examination must be passed within a period of five consecutive years. If an applicant fails to do so, the part(s) taken and passed initially must be repeated so that the passing of all parts occurs within a five-consecutive-year period. This period will be five years from the date of approval as a candidate.

Grades

The passing score for each part of the examination is 70%. Candidates taking Parts 1-5 at a Pearson VUE testing sites will receive their exam results immediately upon completion of testing. Part 6 exam answers are graded by a manual process. A Part 6 test score of 60% to 69% is automatically sent to a different set of graders and regraded.

Regrades and Appeals

A candidate who fails Part 6 by less than eight points (63%-69%), and who has a legitimate reason to believe that there was a grading error, may make a written request to appeal the failing grade. Appeal requests must be postmarked within 30 days following the receipt of notification of the failing grade and sent to the Regent-Exam Administration.

The review shall be performed by the Examination Appeals Committee and shall be processed within 80 days following receipt of the appeal by the Committee. Decisions of the Examination Appeals Committee are final. The Appeals Committee does not provide feedback on appeals.

Feedback

Feedback is provided to candidates who are unsuccessful in passing an examination part. The feedback for Parts 1-5 is individualized, providing failed examination question numbers and outline code identification. Feedback for Part 6 will be individualized and unsuccessful candidates will be provided information to tell them how they performed in areas of technical knowledge, writing ability, problem analysis and appropriateness of answer.

Examination Schedule

Examinees are allowed 80 minutes for each part when taking parts 1-5 of the examination. Candidates whose first (or native) language is not English are allowed an extra 20 minutes per exam part. The extra time must be approved in advance by the Regent - Exam Administration. Part 6 (Case Studies) has a four hour time period, exclusive of time needed for administrative purposes.

Examination Parts 1 to 5 -- Major Subjects

Click here for an expanded outline (in Adobe PDF)

Part 1: Management Principles and the Records Management Program

  • A. Principles of Management
  • B. Human Resources/Staffing
  • C. Financial Considerations in a Records Management Program
  • D. Development of Records Management
  • E. Planning a Records Management Program
  • F. Organizing a Records Management Program
  • G. Directing and Controlling a Records Management Program
  • H. Program Implementation Cycle
  • I. Legal Considerations
  • J. Ethics and Ethical Responsibilities
  • K. Global Concerns

Part 2: Records Creation and Use

  • A. Records Creation
  • B. Documentation of Business Transactions
  • C. Correspondence Management
  • D. Documentation of Policies and Procedures
  • E. Forms Management
  • F. Mail Management
  • G. Reports Management
  • H. Reprographics Management
  • I. Document Control
  • J. Legal Compliance

Part 3: Records Systems, Storage, and Retrieval

  • A. Basic Concepts
  • B. Filing Systems
  • C. Information Retrieval
  • D. Active File Systems
  • E. Active Files Operations
  • F. Records Centers Owned and Operated by the Organization
  • G. Commercial Records Centers
  • H. Special Storage Requirements
  • I. File Conversions

Part 4: Records Appraisal, Retention, Protection, and Disposition

  • A. Basic Concepts
  • B. Records Inventory
  • C. Records Appraisal
  • D. Retention Schedules
  • E. Schedule Implementation and Administration
  • F. Vital Records Program
  • G. Business Contingency Planning
  • H. Disposition
  • I. Archives

Part 5: Technology, Equipment & Supplies

  • A. Micrographics
  • B. Reprographics
  • C. Imaging Systems
  • D. Systems
  • E. Records Creation
  • F. Data Management
  • G. Data/Systems Disposition
  • H. Preservation, Recovery and Destruction Techniques