Having just completed the AIIIM ERM masters certificate and writing part 6 
of the CRM next month I thought I would throw caution to the wind and 
comment on this.

AIIM certificate program
I probably would not have paid for this personally, had I not won this at 
the Canadian ARMA conference a few years ago.  Having said that though, 
this was a good course and there are different levels that  AIIM 
provides.....all of which can be very confusing.  There are one or two day 
programs which provide a certificate at the end.  Basically, it says you 
attended.  With the masters certificate in records management or content 
management, you write an exam at the end of the course (similar to part 1 
-5 of the CRM) and then you write a case study (similar to part 6 of the 
CRM).  After going through this I would have to say that the course itself 
would not be enough to pass (70%) the case study.  You would have use your 
experience together with what was learned in the classroom.   Granted you 
are given 3 months to write the case study with your notes in hand.  I 
would recommend one of these if your organization is contemplating the 
EDRMS route.

Personally, I was surprised at how difficult the case study was.  I must 
have spend close to 25 hours writing it and am proud in attaining this.

CRM 
I knew this was going to be hard and it was.  Hence, only about 1000 CRM's 
worldwide.   Without the experience I have gained in over 20 years in RIM, 
together with getting back to the books I would not have passed 1 - 5. 
Some were very easy to pass and required little studying on my behalf, 
However, I found part 1 to be difficult.  Others in my CRM study group 
found part 1 easy but struggled with other parts.  For the CRM, you need 
to qualify with either experience or education.  I found the CRM was a 
much broader program whereas the ERM programs covered electronic records 
to a greater extent.

Between the two, the CRM is no doubt much harder to qualify for and to 
attain.  The true test for me will be next month when I write part 6 with 
the experience I have learned in the workplace and the studying done.

I wouldn't discount the educational content and importance of the AIIM 
masters program.  Both (AIIM and CRM) are important and have a role in our 
learning curve.  As Stephen has said, its all about learning 

John Annunziello, ermm
Manager, Records and Information 
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
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"Information is a corporate, strategic asset that needs to be managed"

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