Barb, we can only explain what the founders of the ICRM intended.

It is a wide-spread opinion that completing a college degree has value;
value extending beyond the parameters of the particular discipline; or
major.  Values such as problem solving skills; having the initiative and
ambition to begin something and then sticking to it and completing
something that takes a long time and a lot of effort, socialization,
basic requirements of college course work in writing, composition,
language, math, psychology, history, etc.   The founders of the ICRM,
including Bill Benedon, CRM who is active on this listserv, decided that
a degree was a requirement for sitting for the exams.  They did allow
that extensive professional experience in RIM; extra years of experience
could be substituted for a degree at the discretion of the ICRM
Certification Standards Committee.  That is the team that reviews the
qualifications of applicants to the ICRM.

Most white collar jobs have a college degree requirement.  Some are
specific, especially in engineering, accountancy, etc., most are not. 
Since there have not been RIM degrees widely available in the United
States, any bachelor's degree is acceptable.  The ICRM does require
broad-based professional RIM experience.  I believe Dr. Langemo's
program at North Dakota was the only USA bachelor degree in RIM that I
can remember.  It may have been dropped after Mark retired.

<snip>
The draft by-laws proposed that candidates by examination and review
would be required to have a college degree.  There was some disagreement
on this point.  The U.S. Civil Service standards at that time both for
archivists and analysts permitted the substitution of two years
experience for one year of college, and eight years of professional
experience was considered the equivalent of a degree.  After
considerable discussion, the Board agreed on either a degree or eight
years of professional records management experience as a requirement. 
The Board had no difficulty in agreeing on three years of professional
experience as a prerequisite to take the examinations.  The board also
agreed that the experience had to be gained in multiple areas of records
management, and that clerical work was not qualifying experience.
<snip> 

Best regards, Steve
Steven D. Whitaker, CRM
Records Systems Manager; City of Reno

>>> [log in to unmask] 10/16/2009 3:50 AM >>>
I thank everyone for their input but I think we have gotten away from
my 
original question.   I'm not asking about my own or anyone else's 
eligibility.  I just need some advice on how to explain to a third
party 
that you can have a degree in a completely unrelated field and a few
years 
work experience and be able to apply for certification before someone
who 
has the experience but not the degree.

Everything falls into place if the degree is in a related field
(Business 
Admin, Library Science etc).   It's the "unrelated field" part that
either 
I'm having trouble explaining or the other person is having trouble 
grasping.

Barb


Barbara Wyton
Records Management Specialist
GLAXOSMITHKLINE (Canada)
Direct Line: 905-819-7050
Fax: 905-819-3099
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