I'll take up that challenge!

The AIIM Certificates are NOT the equivalent of the CRM exam. But they
aren't necessarily designed to be. 

AIIM has indicated that there will be ongoing continuing education
requirements and that the certificate will only be valid for a set period -
I believe 5 years. But that framework is not in place yet. 

There are a number of other things that have to be put in place to make the
AIIM Certificate Programs meaningful as certifications, including the
proctoring of the exam, a mechanism for updating the exam and the respective
job tasks and domains, and that formal continuing education framework. AIIM
is aware of these requirements, specifically as outlined by NCC (the
certification regime under which the CRM is accredited), NOCA, and ISO
17024. I fully expect that AIIM will turn the Certificate Programs into
certifications at some point but it will be in strict conformance with one
or more of those accreditation regimes, at which point functionally the
programs WILL be the equivalent of the CRM exam. 

Peter is correct, many employers don't understand the difference. Many in
our industry don't either. But by the same token, many in the industry
perceive that the CRM exam is still all about forms management, repro
management, mailroom management, and paper records management. Rightly or
wrongly, that *perception* remains. So some folks who have taken the AIIM
certificates, more than 4,200 to date, are pushing their employers to
recognize the AIIM certs as something that is more directly relevant. 

The key to responding to that perception is not to tear down the AIIM
programs - and I know that's NOT what Peter is doing here - but rather to
promote the good things about the CRM program and to ensure that it is as
up-to-date as possible. Electronic testing is a very good start. Updating to
reduce the amount of mailroom and repro management and to add some of the
challenges electronic records provide is another good start. Marketing the
CRM exam (as was done in this month's IMJ) is also helpful. And the ICRM
will probably need to start thinking about what the world looks like with
two RM-related certifications and how to effectively compete against the
AIIM certifications without alienating those who have completed them. 

Jesse Wilkins
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