All very compelling points, however as a respectful rebuttal from my very personal perspective ...

I chose not to sit for the CRM exam for many years although I was well qualified as a candidate and had what I felt to be a practical understanding of the craft.  I chose not to sit for the exam because I equated the exam and certification with outdated skills.  It was focused on antiquated technology and overly archaic process that, from my view held little relevance in what I did everyday (a nod to Susan's comment about tweaking principles to fit real life).

I had also met many CRMs over the years who, I'm sorry to say, I felt personified that disconnect.

So, just because you can pass a test doesn't mean your skills remain relevant, even with 

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 25, 2011, at 5:48 PM, Gregg Long <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> To those that have disagreed and believe that taking and passing the test
> makes you "qualified" and therefore the significant lowering of the
> professional experience requirements represents no problem, I put this
> forth. 
> 
> First, there are many people who are excellent test takers. Cram it and pass
> it. It happens all the time. I know significant examples from my own life.
> In schools they call it teaching to the test. As others have said, just
> because you can pass a multiple choice test and write a convincing essay
> doesn't mean you have the skills. 
> 
> Secondly, a generic "BA" does not generally teach the skills or deliver the
> experience that is relative to the knowledge required in today's records
> management environment. So while having a BA is useful to establish a base
> requirement for the promotion of a professional credential in this day and
> age, it is essentially irrelevant to the practice. Now, if it the degree in
> question had relevance to the practice of records and information management
> I could see where this might be practicable. In fact, I'd argue that a
> graduate of a two year degree program in something like Health Information
> Management knows more about records and information management than almost
> all the BA four year liberal arts graduates out there. For comparison, to be
> a lawyer, you must get through law school first prior to taking the Bar.
> Three years of intense schooling directly related to the topic at hand.
> Doctors, medical school and boards, and internships and residency to be a
> real doctor. Accountants, must have an accounting degree to sit for the CPA.
> The key point is that all three of these respected certifications require
> substantial educational achievement in courses directly relating to their
> practice prior to certification. Given the relative scarcity of formal
> college and university based RIM education, this type of requirement would
> not be practical for  the CRM. Which is what made the professional
> experience portion of the CRM so vital. In my opinion the CRM was actually
> better in some ways than these other professional accreditations, precisely
> because it required substantial and varied professional experience, and not
> just education.
> 
> Lowering entrance standards will equal more CRMs with less actual
> experience, which will equal an overall devaluing of the certification. In
> the exact same way that having a BA now means far far less than it did 30 to
> 40 years ago. 
> 
> As a CRM, I am also disappointed that the ICRM did not (to my knowledge) ask
> for comments from CRM's prior to making this decision.
> 
> Gregg M Long JD, CRM
> Information Manager and Contract Administrator
> C.J. Enterprises Inc. 
> 423-899-1770 Ext.-312
> 423-316-5554 Cell
> [log in to unmask]
> 
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