Misconceptions about the CIP

Recently I've had a number of people ask a variety of questions about how one goes about getting the CIP. I thought I'd answer those questions here in the interest of clearing up any uncertainty.

The CIP is a formal certification. There are many, many differences between a certificate program, such as AIIM's training programs, and a formal certification. This is a much longer discussion beyond the scope of this post, but there is one that directly applies.

Many certificate programs that offer an assessment make it available in a non-proctored, and frequently online, format. Certification program assessments are proctored as a rule, and while there are a number of ways to conduct the assessment, there is nevertheless a more formalized structure to them.

The only way to get the CIP is to pass the formal certification exam. There are two ways we deliver the exam. First, candidates can schedule an exam at any Kryterion test center around the world. On the appointed date/time, the candidate appears, is placed into an exam station, and takes the exam, by him or herself, and with no additional references or study aids.

Second, AIIM can offer the CIP exam in an onsite proctored model. A group of people takes the exam in the same room, often at the end of an onsite CIP Prep Workshop, and we also do this at the annual AIIM conference. A human proctor is in the room the entire time to make sure individual candidates complete only their own exam and do not attempt to assist or influence any other candidates' exams.

But that's it. Those are the only two ways to earn the CIP certification and designation. The only exception to this in the history of the CIP program was that we made the decision when CIP was launched to grandfather in about 40 subject matter experts that wrote the initial exam. This is not uncommon - why would you test people on the exam you just trusted them to write? But this only happened for the first CIP exam; when we updated it in 2016, we used only CIPs who had passed the original exam to conduct the update. When we update it again in 2019 we will use the same process.

Common questions/misconceptions about CIP
So here are some of the most common questions I've gotten, and my responses to them.

• AIIM can just "give" people the CIP. Categorically not true. A very, very small number of AIIM staff have access to the CIP exam platform and it has a very detailed audit trail, with every candidate's attempts and even every question and response for every candidate. We can't fake it - and wouldn't if we could. Even the AIIM staff that have earned the CIP did it in one of those two ways - by going to a Kryterion test center, or by sitting through an onsite proctored exam. Same thing with those on the AIIM Board of Directors that have earned the CIP. 
• Getting the ERM Master can get you the CIP. There was some confusion around the end of 2015, when there was some concern about the future of CIP. AIIM posted that the CIP had been retired and that all CIPs would be converted to ERM Masters or another AIIM certificate designation of their choice. That decision was rescinded and CIP was updated in 2016, but the misconception still remains - but this is the exact opposite of the misconception.
• Being a CRM or passing Part 5 can get you the CIP. Similarly, AIIM and the ICRM have a partnership wherein CRM candidates that complete the ERM Master Class can submit that in lieu of their Part 5 exam. So there may be some confusion that ERMM leads to, or grants, CIP - it doesn't, it just counts as 1 of the 6 exams required to receive the CRM. At some future date there might be some reciprocity between CIP and the CRA/CRM, but not at present. 
• You have to be an AIIM member to get, or maintain, the CIP. Nope - lots of people have earned the CIP who barely know who AIIM is, but thought that the CIP would provide value (they're right!). And there are a ton of benefits to AIIM membership - I think highly enough of them that I maintain my paid membership despite having been on AIIM's staff for over 7 years. But there is no connection between the two other than discounts on the workshop, the exam, and renewal fees. 
• You have to take the AIIM CIP Prep Course to get the CIP - or - Taking the CIP Prep Course will give you the CIP. Nope and nope. While we offer the CIP prep course, and we'd love to have you take it as part of your preparation, it is absolutely not required. If you do take the course, you need to know that, while it covers everything on the exam, we don't teach to the exam. Rather, we teach the concepts that the exam covers. You also need to know that there's no guarantee that taking the course will ensure you pass the exam. While our results are pretty good historically, ultimately the course is the course and the exam is the exam. 
• You can take the CIP online. While the Kryterion test platform, Webassessor, is technically delivered through the Web, this is not an online exam in the way that certificate programs often are. You can only access the exam by having it launched by a proctor, either at a Kryterion test center or at an AIIM-delivered onsite proctored exam. 
• The CIP doesn't expire. False - you have to maintain the CIP every three years, either by completing continuing education or by retesting. Once that date passes, your CIP is lapsed and you should not use or claim it anymore unless you reinstate. 

Now, here's the Reader's Digest version: The only way to get the CIP is to take a proctored exam. Anyone who has told you otherwise is flat-out wrong - at best.

I welcome any additional questions, thoughts, concerns, or assertions to the contrary at jwilkins@aiim.org.