Federal Records Management Certification
Certification of Federal Records Management Training
NARA offers an optional certification program for individuals who successfully complete training in Federal records management.
The goals of the NARA certification program are to:
- Raise awareness and improve effectiveness of Federal records management;
- Increase the level of professionalism of those managing Federal records;
- Give Federal records professionals a set of benchmarks to gauge their professional development, and
- Give NARA the ability to better assess the effectiveness of its training program.
Participants may take examinations upon completion of Knowledge Areas Two through Six. Those who successfully pass all five examinations will receive NARA's Certificate of Federal Records Management Training, signed by the Archivist of the United States.
Knowledge Area One is recommended as a foundation course for those seeking certification but is not required to obtain certification.
NARA's Certificate of Federal Records Management Training does not result in the CRM designation as established by the Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM). Please see the Certification FAQs for more information.
Records Management Courses Offered Nationwide
Training is delivered at NARA regional facilities, NARA Washington, DC, area facilities, and other locations across the country. NARA's national training program includes courses in six "Areas of Knowledge" that are relevant to anyone responsible for managing Federal records and comprise NARA's Certificate Program in Federal Records Management. Other courses in the national curriculum include Basic Records Operations, Advanced Electronic Records Management, and three half-day courses targeting program managers, legal counsel, and information technology professionals (see descriptions below). In addition, the training locations nationwide offer focused records management workshops of particular need in their regions.
Participants in NARA's records management courses will receive a comprehensive overview of managing information by performing practical task-oriented, hands-on exercises throughout each course. The courses focus on using records management as a tool for supporting agency business processes. Upon completion of these courses, participants will have the information and skills necessary to perform their records management duties more efficiently and effectively.
These courses are:
- Knowledge Area One - Records Management Overview
- Knowledge Area Two - Creating and Maintaining Agency Business Information
- Knowledge Area Three - Records Scheduling
- Knowledge Area Four - Records Schedule Implementation
- Knowledge Area Five - Asset and Risk Management
- Knowledge Area Six - Records Management Program Development
Browse NARA's course catalog for specific class dates and locations
Specialized Courses
Federal employees who are new to records management or whose jobs entail specific records tasks may learn practical "how to's" in Basic Records Operations. Experienced records professionals can build on the knowledge area certificate courses by focusing on the issues related to electronic records in the Basic and Advanced Electronic Records Management courses.
NARA is also reaching out to other communities in Federal agencies to advise them of their legal obligations for preserving each agency's records and the benefits . NARA's national curriculum offers professional development in records management as it relates to three audiences crucial to the effective and legal handling of Federal records: program managers, information technology staff, and legal counsels. The courses are
- Survival Guide for IT Professionals: Information Assurance and Records Management
- The Case for Records Management: Issues for Federal Legal Counsel
- Recordkeeping: A Program Manager's Survival Guide
Browse NARA's course catalog for specific class dates and locations
Web-based Training
A special one-hour web-based introduction to records management appropriate for all Federal employees is available through the NARA Records Management training site.
Other Courses, Briefings, Workshops, and Tailored Training
In addition, NARA offers topical courses, briefings, and workshops across the country. The specific offerings address e-mail, electronic records, digital imaging, vital records and disaster preparedness. Detailed descriptions and informa . tion about each of these courses are available in NARA's Learn Center
NARA also develops tailored training to meet the particular needs of an agency. Training can be conducted at that agency's location. Pricing for tailored training is dependent upon the amount of customization and development necessary. For more information on agency-specific offerings, please contact your regional NARA representative or place your request through nara.recordsmgttraining@nara.gov.
Courses are open to all Federal employees, Federal contractors, and employees of state and local governments and international institutions. It is important that non-Federal participants understand that information provided in NARA's records management classes is based on relevant Federal laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
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