Institute of Certified Records Managers
Nuclear Information and Records Specialist (NS) Certification
The Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM) and the Nuclear Information and Records Management Association (NIRMA) established a formal relationship in 1990 to develop an advanced certification. The concept was to develop an advanced industry specific examination module, the nuclear energy industry in this case. From those early steps, 32 Certified Records Managers (CRMs) have achieved the advanced designation of Nuclear Information and Records Specialist (NS), with six currently active. These CRMs are entitled to use the designator ‘CRM/NS’ as a professional indication of advanced certification.
In 2017, ICRM introduced the Certified Records Analyst (CRA) certification, and in 2018 the NIRMA board voted to permit nuclear CRAs to sit for the Nuclear Information and Records Specialist examination to earn the Certified Records Analyst/Nuclear Information and Records Specialist (CRA/NS) certification. There are currently no CRAs with the NS designation.
Any CRM or CRA who is a NIRMA and ICRM member in good standing and who has at least four years of nuclear records experience may apply to sit for the NS examination. NIRMA and ICRM review each candidate application to assure that the prerequisites have been achieved and approved candidates may take the examination. The ICRM administers the 100-question NS examination via online proctored exams through Examity and gives you the freedom and convenience to take your exam when you want and where you want. The application and exam registration are completed in Prolydian.
Upon successful completion of the NS examination, certificates recognizing the candidate’s accomplishment are issued by the ICRM and signed by the presidents of both organizations. For CRM/NSs and CRA/NSs who attend NIRMA’s annual Symposium, the certificates are professionally framed and presented during the annual business meeting.
Nuclear Specialists automatically become members of NIRMA’s Professional Certification Committee, which maintains the examination, including question development and revalidation, maintenance of the study guide, and management of the test bank. There are certification maintenance requirements for NS just as there are for CRM. A person who loses the CRM designation also loses the NS designation. Continued membership in NIRMA is also required to maintain Nuclear Specialist certification.
As noted in the winter 1998 ICRM newsletter, “this is the first and most fully developed industry-wide certification for the ICRM.” Today, the Nuclear Specialist designation is one of three advanced designations sanctioned by the ICRM.