Eligibility Criteria
Candidates applying for the 'RMA-Credit Risk Certified' examination should be banking professionals with at least five years of credit risk experience. The candidate should be familiar with:
- Evaluating a client's industry, markets, and competitors.
- Assessing a client's management ability.
- Completing accurate, ongoing, and timely client financial assessments.
- Assessing the strength and quality of client/sponsor cash flow.
- Evaluating collateral values, including collateral inspections.
- Identifying repayment sources, and structuring and documenting credit exposures.
- Dealing with problem loans and actions.
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Submitting the Application
All examination candidates must apply by the deadline listed in the examination schedule below. The examination fee will be due with the application.
RMA-CRC Online Examination Enrollment
Calculate the required fees carefully (see fee schedule below). Full payment—by credit card only—must be submitted at the time of registration. Applications must be completed and submitted online. Online registration is accessible only during the open enrollment period.
Applications cannot be submitted after the deadline. If you miss an application deadline, you must wait until the application process begins for the next testing window. Refer to the application deadlines section.
RMA will process your application within 10–14 business days of receipt. Within three weeks of receiving your application, RMA will notify you of the results.
RMA will e-mail the results of your application review. If you are accepted, you will receive information on accessing the Body of Knowledge study material and the Web-based practice exam. You will also receive an 'Authorization to Test' letter. If you do not receive the letter within three weeks of your application date, contact RMA immediately at 215-446-4013. It is your responsibility to ensure that the e-mail and mailing information you provide on your application is accurate and that your system can accept e-mail from RMA.
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Submissions* |
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Transfer/ |
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Opens |
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Deferral |
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Requests |
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October 1– November 30, 2009 |
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November 1, 2008 and June 1, 2009 |
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January 31, 2009 and August 31, 2009 |
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September 25, 2009 |
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November 23, 2009 |
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March 1–April 30, 2010 |
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June 1, 2009 and November 3, 2009 |
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September 5, 2009 and February 2, 2010 |
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February 26, 2010 |
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April 23, 2010 |
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* Applications submitted after the deadline will be deferred to the next exam window.
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| Schedule of Examination Fees |
| Application and examination Fee |
| Member: |
$495 |
| Nonmember: |
$695 |
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Schedule of Other Fees (Fees are subject to change.)
| Annual Membership fee |
See membership information for dues categories |
To retain your certification you must continue your RMA membership in one of the following four categories: 1) continue your Associate membership through an RMA member institution; 2) continue your Professional membership; 3) continue your Certification Associate membership if you are from a nonmember institution; or 4) continue your Continuing Associate membership if you are from a nonmember institution.
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| Change fee |
$150 |
The change fee will be assessed for all changes, including:
- Transferring to the next exam window. This amount must be remitted with the Transfer Request Form. All money paid with the original application are held by RMA.
- Canceling within two business days prior to the exam date and not rescheduling within the same exam window. This amount is withheld from the exam payment. The remainder will be refunded.
- Canceling one or more months before the first exam day of the scheduled testing window. This amount is withheld from the fee paid; the remainder will be refunded.
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| Re-take fee |
$250 |
A one-time re-take fee will be assessed in order to take the exam a second time. The Re-examination Registration Form must be completed as well. Currently this form is a PDF that must be downloaded.
Taking the exam beyond a second time will require payment of the exam fee, which is based on member/nonmember status. The fee will be collected when a new application is completed.
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| No-show fee |
Entire paid exam fee |
This fee applies to those who do not show up for the exam or those who arrive less than 30 minutes before the exam.
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| Practice exam fee |
$25 (Member)
$40 (Nonmember) |
Qualified accepted candidates will have this fee waived for their first practice exam. Thereafter the fee will be assessed.
Those not scheduled for the exam will be assessed this fee. The fee will be collected online by RMA at the time of the exam.
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| Recertification fee |
$100 per cycle |
Fee assessed when Recertification Application Form is submitted. This fee is paid every three years based on the certificant's recertification cycle.
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| RMA-CRC Strategic Test Taking Concepts Web Sessions – Member price |
| $ 50 |
Per session. |
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Authorization to Test
The Authorization-to-Test (ATT) information is included in the document you use to contact the Pearson VUE testing center to schedule your examination. The information in this document—which has been sent to Pearson VUE—will confirm the examination availability dates and the contact information for the Pearson VUE Call Center. It will also contain instructions for scheduling and taking the examination.
The exam is offered at Pearson VUE Professional Centers (200 locations in the United States and its territories and over 115 Pearson VUE Authorized Testing Centers in Canada).
To avoid disappointment, you are encouraged to contact Pearson VUE as soon as possible to obtain your first choice of testing centers and times. Pearson VUE offers examinations for many clients.
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Scheduling Your Examination Appointment
Verify all your personal data. Pay particular attention to your name and address. If you have any questions or concerns, or need to make edits to your personal information, call a RMA-CRC Certification Specialist at 800-677-7621 or 215-446-4013 prior to making your exam appointment. It is critical that your personal data matches the form of identification you will be presenting at the testing center. If it does not match exactly, you may not be permitted to take the exam.
The name on the ATT letter is the name that will be used for verifying your identification, for your results report, and for your certificate.
To schedule your exam, call the Pearson VUE Call Center at 877-378-8378 or log on to the Pearson VUE website, www.pearsonvue.com/rma. Be sure to schedule your exam several weeks before your desired date to avoid disappointment. Pearson VUE Call Center hours are outlined on the ATT page.
To complete the scheduling process, you will be asked for the examination identification number (or name) and the Candidate ID number. Identify the test as the RMA-Credit Risk Certified examination. Refer to the specific exam number found in your ATT information.
Your information listed on the ATT page was sent to Pearson VUE. If you change anything, such as your last name, address, or phone number, be sure to contact the RMA-CRC Certification Specialist at 800-677-7621 or 215-446-4013. Your updated information must be available at the testing center when you take the exam.
You will be given a confirmation number when you schedule your exam with Pearson VUE. Record this number and take it with you to the testing center. You will receive a confirmation letter from Pearson VUE by e-mail within 48 hours (if you have provided an e-mail address). The confirmation letter will state the date, time, and testing center of your scheduled appointment, along with driving directions. If you do not receive this e-mail, contact Pearson VUE immediately at 877-378-8378. Be sure to take your Pearson VUE confirmation material to the exam.
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The Examination Format
The 126 (130 on the Canadian Exam) multiple-choice questions are from topic areas derived from the seven dimensions of the credit risk field as defined by RMA's Certification Steering Committee.
The exam has been designed to assess the knowledge of a commercial credit risk professional with a minimum of three years' active credit risk experience.
RMA's certification examination is a computer-based, 126-question (130 on the Canadian Exam) multiple-choice exam. The exam is composed of stand-alone questions, short scenarios (stories) followed by up to four questions, and long scenarios (stories) followed by up to 10 questions. Financial statements accompany the long scenarios. The entire exam is based on the concepts and experiences related to the credit risk field.
At the test center, before taking the actual exam, you will be offered a 15-minute computer tutorial and briefing. This is presented to familiarize you with computer-based exam procedures and the tabs you can use to access cash flow terms, ratios, and the on-screen calculator. Since no additional examination time is allocated to learn the computer, it is recommended that all applicants take the tutorial.
The total seat time in the examination room will be five hours (for the exam) including 15 minutes (for the tutorial). No additional time is provided.
If you wish, you can raise your hand and request a break. Please be aware, however, that the clock will continue to run during the break.
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Examination Results Notification
RMA will send results letters by U.S. mail approximately 30 working days after the close of the examination window. Questions concerning the results should be directed to the RMA-CRC Certification Specialist at 800-677-7621 or 215-446-4013.
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Special Examination Accommodations
In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act as amended, (in Canada the Employment Equity Act, Canada) candidates with disabilities who require special arrangements at the exam site will be accommodated. Auxiliary services will be provided if they do not alter the exam or result in an unreasonable burden.
Candidates with documented disabilities that would prohibit them from taking the exam under standard conditions may request special examination accommodations. Complete the Special Accommodation Form and fax to 215-446-4100. This form must be completed and either mailed or faxed to RMA, along with your supporting documentation. See the RMA contact information below.
A Special Accommodation Form must be printed and either mailed or faxed to the RMA Certification Specialist along with the completed RMA-CRC Disability-related Needs Form. All specific requirements must be noted on this Special Accommodation Form. Check the RMA-CRC Certification website for the status of your special accommodation request.
If the request for special accommodations is approved, the Certification website will list the authorization-to-test (ATT) information noting the approved accommodation. For further ATT details, see the ATT section. There is no additional fee for this service.
Accommodations at the test site will be made to provide the special-needs candidate an environment equal to the testing environment of all other candidates.
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Examination Extensions
You may re-take the exam if you do not obtain a passing score. RMA provides this option at a reduced fee. The reduced-fee option can be exercised one time only in the next testing window (see schedule above). Should you wish to take the exam a second time, complete the RMA-CRC Re-examination Registration Form and fax the form to the RMA-CRC Certification Specialist at 215-446-4013. Refer to the fee schedule for the re-take fee. If you wish to re-take the exam beyond your second attempt, you must submit a new application and pay the full examination fee in effect at the time. The fee is based on your member/nonmember status.
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Examination Cancellation, Rescheduling, No-Shows
A change fee will be assessed for cancellations, any reschedulings, refunds, no-shows, and transfers.
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Changes for cancellation (two-step process)
Step 1
All cancellations or reschedulings of the exam must be made by noon (12 p.m. Central Standard Time) within two business days prior to the scheduled exam date by calling Pearson VUE at 877-378-8378. For example, to cancel an exam scheduled for Friday, you must notify the exam administrator by noon (C.S.T.) on the Wednesday before the scheduled exam. Do not call the testing center and do not call RMA. A call to Pearson VUE at 877-378-8378 is the only cancellation procedure that will be accepted. Any other point of contact is unacceptable and will result in forfeiture of the full examination fee. The candidate who does not follow this procedure has forfeited the exam date and all fees and must submit a new application with full application payment. (Note: Candidates from outside North America must cancel or reschedule seven calendar days in advance.)
Step 2
The second step is to complete an RMA-CRC Cancellation Form. If RMA approves the request, the change fee will be deducted from the examination fee you paid and the remainder will be refunded. Refer to the fee schedule for the change fee.
Changes for no-shows
If you do not cancel and do not show up to take the exam, you will be assessed a no-show fee (see the fee schedule). If you miss your appointment, cancel too late, or arrive too late (less than 30 minutes before your scheduled exam appointment) you will be considered a no-show and will not be allowed to reschedule your exam within the current testing window. In addition, you will forfeit your entire examination fee. If you wish to take the examination during the next exam cycle, you must remit the change fee in effect at the time you make the change.
Changes for rescheduling
Rescheduling to another testing window is treated as a cancellation. See the cancellation policy above for the rescheduling process.
Changes for transferring examination dates to another testing window (two-step process)
Step 1
Transfers are allowed once and must be completed at least two weeks before your scheduled exam date. If two weeks' notice is not received, the request may be denied. The transfer is permitted only within the current testing window. Candidates must call Pearson VUE at 877-378-8378 to cancel or reschedule.
Do not call the testing center and do not call RMA. A call to Pearson VUE is the only transfer procedure that will be accepted. Any other point of contact is unacceptable and will result in forfeiture of the full examination fee.
The candidate who does not follow this procedure has forfeited the exam date and all fees. A new application must be submitted with full application payment. (Note: Candidates from outside North America must cancel or reschedule seven calendar days in advance.)
Step 2
The second step is to complete and submit the RMA-CRC Transfer Request Form by the transfer deadline. Refer to the fee schedule for the change fee that must be included with the request form. A transfer to other than the next testing window is considered rescheduling/canceling, not a transfer. Refer to the cancellation procedures.
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Special Circumstances
Requests for exam rescheduling due to special circumstances (i.e., medical emergencies, birth or death of an immediate family member) must be submitted in writing along with official medical documentation. Send this request to the RMA Certification Specialist, 1801 Market Street, Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA. RMA recommends you contact the RMA-CRC Certification Specialist, at 800-677-7621 or 215-446-4013, as soon as the emergency is identified but no later than 72 hours after the scheduled examination date. The Certification Specialist will review all requests on an individual basis. All responses from RMA will be in writing and sent through the U.S. mail. If approved, the deferral will be to the next testing window. If you do not take the exam in the approved testing window, you must begin the application process again by submitting a new application and the full fee.
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Substitutions
No substitutes are permitted for the RMA-Credit Risk Certified examination. A substitution of one candidate for another is considered a cancellation. The person who wishes to take the exam must submit an examination application.
Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)