Got Questions?

AIIM understands that different folks have different needs.  That’s why we offer three tiers of membership.  Professional Membership is for individuals who want access to AIIM’s content and member services.  Company Membership is a 10 pack of 10 individual Professional Memberships—so it works great for organizations and/or teams; plus any industry vendor is featured throughout our online Buyers Guide.  Executive Leadership Council is for organizations who want to engage with AIIM’s think tank on the matters regarding the future of information management.  It includes 20 individual professional memberships and two seats at the bi-annual leadership summits.

$169 USD for Professional Membership
$1,500 USD for Company Membership
$12,000 USD for Industry Vendor Companies; $3,000 USD for Industry User Organizations for Executive Leadership Council

Yes, as a member, you definitely get member only pricing.  For training that means 10% off the regular price.  And for conference, up to 20% off depending on when you sign up.  

Discounts are automatically applied when you check out as a member.  

A receipt is immediately emailed to you when you join/renew your membership.  But you’re like family, so if you need another copy, feel free to email us at [email protected] to request a new one.  

First, make sure everyone has an AIIM account.  They can create one in under a minute at www.aiim.org/signup.  Once everyone has a web user account, send us the names of who you would like to have the membership access.  We’ll set that up for you and confirm.  Super Easy!  

$0.  Though our headquarter office is right outside of Washington, DC, AIIM does not have a lobbying branch.  Our goal is purely to help organizations manage their information.

We have your back!  Please email us at [email protected] and let us know what the issue is.  We can also help reset your password or update your email address.

Yes!  And we love that you want to promote your membership with AIIM.  Please email us at [email protected] and we’ll send that over to you.

Fear not, help is at hand. Send an email to both [email protected] and [email protected] explaining you can't login. Someone will help you before 24 hours has passed (and most likely much sooner than that). 

Congratulations on committing to your own professional development. To access your course, login to www.aiim.org using your credentials. Once you are logged in, click My Courses from the Education tab.  You should now be on the learning platform and able to see your course. If you do NOT see your course, please hit refresh or logout and back in. The first login triggers the course to load and sometimes there is a slight delay.

Still not seeing it? Please send an email to [email protected] and someone will get back to you.

We moved to a new learning platform in early 2015. If you earned a designation certificate from AIIM before that time you can view and download a copy on the new system. To find it, login to www.aiim.org using your credentials, then click My Courses (under the Education tab). This will take you the new learning platform. Click the Transcript link in the left navigation column to see your past certificate(s). These are official, but if your course was completed prior to July 1, 2015, and you'd prefer the original, send an email to [email protected].

Be sure to login to your course, so that you see all the course topics. The very last topic has the certificate and logo links. These links unlock after you pass your exam.  Click on each link to open and download it.  If you have any problems, please send an email to [email protected].

Yes, the course content is the same for the online and in-class courses (provided it is the Specialist level - the Master level is only possible in-class at this time). You decide which method is better for your based on your learning style and budget.

Each course consists of 10-15 topics (e.g., How to Demonstrate the Value of an Information Governance Program) – with the last two topics covering the exam and the certificate. Each course topic includes an audio power point presentation (20-40 slides). You can pause, start, stop the slide presentation to view at your own pace.  Each topic also includes a PDF of the slides and speaker notes from the audio power point – which can be downloaded, saved or printed. Many course topics (not all) also have additional resources in PDF file format. Course materials are available for 6 months from the first day you login to access the course.

Each course includes an exam (next to last topic) that you must pass to earn the designation certificate. Your score must be 70% or higher. 

Any browser should be fine when you take your course, but Firefox and Chrome seem to be the least problematic.

All browsers should work. We've tested IE, Chrome and Mozilla and found Mozilla and Chrome to be most consistent and bug free.

We've recently restructured our course levels to simplify and limit confusion. The course levels are: Specialist and Master.

The Specialist courses will cover the main concepts of the program -- the nuts and bolts (how, what). The Specialist level will be available as self-paced  or in-person training. You select the delivery method that best suits your budget and/or learning style.

The Master courses will cover all of the Specialist content and add implementation and case studies content. Because of the case study content and the value of group discussions and collaboration, the Master course is only available in-person at this time.

How much is the CIP exam?

The cost of the CIP exam is $349. AIIM professional members in good standing pay only $285.

How many questions are on the exam?

The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions.

How long is the exam?

The exam is 2 hours (120 minutes).

What is the passing score for the exam?

Candidates must score 60% to pass.

How do I register for the CIP exam?

To register for the CIP exam, go to our exam vendor's registration portal and follow the instructions.

Is the exam available online?

No, the CIP exam is a proctored exam and must be taken at a Kryterion test center.

Where can I take the exam?

You can take the exam at any Kryterion test center. Visit Kryterion to find a list of test centers that are convenient to you.

What are the minimum qualifications to take the CIP exam?

There are no formal minimum qualifications. We do recommend that candidates have 3-5 years of experience in at least one of the domains on the exam.
 
Do I have to be a member of AIIM to take the exam?

No, anyone can take the exam. AIIM Professional members do receive a number of benefits relating to the CIP including discounts on training, the exam fee, and continuing education fees (in addition to many other benefits)..

Do I have to document my experience in the industry?

There is no formal experience requirement in order to take the exam. AIIM does recommend that candidates have 3-5 years of experience in a variety of information-related processes and roles.

Do I have to take a training class to prepare for the CIP exam?

No, there is no requirement to take a training class. A number of CIPs have completed the exam with no formal training, relying on their broad work experience and expertise.
 
I think training will help, where can I take a training class?

AIIM has developed an instructor-led training class. This 4-day class includes a sample exam; select classes also offer an opportunity to take the proctored CIP exam on the last day of the class. You can register for the upcoming CIP prep class here.

Does AIIM offer training in the domains included in the CIP?

The CIP is closely aligned to AIIM’s other training courses, including but not limited to the ECM Specialist, the ERM Specialist, the BPM Specialist, and the Implementation Specialist course. Taking one of those courses will significantly prepare candidates for the relevant section of the exam. For more information on AIIM training courses please visit this page.

Does AIIM offer any other resources to prepare for the CIP?

AIIM has also developed a CIP preparation guide that addresses the areas of the exam. This guide is free for Professional members and $60 for non-members. The study guide is available here.

What happens when I pass the exam?

Congratulations! You can use the CIP designation and logo immediately. You will receive a score report before you leave the test center. Within 4-6 weeks you will also receive an email from AIIM with instructions on how to access your personalized CIP certificate and the CIP logo.
 
If I fail the exam can I take it again?

Yes, candidates can take the exam more than once if necessary.

If I fail the exam can I take it again immediately?

No, there is a built-in waiting period of 14 days before candidates can take the exam again. This is to help protect the integrity of the exam. In the event the candidate fails a second time, the waiting period is 90 days between all subsequent attempts.

If I take the exam again do I have to pay again?

Yes, you have to pay the exam fee each time you take the exam. This is a standard practice with most certifications including the Project Management Institute's PMP, the Institute of Certified Records Managers' CRM, CompTIA's exams, etc.

How many times can I take the exam?

In theory you can take it as many times as needed to pass. But there is a built-in waiting period that prevents candidates from taking it over and over again in an attempt to compromise the integrity of the exam.

Do I have to be a member of AIIM to be/remain a CIP?

No, there is no requirement to join AIIM in order to take the exam, receive the CIP, or maintain the CIP through continuing education units. AIIM Professional Members do enjoy a discount to the continuing education fee (as well as many other benefits).

How often do I have to renew my CIP certification?

Your CIP certification is good for three years from the date you passed the exam. If you wish to maintain your CIP, then you will have to renew it every three years by meeting continuing education credit (CEUs) requirements and paying the renewal fee.
 
Do I have to do continuing education??

To renew this certification, CIPs will either have to take the test again, at their expense, or submit 45 CEUs and the CEU fees as specified here. CIPs who do not complete the CEUs or retest will be decertified once the three years have expired.

What qualifies for continuing education credit?

Attending or developing any content that is educational in nature that addresses one or more of the topic areas of the exam. One continuing education unit (CEU) will be granted for every hour attended or developed/delivered. More details can be found in this form.

How do I submit credits for continuing education credit?

Document your education and proof of attendance using this form. Submit the form to [email protected] or by mail to: 

AIIM
Attn: CIP Recertification
1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1100
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Can I submit work projects for continuing education credit?

We do not offer CEUs for work projects or work-related activities. We recognize the value of this type of work, and the learning that goes along with it, but we do not have a structure in place to evaluate work-related activities.

Do I have to be a member of AIIM to be/remain a CIP?

No, there is no requirement to join AIIM in order to take the exam, receive the CIP, or maintain the CIP through continuing education units. AIIM Professional Members do enjoy a discount to the continuing education fee (as well as many other benefits).

Whilst not quite ComicCon, we do like to think of our participants as superheroes during this 3 day gathering of information management leaders. Stories and experiences are shared in some very unique settings, and in very engaging formats. We pride ourselves on finding forward-thinking speakers and sponsors to provide experiences and education far beyond anything available at a desk. We also guarantee fun, conversations and engagement throughout.

We just love getting out and about to meet our members and fellow information management professionals. We run a selection of local events during the year called AIIM Seminars and visit between 6 and 9 US and Canadian cities. These one day events are open to all, and we run various topics and formats each time. Watch out for the invitations - we want to see you there.

We love getting stamps in our passports, so we definitely like to visit our members outside the US and Canada. We have a fabulous partner who runs the AIIM Forum in the UK that takes place in London. This one day event is packed full of education and conversations. We are looking to expand our events globally, as we know information management is worldwide.

Absolutely, sponsors are a HUGE part of our events, in person, and online. We view our sponsors as partners and value the participation and contribution made to each event. If you are interested, chat with one of our awesome team members.

We live for educating our community, and know that continuing education credits are important to prove you are a lifelong learner. We've got you covered. All our events and webinars come with CEU's appropriate to the hours of your participation. We'll send you a downloadable certificate of attendance right after.

A webinar is an online, 60 minute seminar. You can do this from your desk or enjoy the flexibility of viewing and listening on any mobile device. Webinars are free to attend; and we record them for you to view later, even share with your team. Once you've registered for the webinar, you'll be sent a confirmation email with all the details on how to join.

It's easy. AIIM Market Intelligence industry watch reports, white papers, infographics and other research content can be found and downloaded from www.aiim.org/research.

Certainly, if you’re an AIIM Professional Member you can to download full reports like Industry Watch for free. But, don’t worry if you’re not a member you have access to the Executive Summary versions for free, or can purchase the full report.

Let's spread the word; we are happy to extend free use of the materials in our reports, for internal purposes, provided proper attribution is given with AIIM cited as the source.

We love our statistics and the people who provide them.  The survey results quoted in AIIM reports are collected from individual members of the AIIM community using a web-based tool. Invitations to take the survey are sent via email to a selection of AIIM's 196,000+ registered individuals.

We keep it confidential. AIIM surveys are confidential and your answers will not be passed to any third parties or used for any other purpose. For every response collected, AIIM will make a $1 charitable contribution to an international organization in support of meeting the needs of children.

If you would like more information about sponsorship opportunities, or having AIIM Market Intelligence develop custom content for your organization, you can contact your sales representative to begin the process. If you are not currently working with AIIM and would like to explore how, you can send your inquiry to [email protected] and an AIIM representative will contact you directly.

AIIM Community is where you need to be if you are an information professional who wants to share your knowledge and discuss issues with other information management professionals.

Anyone and everyone can use the community to browse the information and knowledge shared. If you want to participate in the discussions, add comments, or share your knowledge in a blog posting, we want you to be a professional member. 

You can get to the AIIM Community from the AIIM website by clicking on the Community tab or you can go directly to the community at http://community.aiim.org. Your AIIM website username and password are your keys to accessing the community and participating in the discussions.

You can introduce yourself to the community by doing two things. First, review and complete your profile then locate the 'Introduce Yourself' discussion thread and introduce yourself. You are all set! Now, the community will know you! Start a discussion, participate in a discussion or share your knowledge in  a blog posting. Most importantly - Have fun!

Of course! We want you to receive only what you want to receive. Go to your profile. Under 'My Account' there are two things to check. 'Email preferences' and 'Community Notifications'. Under 'Email preferences', you can select they types of emails you want to receive. You can subscribe to digests of the community conversations under the 'Community Notifications' tab. 

Yes! The more groups the merrier! It is easy to start a group. Click on the 'Chapters' tab, you will see the 'Create a new Community' link. Just add the information about your group and Viola! You have a new group in the community! Congratulations!

We are glad you asked! SIGs are our Special Interest Groups. These are virtual groups focused on a specific industry are such as Oil and Gas or Banking/Finance, etc.