The CIP is an internationally recognized information management certification. It proves you understand that information is a strategic resource — and that you have the ability to protect and utilize information as your organization’s most valuable asset.
We are excited to announce a newly updated CIP exam! As of November 27, 2023, AIIM is offering a new version of the exam, which reflects the skills needed for today’s information professionals.
As our profession is rapidly changing, it’s challenging for many organizational leaders to keep up — and they are relying heavily on certifications as a marker of expertise. Whether you are looking for a promotion, more recognition within your organization, or a new job, earning a certification is more valuable than ever.
AIIM created the CIP to recognize information professionals who have proven they have the skills to protect and manage information and develop organization-wide strategies based on established methodologies and industry best practices. The CIP exam was created by thought leaders in the field of information management based in real-life situations to help CIP credential holders and their organizations stand out in today’s information-driven world
The CIP credential focuses on five critical areas that comprise Intelligent Information Management:
• Creating, capturing, and sharing information
• Extracting intelligence from information
• Digitalizing information-intensive processes
• Automating governance and compliance
Implementing an information management strategy and solution
To obtain a CIP credential, an information management professional must pass a proctored, 100-question exam. The exam is multiple-choice. It is available online and candidates have 120 minutes to complete the exam. A passing score is 60% or higher. Once you have purchased the exam you will be sent an invitation to our Learning Management System where you will find all the details about how to schedule your exam with our proctoring partner.
Why CIP?
The job market for information professionals is expected to grow 16% by 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the US Dept. of Labor. That’s about 48,500 new positions in computer and information systems managers projected each year, on average, over the decade. With information professionals in high demand, earning a CIP will differentiate your skills and dedication to the field.
Organizations that manage their information more effectively enjoy reduced costs, faster time to market, increased revenues and cash flow, and increased business agility.
Organizations around the world have supported their employees in becoming CIPs to cultivate knowledgeable internal champions and leaders. The CIP is an on-ramp for your team to learn best practices and key skills required for managing a robust, sustainable information management program.
For the practitioner, the CIP differentiates you and establishes your credibility as an expert in information management.
"Having the CIP gives my internal customers and partners a certain level of confidence that whatever strategy or solution I propose is based on best practices and experience," explained Hemaben Patel, an ECM Lead for a large international airline.
Optional Dropdown Label:
AIIM worked with industry experts and focus groups to define the body of knowledge necessary for information professionals to be successful in the Intelligent Information Management practice. The CIP exam assesses competency in this body of knowledge.
The exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions on the five domains that comprise Intelligent Information Management:
The exam is available online. It's a proctored experience. Candidates have 120 minutes to complete it. A passing score is 60% or higher.
Once you have purchased the exam you will be sent an invitation to our Learning Management System where you will find all the details about how to schedule your exam with our proctoring partner.
Here is a link to some FAQ about the proctor experience https://support.proctoru.com/hc/en-us/categories/115001818507
The CIP exam was designed to demonstrate the expertise and experience one might acquire over a long career in the Intelligent Information Management Industry. Some have passed the exam with little preparation. Others need a little help.
AIIM has a number of resources available to help professionals at all levels prepare to become a Certified Information Professional:
Recertification helps maintain the integrity of the certification by ensuring that CIPs remain up-to-date on current intelligent information management processes, technologies, and best practices. After earning the CIP, your certified status is good for three years. A few months shy of your activation period expiration, we’ll send you a reminder and a link to recertify.
To maintain your certification, you have two options. You can either retake the CIP exam or submit 60 hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs). The fee is the same for both options; $175.
If you're a CIP with questions on the recertification process, please don't hesitate to email us.
The value of the CIP isn’t limited to the certified individual - it extends to the company that employs him/her. There is true worth to an employer in hiring Certified Information Professionals and developing them internally.
Yes, AIIM offers a 100-question practice exam that covers all of the domains of the real exam and is free to take.
The CIP practice exam will give you a good idea of how ready you are for the breadth of the CIP exam and point out any areas in which you're not as strong. AIIM+ Pro offers a training course for every topic on the CIP exam.
Yes, the CIP Study Guide, available in the AIIM+ Pro library, covers 100% of the content on the CIP exam. We do recommend that candidates also have at least five years of experience, as the exam does require some analysis and application, but everything on the exam is covered in the study guide.
Many organizations use study groups, where each person in the group is responsible for a domain, set of topics, or even just a single topic from the exam. Each person leads a review of their assigned topic in a lunch & learn type format. By spreading it around, everyone learns and teaches in turn. The CIP Study Guide, available in the AIIM+ Pro library, can be used as your source material.
The exam itself has no formal prerequisites, though we recommend candidates have at least five years of broad-based and hands-on information management experience.
The cost of the CIP exam is $350.
The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. Candidates have 120 minutes to complete it.
Candidates must score 60% to pass.
Candidates may take the exam as many times as they need to pass, however, there's a $30 fee for each retake.
The CIP complements the CRM very well. The CRM is a very deep dive into records management practices, but it doesn't cover some of the other aspects of information management that are important. CIP addresses records management as one of many information management functions/processes within an organization and helps to provide a broader contextual picture. Many information professionals hold both the CRM and CIP, as well as other certifications.
IGP focuses more on strategy, planning, analysis, and developing and managing a program, while the CIP is more operational and focused on the tools, processes, and tactics required to execute against a strategy. The two certifications are complementary, and many information professionals earn both.
To maintain your CIP, you have the choice of retaking the CIP exam or submitting 60 CEUs. The price to recertify costs $150 (or $135 for AIIM+ members).
You can submit your CEUs anytime during your three years of certification by filling out the form found here. We recommend that you do this regularly. We'll keep track of your total hours for you.
Here's just a sample of organizations that have invested in getting their teams certified:
Are you next?