Do you want to earn your seat at the table for your organization’s important strategic discussions? Maybe you’re going for that next promotion and looking to round out your skillset. You might even just want to prove to yourself that you have what it takes to be among the industry’s elite. There's a multitude of reasons why you may be interested in the Certified Information Professional certification.
No matter the reason, one of the many questions you may have on your mind is how much it costs to get certified. With in-person vs. online testing, an array of options to prepare, and special discounts and free materials for AIIM+ members, it can easily become confusing.
At AIIM, we've helped thousands of people get CIP certified. Our goal with this article is to walk you through the costs of this exam so that you can make an informed decision on which is the right path for you.
Are you ready for the CIP exam now? Which test domains are you strongest in? Which domains do you need the most improvement in?
Did you answer these questions with a resounding “…umm…” Of course you did, because in a way, those were trick questions. How are you supposed to measure your readiness for a test that you’ve likely never seen before?
That’s where the CIP Practice Exam comes in. This 100-question exam is available for free to anyone interested in taking it. We recommend that no matter which path you take to earn your CIP, that you start here. Taking this practice exam will help you answer the important questions above and determine which path to certification is right for you.
The key is to select the appropriate path based on the FIRST time you take the practice exam. It's the same 100 questions, so if you take it 15(!) times, your practice exam scores *will* go up. Our experience has been that in the absence of any other preparation, the first time candidates take the practice exam, their scores are really close to what they get on the actual exam.
Once you’ve determined your level of readiness through the CIP Practice Exam, it’s time to choose your path to certification. Below, we’ve outlined some of the different paths you can take towards earning your CIP, the costs associated, and some other considerations.
This is the most direct path to certification, but also the most challenging. The CIP exam was designed to demonstrate the expertise and experience one might acquire over a long career in the Intelligent Information Management Industry. For this group, they might be able to pass the exam with little to no preparation.
This path is great for anyone who did well on the practice exam, but would still like some additional information to help them study and become more confident in their knowledge. This path includes AIIM’s CIP Study Guide, which will teach you about the foundations of Intelligent Information Management by exploring the five domains covered on the CIP exam.
For those that need the most help, this is the best option. Join AIIM+ Pro to get on-demand access to AIIM's entire training course library. These training courses cover the entire body of knowledge (all five domains) that makes up the CIP exam in great detail.
For those nervous about taking the exam or who did poorly on the practice exam, this path is the perfect way to become more confident and prepare for the exam.
Which path is best for you? Again, we recommend that you start your path with the FREE 100-question CIP Practice Exam to assess your personal readiness. Then, give the options outlined in this post another look and see which path makes the most sense for you.
From one CIP to a future CIP - Whatever path you choose, good luck!