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AIRS Certification Program
The AIRS Certification Program awards professional credentials
internationally to individuals who successfully complete the
appropriate AIRS Certification Program for information and referral
practitioners. It is an acknowledgment of demonstrated competence in
the field of information and referral.
The AIRS Certification Program is based on established standards
for the field of information and referral. The program identifies
specific competencies and related performance criteria, which
describe the knowledge, skills, attitudes and work-related behaviors
needed by I&R practitioners to successfully execute their duties.
The AIRS Certification Program recognizes the candidate’s work
experience and incorporates documentation of professional
performance in the candidate’s work setting and training the
individual may have received. Certification does not depend
exclusively on academic accomplishment.
The AIRS Certification Program utilizes an examination process
that provides clear, objective guidelines for measuring the
knowledge, skills, attitudes and work-related behaviors of I&R
practitioners. A candidate is first confirmed as eligible to take
the examination according to an assessment of the various criteria
within their application. The examination itself is administered on
a Pass/Fail basis.
A candidate for Certification does not have to be an individual
member of AIRS, an employee of an organizational member of AIRS or a
member of an AIRS affiliate. However, AIRS members and members of
paid affiliates can apply for Certification and Recertification at a
reduced rate as a membership benefit.
AIRS Certifications
The certification package identifies the competencies that I&R
staff must demonstrate in order to perform job-related duties
effectively. For the Principles of the AIRS Certification Program
click here. Individuals who successfully pass the AIRS certification
examination are awarded a certificate, lapel pin and may use the
following credentials after their names:
- CIRS — Certification for I&R Specialists
- CIRS-A — Certification for I&R Specialists in Aging
- CRS — Certification for Resource Specialists
The certification exams are offered year round at sites across
the United States, Canada and at the AIRS Annual Training
Conference. See the "Test Dates" link at the bottom of the page for
listings of exam sites. Keep in mind that this is the official list
of test sites and is always current.
Scheduled Tests
Suggested Study Materials
- For CIRS and CIRS-A
The ABCs of I&R: A Self Study Guide for Information & Referral
Staff, 1998. Available for purchase from AIRS.
Standards for Professional Information & Referral, 2000. Can be
downloaded from AIRS website.
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AIRS Performance Based Competencies for Certification OR AIRS
Performance Based Competencies for Aging Specialty
Certification. Included in application packet, which can be
downloaded from AIRS website.
- For CRS
Same as above, plus:
AIRS/INFO LINE Taxonomy of Human Services. Los Angeles.
Indexing with the AIRS/INFO LINE Taxonomy. Can be downloaded
from AIRS website.
Additional information on certification and these study
materials can be found on the AIRS website at
http://www.airs.org
or by contacting AIRS at 206-632-2477.
Click here to view the AIRS Certification Acknowledgements.
Click here to download the application for applicants that are new,
retaking the exam or recertifying. This application can be used for
both the United States and Canadian certifications. Completed
applications, supporting documentation and payment must arrive at
least 30-days prior to the test date.
Below are a listing of PDFs that contain Certification Required
Readings that MUST be known before sitting for the exam.
Other Certification Information:
Applications, supporting documentation and payment are due in the
AIRS office 30 days prior to an exam.
Daniel Lopez
Certification Coordinator
Alliance of Information & Referral Systems
11240 Waples Mill Rd. Suite 200
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-218-AIRS ext.105
Fax 703-359-7562
danlopez@airs.org
www.airs.org |
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