Accredited status is the IRMS’s mark of professionalism and commitment. It's available to all information professionals, regardless of qualifications, and demonstrates you have reached a prescribed standard of experience and learning.

Accreditation has been developed over the last decade by a subcommittee of academics and practitioners from the private and public sectors to create a rigorous but flexible process. You can choose from a full written application method, or an oral interview method supplemented by a shorter application form.

What are the benefits of accreditation?

IRMS accreditation stands for the highest standards of professionalism and expertise, demonstrating competence and the commitment to keep pace with the profession. The accreditation process provides a way for you reflect on your professional abilities and highlight them to current and future employers.

Benefits of accreditation include:

• The right to use the post-nominal letters AMIRMS. These are a visible indication of your status as an accredited member of a professional association
  
• A job market advantage - employers increasingly state professional accreditation as a requirement in job specifications
  
• Personal professional growth and confidence from both the status and the process of applying
• Developing reflective practice through the process of becoming accredited
  
• A commitment and framework for continued professional development.
  

Why would you not want to be accredited?

Am I eligible for accreditation?

All individual members of the Society are automatically eligible, and you may also apply if your organisation is a corporate member. You must have either five years of experience in the sector or three years of experience and a recognised professional qualification. For more information, please read through the Accreditation Handbook below.

Do I have to be a records manager?
No!  Examples of those who are eligible are records managers, information governance professionals, data protection officers, technologists, archivists, consultants and vendors.

The scheme caters for all information professionals and can accommodate those with a specialism (e.g. SharePoint Consultants or Document Control Specialists) or those whose experience is more generalised (e.g. mostly records management with a bit of Information Governance).

How do I apply for accreditation?

Eligible members can apply either through the submission of a written application or through the completion of a briefer summary application and an oral interview (please see the forms at the bottom of this page), which are typically held as part of an IRMS Group Event day or at the time of the IRMS Annual Conference.

We appreciate that everyone is busy and so the process is designed not to be an onerous one – it takes about the same amount of time as a job application, i.e. the written application should take a few hours to complete, while the oral application method should take an hour or so for completing the form and 45 minutes to an hour for the interview.

Please note, the application forms are only visible to members of the IRMS that are signed in to their online account. If you have any troubles logging in to your account please contact info@irms.org.uk for support. 

What does accreditation cost?

The administration fee is currently suspended so accreditation is FREE at this time. The only ongoing cost is IRMS membership which must be maintained in order to maintain accredited member status.

What help and support is available?

In addition to a comprehensive accreditation handbook and the ability to ask questions by email, you can ask for an ‘Accreditation buddy’ - this will be someone who has already been through the process and is now an accredited member. The accreditation buddy is not a mentor, and it is not obligatory for you to have one, however previous applicants have found them to be very useful.

What happens if I don’t reach the standard?

Where an applicant applies but does not meet the required standard, an action plan and a broad timetable will be agreed for the applicant to follow. An accreditation buddy will also be offered to assist the applicant and help them along the road where required. Essentially, the IRMS will provide you with the support you need to become accredited. You also have the right of appeal to any decisions, the process and form for which is also available below and outlined in the handbook. 

Further information and how to apply

Simply contact the accreditation team (who are themselves accredited members) for more information or review the relevant application form provided below using the guidance in the Handbook. Please ensure you contact the accreditation team before submitting your application in order to use the final version of the application form.