FAQs
General FAQ's
Why have a certification in CISM? The answer is simple…
In the 16th Century, Bacon is said to have written , “KNOWLEDGE is power.”
We agree. The ICISF/UMBC Certification is a certification of KNOWLEDGE relevant to CISM and crisis intervention. The goal is to motivate and EMPOWER scholars and practitioners to advance their inquiries and their practice by proliferating the nature, strengths, and weaknesses of this field. Thus we seek to increase the acquisition and expression of KNOWLEDGE relevant to CISM and crisis intervention.
No! The ICISF/UMBC Certification is currently a certification of KNOWLEDGE only. Nevertheless the certification can certainly serve as the knowledge foundation for a standard of practice.
Yes. A certificant can certainly indicate on a CV or resume the successful completion of the CISM Certification Exam.
The certificant can also use the initials CCISM after his or her name to indicate certification.
Yes. The EXAM is “open book.” That means the person taking the exam can use whatever published CISM resources that are available. You should also take or have completed the Assisting Individual in Crisis and Group Crisis Intervention course pre requisite however it is not mandatory. You can use books, journal articles, study guides, audio and video publications can all be used as resources to assist the person in answering the EXAM questions.
No. Open book exams are frequently given in colleges and universities. Remember the goal of the exam is to promote the acquisition and expression of knowledge. The ability to acquire and transfer such knowledge is associated with understanding. Thus, the EXAM is conceived of not only as a test of understanding, but an exercise in learning, as well.
The EXAM is taken on the “honor system.” The person taking the EXAM attests to the fact the he or she is indeed the person taking the exam and is doing so without the help of anyone else. Failure to attend to the “honor system” would be in violation of most professional codes of conduct and ethical guidelines.
No. You will only receive a PASS or a FAIL for each of the two exams (Individual & Group). If you fail one or both of the exams, you will be able to retake the exam(s) you failed. In other words, if you pass one exam but fail the other, the exam passed does NOT have to be repeated along with the exam failed.
Yes you can stop and pick up where you left off however you have to complete the exam within 30 days from the date that you started.
If you provided payment through the old platform between July 6, 2022-July 6, 2023, please reach out to us at [email protected] for additional information. Otherwise, you will have to provide payment and restart the registration process
If you logged into the original exam platform and started the exam but did not complete it by June 23, then you will have to start the exam from the beginning in the new platform after July 6, 2023.
CCISM Certification of Knowledge Exam
The Assisting Individuals in Crisis and Group Crisis Intervention are prerequisites prior to taking the CCISM Certification Exam.
The Exam consists of 150 closed end questions (True-False and multiple choice) randomly generated by the computer from a large bank of questions. There are two sections on the EXAM: Individual Crisis Intervention and Group Crisis Intervention. You must achieve a minimum correct score of 65% or higher in BOTH sections in order to be awarded the CERTIFICATE.
After you register there are no requirements for when you start the exam. Once you have started it, you have to complete it within 30 days from the start. The Certification of knowledge Exam typically takes around 2 hours to complete.
CCISM Certification is good for 5 years. At the end of that period you would take a small, re-certification exam based on current CISM topics and resources. In this manner, individuals are encouraged to stay current with the field.
We have transitioned to a NEW exam platform and we feel 30 days is an adequate amount of time to complete the certification exam.
No not as long as you completed the recertification exam and received a certificate in the original platform.
If you fail the exam on the first try you may take the EXAM a maximum of 3 times for no additional assessment fee. You have to have a passing grade of 65% in each exam to pass. Should you fail on the 3rd attempt, you must register again and pay the fee. Remember you must pass BOTH sections to be awarded the CERTIFICATE.
CCISM Recertification of Knowledge Exam
The CCISM Recertification Exam consists of 50 True/False items based on reading, analyzing and inferential extension from eight open access journal articles published in the online journal, Crisis, Stress & Human Resilience. Passing score for the exam is 70%.
Yes, once you download them, they are yours to keep. Additional articles are available through the ICISF Crisis Stress and Human Resilience Journal for your reading enjoyment
After you register there are no requirements for when you start the exam. Once you have started it, you have to complete it within 30 days from the start. This exam typically takes about an hour to complete.
CCISM Recertification is good for 5 years. After your certificate expires, you will have to take a re-certification exam based on current CISM topics and resources. In this manner, individuals are encouraged to stay current with the field.
We have transitioned to a NEW exam platform and we feel 30 days is an adequate amount of time to complete the recertification exam.
No, not as long as you completed the recertification exam and received a certificate in the original platform.
If you fail the exam on the first try you may take the EXAM a maximum of 3 times for no additional assessment fee. You have to have a passing grade of 70%. Should you fail on the 3rd attempt, you must register again and pay the fee. Remember you must pass BOTH sections to be awarded the CERTIFICATE.