May 1990—Your palms are sweaty, your mouth is dry, and the butterflies in your stomach are churning. You are about to do something that no one has done before… sit for the examination to earn the newly minted Certified Relocation Professional™ designation. Questions swarm in your brain: “What if I don’t pass? What if I do? What will that mean for my career? Am I ready for this? What if I freeze and don’t know anything?”
The test is given out, the instructions are read, and the time begins…
And so it was on May 9, 1990 when the first examination was held for the Certified Relocation Professional™ designation.
Twenty years later and the CRP® exam still is given annually, and the nerves, questions, and self-doubt still accompany candidates as they enter the testing rooms, prepared to test their knowledge on all things related to U.S. domestic relocation and mobility issues.
To date, the CRP® exam has been offered a total of 23 times to more than 11,500 people. During the last 20 years, more than 9,300 have earned their designations, and more than 4,500 still hold their designations today. Slightly more than 1,000 candidates passed the first year’s exams and, of those designees, more than one-third will be celebrating 20 years as Certified Relocation Professionals™ in 2010.
The Certified Relocation Professional™ designation originally was “anticipated to be the single most important event in our association and our businessplace… the CRP® designation will impact our industry in the way we obtain and conduct our business and will embrace all corporate and service industry professional—truly making it the ‘universal relocation designation,’” according to the December 1989 MOBILITY article from then Worldwide ERC® President, John M. Clarke, SCRP.
The industry has grown and diversified during the last 20 years. It requires specialized knowledge of the particular rules, regulations, and “soft” issues associated with the detailed process of employee mobility.
We wanted to return to some of those first-year CRP® designees to determine the answers to some questions:
- Why did they take the exam?
- What benefits have they seen as a result, if any?
- Why have they kept the designation all these years?
- How would they advise newcomers to the industry who wish to earn their own CRP® designations?
Crunch Time
Most of the 20-year class whom we interviewed expressed that taking the CRP® exam was a “logical next step” when it came to their careers. They already had established themselves as relocation professionals and wanted this designation to show others that relocation was (and remains) a truly niche field, with quite a bit of expertise required. It is not a job that just anyone can do—successfully, that is.
The exam was a way to prove their knowledge and push the boundaries of their own job descriptions by showing that they not only knew their own part in the process, but that they knew about the entire process with all of its varied facets and, by knowing “the whole,” they were better able to serve the needs of the transferees.
Some went about taking the test a little differently, though:
Laura Henneberry, SCRP, GMS, of Morreale Real Estate Services, Inc., Glen Ellyn, Illinois, laughs as she recalls, “When I got back from lunch, there was a big pile of books on my desk and a note from the regional vice president. That is how I found out I was to take the exam. I had no idea what it was, to be quite honest.”
In preparing for the exam, many remember that it was quite the college atmosphere. So many were gathering into study groups, pulling all-nighters, drinking gallons of coffee, and feeling scared about exactly what would be on that test. No one wanted to be the one who did not pass this test.
On the day of the exam, a “fever-pitch” was hit as nerves were frayed, nails chewed down, and the test rooms smelled not unlike a gymnasium with all the nervous bodies pressed in, concentrating so hard on the task at hand.
Douglas Weed, SCRP, GMS, of NSA Consultants, Wheaton, Illinois, recalls, “At the time, the president of my company was taking the exam at the exact same time I was taking it. And I was seated right behind him. I finished the test and looked up to find he was still going strong. I thought, ‘wait a sec. I shouldn’t be finishing so quickly. Should I leave before him?’ I went back over the questions again and still ended up leaving a little before him.”
Others swore they failed it and simply went to the bar with fellow test-takers to cry in their beers.
And then… the wait for the results….
Mollie Lannigan, SCRP, president of Lannigan Consulting, Inc., Grandview, Missouri, recalls that when she finally received her letter, “I was just too nervous to open it. I remember holding the letter up to the light but I just couldn’t open it. It took me 15 minutes before I finally got up enough nerve to see what it said.”
Creating the Exam
Taking a step back, one might wonder how that first test came to be. How did it even get created? Did a group of Worldwide ERC® staff write questions? Did the testing company review the materials and create the standards?
In actuality, while a testing company was chosen to help guide and proctor the exam, a select group of Worldwide ERC® members came together to create the standards in which the Certified Relocation Professional™ examination still is based. While there have been modifications and updates during the years, the standard guidelines that the first Certification Review Board created still are evident in today’s testing.
Consultant, Sharon Richards, SCRP, GMS, Carmel Highlands, California, one of the founding members of the Certification Review Board, and a past president of Worldwide ERC®, recalls that serving on the committee and helping to write all of the questions associated with the (then) THREE industry-specific examinations was truly, “the biggest project I ever undertook at ERC®. I have been a part of this organization for so long now and have been involved with many committees, but the CRP® was what I gave my heart and soul to create. I was up days, nights, and weekends, creating questions. After all, we had no basis to go from; we were creating an entire designation program from scratch!”
Richards continued, “The camaraderie across the industries was incredible. I still speak with a few of the committee members to this day because that project made us become so close. By pulling all these different members from different segments of the industry to create a standard knowledge set on which other members would be tested truly made you appreciate what everyone brought to the table.
“I really think that the creation of the CRP® ushered in a spirit of camaraderie within ERC® as a whole, which is seen to this day when you go to the ERC® conferences. That spirit of togetherness, despite being amongst your competitors, was not always so evident, but I believe that this designation actually helped to foster a cooperation that only existed tenuously before.”
Worldwide ERC® interim Executive Director, Karen Reid (then director of professional development), who oversaw the creation of the CRP® program 20 years ago, also witnessed its effect on the industry. “CRP® designees now had an understanding of all facets of the mobility process and their interactions with other practitioners were greatly enhanced. I noticed pretty early on how more efficient and effective Worldwide ERC® committees were thanks to the common body of knowledge held by CRP® designees and undoubtedly this also transferred into the workplace.”
The ‘Rights’ of Passage
And what benefits have these 20-year designees seen as a result?
Phil Giessler, CRP, from Cam Taylor Co. Ltd., Realtors, Columbus, Ohio, says “The CRP® raised the bar. It became so that in order for you to truly be a part of corporate relocation you needed to have this knowledge set in order to compete.”
Jay Delich, SCRP, of Arizona Appraisal Team, LLC, Scottsdale, Arizona, comments “The CRP® has definitely enhanced my career as I am recognized as a specialist in relocation. Clients trust the dedication to achieving and maintaining the CRP® and it has always been a benefit to my career.”
Arnold Schwartz, SCRP, of Arnold M. Schwartz & Associates, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, adds “The CRP® continued to open up speaking opportunities at conferences and committee opportunities. I was ultimately able to serve on the Board of Directors and was inducted into the Hall of Leaders.”
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
This 20-year class holds their designations in high esteem. They studied hard and were determined to keep up with the recertification requirements.
When asked what advice for the newcomer to this industry who is eager to earn his or her own CRP® designation, each pointed out that they need to get their feet wet and wait a couple of years.
They encourage them to get some experience and knowledge under their belt before taking on this designation.
After that, Kathleen Curtis, SCRP, GMS, of Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose, California, then advises to “take the exam. From a personal standpoint, they will have a good sense of accomplishment from studying for it and they will learn a lot from their studies. Then, keep it current—it will make them feel better about what they do and having that designation.”
Dory Binge, SCRP, GMS, of Johns Manville, Denver, Colorado, notes “The depths of information tested are very good, especially for a lot of people who specialize in one area of relocation—it is a great opportunity to get exposure to the whole relocation picture.”
Giessler encourages, “Read EVERYTHING that Worldwide ERC® publishes. Digest it! Don’t just cram for the test—you will miss some valuable information.”
Jeffrey Arouh, SCRP, of Holland & Knight, LLP, New York, New York, says “It is worthwhile to earn the designation if for no other reason than it forces you to learn about the many and varied issues that exist and affect relocating employees. In order to do your job effectively, you need to be aware of these issues.”
Celebration and Continuation
We would like to invite everyone, particularly the 1990, spring and fall classes, to join us in Orlando, Florida, at the Worldwide ERC® National Relocation Conference to celebrate 20 years of the Certified Relocation Professional™ designation—still one of a kind in this industry.
And for those who are eligible, the 24th exam will be held, as always, in May, right before the conference. Yes, the nerves and test jitters have not really changed during the years but, as you can see, it really is worth “pushing the envelope” and moving past the worry and excuses to earn the CRP® designation.
We look forward, as we do each year, to helping a new class of designees join in the prestigious ranks of Worldwide ERC® members who hold this esteemed designation.
Allison Peña is manager of professional development for Worldwide ERC®, Arlington, Virginia. She can be reached at +1 703 842 3435 or apena@worldwideerc.org.