Becoming Certified

You must apply to write the certification examination. The application must include a completed application form, academic transcripts bearing the official institutional seal and course certificates, letter(s) of attestation by your supervisor on official employer letterhead, and a certification examination fee.

To be eligible to write the examination, applicants must have a combination of education and documented work experience in disability management. Depending on the extent and nature of your formal education, you need to have worked between 600 and 3600 (approximately two years) full-time hours performing roles and responsibilities related to disability management. At least 50% of the time must be in delivery of disability management services. To view or print a complete copy of the certification procedures for Certified Return to Work Coordinator (CRTWC), click here. For the complete certification procedures for Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP), go to CDMP policies/procedures

If you require accommodations as a result of a disability, you should request this at the time of application, providing a description of your disability and the accommodation required. Medical evidence of the disability should also be provided. All such requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The Certification Council is committed to providing accommodations consistent with standard practice while at the same time maintaining the integrity of the examination process.

Once your application has been reviewed and your eligibility to write the examination has been confirmed, you will be advised of the date and place of the next examination. You will also receive a list of reference materials and a summary of the nine domains of essential skills and competencies to be tested. You are encouraged to use these materials to prepare for the examination.

The examination takes place over one day with 3.5 hours in the morning, a one-hour lunch break, and a 3.5-hour afternoon session. You will be required to check in to the examination site by 8:30 a.m. on the examination day.

The exam consists of 300 multiple-choice questions based on the nine domains of knowledge identified in the Occupational Standards in Disability Management. The format is based on a combination of contextually based questions following a brief vignette and a series of independent questions.

Once you finish writing the examination, your answers will be scored by the testing agency. You will receive notification of your score approximately six weeks after writing the examination. The results are confidential and will only be released to you.

Upon successful completion of the certification examination, candidates are awarded certificates under the auspices of the International Disability Management Standards Council. Candidates must also sign a statement of agreement indicating that they agree to abide by the Ethical Standards and Professional Conduct. Individuals who have been awarded certificates are entitled to use the official designation marks Certified Return to Work Coordinator (CRTWC) or Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) as long as they maintain their certification.

It [the examination] was one of the most interesting things that I've ever gone through. I found it difficult particularly because so many of the choices were so close together. Jim Crawford, CRTWC, Pathways Consulting, Pouch Cove, NL