The Records Management Professional Certificate Program is administered by the Georgia Records Association (GRA), which offers training and information designed to strengthen the knowledge and skills of records management professionals across Georgia.
Program Goals
The GRMP certificate program aims to:
- Enhance knowledge of key aspects of public records and information management
- Develop essential skills for managing records and information within state and local government.
- Establish and maintain public records and information management standards.
- Promote professionalism among state and local government public records and information managers in Georgia.
To achieve these goals, the GRMP program encourages GRA members to participate in a series of training courses that provide foundational knowledge and skills for effectively managing Georgia’s records, while offering a clear path for maintaining a high level of professionalism.
Eligibility Criteria
To enroll, applicants must:
- Be a public or private sector employee in Georgia with records or information management responsibilities.
- Be a GRA member in good (active) standing.
- Pay a one-time, non-refundable $100 application fee.
This fee is due upon enrolling in the GRMP program and is separate from membership dues and conference/workshop registrations.
Requirements
To earn the Records Management Professional Certificate, participants must:
- Complete 54 hours of instruction across all required Areas of Knowledge (AK).
- Be a GRA member in good (active) standing for the entire time enrolled in the Certificate program.
- Finish all coursework within five years of enrollment.
Training Progress
Members are responsible for tracking continuing education credits and course completions within their myGRA member portal. Members must submit any requested documentation to verify completion within the manner and time frame specified by the Association.
Areas of Knowledge
GRA Areas of Knowledge (AKs) offer training and resources to support records management professionals in accordance with state and local laws and regulations. Each training course within an AK will address some or all of the outlined learning outcomes.
Effective 01/01/2021, Areas of Knowledge 1-6
AK1) Overview of laws and regulations relating to records management
Participants will gain an understanding of:
the Georgia Open Records Act (GORA), its requirements, and implementation, the Georgia Records Act, its requirements, and implementation, Privacy and the protection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
Redaction of public records, and the legal and regulatory landscape in Georgia.
AK2) Disaster Planning and Preparedness
Participants will gain an understanding of 1) How to include records in your disaster plan. 2) How to identify and manage vital records in all formats, 3) Basic records and document recovery techniques, and 4) How to contract for disaster recovery services.
AK3) Records Management Program Development
Participants will gain an understanding of 1) What is a record, 2) Creating and maintaining a records inventory, 3) Developing and implementing retention schedules utilizing approved State, local and area specific schedules, 4) the disposition of records in all formats, and 5) Developing and maintaining policies and procedures.
AK4) Records Management Program Implementation
Participants will gain an understanding of 1) The storage of records – both temporary and permanent, 2) The construction standards/ best practices of archives and records centers Risk mitigation, 3) The selection and implementation of records management software, 4) The preservation of permanent records, 5) Agency training/ planning: How to grow/ expand the influence of your records management program, 6) How to measure program progress – how to evaluate program success and communicate it to leadership, and 7) Legal holds.
AK5) Electronic Records Management
Participants will gain an understanding of 1) How to make the transition from paper to electronic records management, 2) Change Management, 3) How to develop, update and implement policies and procedures which includes electronic records, 4) Implementation of reformatting technologies – imaging and microfilm, 5) How to manage lifecycle of e- mail, text, voicemail, and other electronic records, 6) How to manage social media records and websites, and 7)Information Governance.
AK6) Professional Development
Participants will gain an understanding of 1) Public Procurement best practices, 2) Management basics, 3) Workplace Safety, 4) Customer Service, 5) Communications, and 6) Other beneficial subjects.
FAQs
Before emailing [email protected], we ask that you review the following Frequently Asked Questions about the GRMP Certificate Program.
Enrolled in the GRMP program before 01/01/2021, which curriculum do I follow AK1-5 or AK1-6?
Members who enrolled in the Georgia Records Management Professional (GRMP) Certificate Program before January 1, 2021, must complete the following AK1-5 requirements and hours:
- AK1: Overview of Laws and Regulations Relating to Records Management
(8 hours) - AK2: Disaster Planning and Preparedness
(6 hours) - AK3: Records Management Program Development
(13 hours) - AK4: Records Management Program Implementation
(13 hours) - AK5: Electronic Records Management
(14 hours)
Total Required Program Hours: 54 hours
Do non-GRA courses count toward the GRMP Certificate?
Only courses offered or sponsored by GRA are eligible for credit toward the Records Management Professional Certificate.
GRA members are notified by the Association of eligible course offerings by email.
Can I take the same class and still get credit toward my GRMP certificate?
No. While courses can be repeated (for example, a Georgia Open Records Act Overview workshop), each session will only count once toward certificate credits.
Can I receive credit for courses I completed before enrolling in the GRMP Certificate program?
Yes, GRA (active) members enrolling in the certificate program will receive credit for courses taken within 90 days before submitting their $100 application fee payment.
Will I get credit for classes taken as a non-GRA member?
No. GRMP credits will not be granted to non or inactive GRA members.
Do I need to maintain an active GRA membership while enrolled in the Certificate program?
Yes, Certificate Candidates must maintain an active GRA membership for the entire duration of their enrollment in the Certificate program. Membership dues must be received by December 31st of each year.
My membership LAPSED and I’m enrolled in the GRMP Certificate program, what do I do?
Members have a 30-day grace period, from December 31st, to renew and remit payment of membership dues.
If payment is not received by the end of the grace period, or if the member has not reached out to GRA at [email protected] to discuss late payment, the member will be unenrolled from the GRMP program and their profile will be archived.
My membership EXPIRED and I’m enrolled in the GRMP Certificate program, what do I do?
Expired memberships after the 30-day grace period.
You may rejoin as an Association member and remit the $100 one-time, nonrefundable application fee to enter the GRMP Certificate program.
All previous GRMP credits are void.
I’m an active GRA Association member and now want to enroll in the GRMP program.
Email [email protected]
I want to reenroll in the GRMP Certificate program.
All returning members are required to restart the GRMP Certificate Program anew. All GRMP prior credits are void. You may rejoin as an Association member and remit the $100 one-time, nonrefundable application fee to enter the GRMP Certificate program.