Receivables Management Certification Program & Education

Certification2024-10-08T13:59:56-07:00

RMAI’s Receivables Management Certification Program offers professional designations to businesses and individuals operating and employed within the receivables industry. RMAI launched the Certification Program in 2013 with a stated mission to “provide enhanced consumer protections through rigorous and uniform industry standards of best practice.” Often cited as the “gold standard” due to requirements that go above and beyond those  required by law, the program certifies collection agencies, debt buying companies, collection law firms, vendors, and brokers.

For a list of Certification Resources click here.

Business Certification

The Certified Receivables Business (CRB) or Certified Receivables Vendor (CRV) are for:

  • Companies that want to maintain compliance with regulations
  • Companies that value best practices for the benefit of consumers

Individual Certification

The Certified Receivables Compliance Professional (CRCP) designation is for several types of people including:

  • Individuals seeking continuing education 
  • Chief Compliance Officers for a Certified Business

Education

RMAI provides educational opportunities for those seeking credits toward the Certified Receivables Compliance Professional (CRCP) designation or to advance their knowledge. Including:

  • Live and recorded webinars
  • Special webinar series for targeted topics

BBB National Programs independently administers the Remediation Committee for RMAI’s Receivables Management Certification Program (RMCP).

Certification Resources

Frequently Asked Questions about RMAI Certification

Answers to the most frequent questions we receive about our industry, our organization and the members we represent.

What is the RMAI Resource Library?2024-09-18T10:20:51-07:00

The RMAI Resource Library is your one-stop shop for knowledge and information featuring the following subject areas:

  • RMAI Information & Opportunities – RMAI Ad Kit, Contributor Guidelines, Maximizing Your Membership, DEI Baseline Recommendations, Exhibitor & Sponsor Prospectus, Annual Reports and more.
  • Certification Resources – Program Overview, Governance Document, Certified Business Directory, Certified Individual Directory, Education Credit Form, Authorized Audit Providers, Business Certification Application, Individual Certification Application, Vendor Certification Application, Family of Companies Certification Application, Impact of Certification on Litigation, and Impact of Certification on Litigation Infographic.
  • White Papers & Resources – Bankruptcy Paper, Fintech Primer Paper, Debt Buying Industry Paper, Guide to Receivables Management Industry, and Out of Statute Debt Report
  • Compliance Resources — State Licensing, Amicus Briefs, Request Amicus Brief, and Legal Decisions
  • Membership Resources – Membership Information, Membership Application, and Additional Membership Representative Form

New items are added as they become available. To let us know your suggestions, contact Aurora Sain.

What is the RMAI Receivables Management Certification Program?2023-12-13T12:43:46-08:00

RMAI’s Receivables Management Certification Program offers professional designations to businesses and individuals operating and employed within the accounts receivables industry. RMAI launched the Certification Program in 2013 with a stated mission to “provide enhanced consumer protections through rigorous and uniform industry standards of best practice.” Often cited as the “gold standard” due to requirements that go above and beyond what is required by law, the program certifies debt buyers, collection agencies, law firms, brokers, and vendors. For more information, click here.

What does business certification involve?2023-11-13T13:48:54-08:00

Certifications will be granted to businesses that comply with uniform and rigorous industry standards of best practices and pass an RMAI conducted background check. The standards address core principles including account documentation, chain of title, consumer complaint and dispute resolution, statute of limitation compliance, vendor management, credit bureau reporting, resale, as well as other relevant operational procedures. Certification can also be granted to vendors and brokers that comply with the applicable standards.

Is certification required for my business?2024-10-23T10:24:17-07:00

Effective January 1, 2025, all debt buying company members must earn the Certified Receivables Business (CRB) designation regardless of whether they are purchasing or selling debt. New members that joined in 2024 have one (1) year to get their business certified.

Collection law firms, third party collection agencies, and vendors may voluntarily seek the CRB or Certified Receivables Vendor (CRV) designation but are not required to do so to maintain RMAI membership.

Effective March 1, 2024, the Receivables Management Certification Program (RMCP) requires a pre-certification audit as a condition to certification. If you have questions, contact Director of Certification and Administration, Shannon Parod at (916) 482-2462 or [email protected].

Can affiliated businesses share certification?2023-11-13T13:51:41-08:00

Affiliated businesses (debt buying companies, collection law firms, and third-party collection agencies) may share certification under a “Family of Companies” designation provided that all of the businesses meet the following criteria:

  • Have the same Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)
  • Have the same executive management team that exerts control over business operations (this requirement may be waived by the Administration & Budget Committee if there exists other unifying factors that would preclude its necessity)
  • Maintain a uniform network of compliance on all accounts serviced between the business entities
  • Are governed by the same corporate policies and procedures
  • Agree to be audited in a single unified audit
  • Agree any Deficiency and Remediation against one business entity will apply to all of the business entities

NOTE: Businesses that do not meet all of the Family of Companies criteria will need to maintain separate business certifications.

What are the benefits of Family of Companies?2024-10-23T10:13:47-07:00
  • Only one set of policies and procedures needs to be created rather than multiple versions of the same policy.
  • Only the Chief Compliance Officer needs to complete their individual Certified Receivables Compliance Professional (CRCP) designation rather than having multiple CCOs.
  • All businesses in a “family of companies” have a single unified audit, which significantly reduces costs for external audits for each separate business.
  • The cost of adding an additional affiliated business to a certification is only $250 rather than paying the price of a business certification which is between $1,500 and $3,500 depending on your company size.
How do I find Certified Businesses?2024-04-24T08:55:37-07:00

Check the Certified Business Directory to search Certified Businesses by name, business type, and more. The Certified Business Directory is used by creditors looking to sell or place their defaulted accounts as well as other businesses.

Certification News & Press

Learn more about certification through related articles and news.

The Bureaus, Inc. Shares What RMAI’s Certification Program Has Accomplished Over the Last Decade

Over the past decade, the Receivables Management Association International (RMAI) Receivables Management Certification Program (RMCP) has emerged as a pivotal force in the collections industry. Through a steadfast commitment to compliance and improving the industry’s overall customer experience, RMCP [...]

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