RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional—Federal (CRMP-FED) Practice Test

This certification is designed for risk management professionals working within or directly supporting United States Federal Government agencies who wish to validate their specialized knowledge of federal ERM frameworks and practices. Typical candidates include agency risk officers, enterprise risk managers, internal auditors, compliance officers, and program managers embedded in civilian or defense federal organizations.

The credential is also well-suited for contractors, consultants, and advisors who regularly support federal agencies on ERM implementation, reporting, and governance. RIMS membership is not required to pursue the CRMP-FED, and RIMS-CRMP holders seeking to differentiate themselves in a government-focused career path will find it a natural and recognized next step.

Candidates must first earn or simultaneously qualify for the core RIMS-CRMP credential before sitting for the FED portion of the exam. This means satisfying one of three eligibility pathways: (1) a bachelor's degree or global equivalent in risk management plus one year of full-time risk management work experience; (2) a bachelor's degree or global equivalent in any non-risk management field plus three years of full-time risk management work experience; or (3) six years of full-time risk management experience with no degree requirement. All degrees must be from accredited institutions.

Applicants must submit a formal application with supporting documentation (official transcripts or registrar letters, employment verification), pay the applicable fee, and receive an authorization-to-test email from the RIMS-CRMP Certification Department before scheduling the exam. If a candidate has already passed the core RIMS-CRMP, they need only demonstrate eligibility for and pass the FED portion. The six-month testing window must be honored, or the examination fee is forfeited.

The CRMP-FED is delivered as a single combined, computer-based exam totaling three hours. The full exam consists of 170 items: 100 scored RIMS-CRMP core questions, 20 unscored pretest (pilot) questions embedded in the core section, and 50 scored FED-specific questions answered in a dedicated one-hour block. The exam is available year-round and administered either at a Pearson VUE testing center (in the US, Canada, and internationally) or via remote proctoring through Pearson VUE's OnVUE platform from a candidate's home or office. Candidates choosing remote proctoring must check in 30 minutes before their scheduled start time.

A passing score requires achieving 71% or higher on the overall exam. Results are provided as pass/fail. Candidates who do not pass must reapply within the guidelines set by the RIMS-CRMP Certification Department. The CRMP-FED credential, once earned, is valid for two years, after which recertification is required.

• 1.Understanding the Federal ERM Environment (~40% of FED portion): Knowledge of the federal government's unique organizational structures, culture, oversight bodies, and the regulatory landscape governing ERM, including the roles of OMB, GAO, NIST, and AFERM guidance documents such as the CFO/PIC Playbook.
• 2.ERM Implementation in the Federal Government (~50% of FED portion): Practical application of ERM frameworks within federal agencies, including program design, risk identification and assessment, integration with strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, internal controls, and alignment with OMB Circular A-123 and the COSO ERM framework.
• 3.ERM Reporting Requirements (~10% of FED portion): Federal ERM reporting obligations, including agency risk profiles, reporting to OMB and Congress, performance integration under OMB Circular A-11 Part 6, and communicating risk information to senior leaders and oversight bodies.
• 4.Core Risk Management Principles (RIMS-CRMP portion): Foundational ERM concepts, risk governance and culture, risk appetite and tolerance, risk identification and analysis, risk response strategies, and monitoring—consistent with the RIMS-CRMP exam content outline.

• Download and thoroughly review the official RIMS-CRMP-FED Study Guide, which covers general exam-taking strategies, how to analyze exam questions, and what to expect at the testing center or via OnVUE remote proctoring.
• Read all five priority reference documents identified by RIMS: the CFO/PIC Playbook on Federal ERM, GAO Report GAO-17-63, OMB Circular A-123 (Management's Responsibility for ERM), OMB Circular A-11 Part 6, and the AFERM Federal ERM Areas of Practice Guidance—these are the most heavily tested sources.
• Enroll in the official two-day live virtual workshop offered by RIMS, which is specifically designed to prepare candidates for the combined RIMS-CRMP-FED exam and covers both the core and federal-specific sections.
• Use RIMS's self-paced online preparatory courses to reinforce knowledge at your own pace, particularly for the core RIMS-CRMP content (100 scored questions) which comprises the majority of the combined exam's question pool.
• Supplement study with supplemental federal guidance documents including NIST cybersecurity and risk management publications, Treasury's Orange Book on internal controls, and COSO's ERM Integrated Framework, as these are referenced in federal agency ERM practice.
• Practice applying concepts to scenario-based federal contexts—understand how a GS-level risk officer would implement an ERM program for a civilian agency under A-123 requirements, as the FED exam questions are grounded in practical federal application rather than pure theory.
• Listen to the RIMS-hosted podcast episode and webinar specifically explaining the CRMP-FED credential, as these resources provide examiners' perspectives on what competencies are most valued and commonly tested.

Earning the CRMP-FED signals to federal hiring managers, Inspector General offices, and agency leadership that a professional has validated expertise in the specific risk management frameworks, regulations, and reporting obligations unique to the federal government. It is recognized by the Navy, Army, and Marine Corps COOL programs, making it eligible for military tuition assistance funding and a valued credential for transitioning service members entering federal civilian risk roles. According to RIMS data, full-time risk professionals holding the RIMS-CRMP credential earn approximately $16,000 more annually than non-certified peers—a premium that the specialized CRMP-FED designation is positioned to reinforce within the federal pay and hiring ecosystem.

The credential is relevant to positions such as Agency Risk Officer, Senior Advisor for Enterprise Risk, ERM Program Manager, Internal Controls Officer, and strategic planning roles across civilian and defense agencies. As OMB continues to enforce ERM requirements under Circular A-123 and federal agencies mature their risk programs, demand for credentialed professionals who can demonstrate knowledge of federal-specific standards—rather than general private-sector ERM—continues to grow. The ANAB accreditation under ISO/IEC 17024:2012 adds a layer of independent validation that supports portability and credibility of the credential across agencies.