MAK-AIRS 2014 Conference

CIRS - Aging Changes to CIRS - Aging/Disabilities

The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) recently announced important news regarding the professional Certified Information & Referral Specialist for Aging (CIRS-A) certification.

AIRS, in partnership with the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) and National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD), have instituted a newly created national certification incorporating both Aging and Disabilities services. The existing CIRS - Aging (CIRS-A) designation will cease to exist and transition into a new certification referenced as CIRS - Aging/Disabilities (CIRS-A/D).

The AIRS Certification Commission is offering grandfathered CIRS-A holders the opportunity to obtain the CIRS-A/D certification at no additional cost. Existing CIRS-A holders will be offered free online training and free self-administered test, to obtain the CIRS-A/D designation.

More details regarding organizational collaboration, history, and guidelines are conveyed in the following communication sent out to all CIRS-A certified professionals on August 18, 2014. Reissuance of this communication has been approved by AIRS for publication in MAK-AIRS blog:

We would like to thank you for your professional commitment to your clients and community as a Certified Information & Referral Specialist – Aging, and to provide more details about significant changes to this credential that reflect the changes underway within our sector. 

As shared in earlier correspondence, AIRS in partnership with n4a and NASUAD, has been working with subject matter experts to move the credential from a CIRS– Aging (CIRS-A) to a CIRS – Aging/Disabilities (CIRS-A/D).

In January, we sent all CIRS-A holders a draft Job Task Analysis that outlined the knowledge and skills required for the CIRS-A/D, and requested comments which in turn, influenced the final document. One of the questions asked was “Do you support the idea of having a single Certification that covers the work of I&R/Specialists serving both older adults and persons with disabilities (and their families and caregivers)?” The response was an overwhelming 91.9% in favor of the initiative. 

Since that date, we have been engaged with more frontline specialists to work through the numerous psychometric stages needed to develop new exams for a new credential. We expect these exams to be ready around November/December of this year. 

During this time, the AIRS Certification Commission has been consulting with stakeholders to determine the best way to grandparent existing CIRS-A holders to the new CIRS-A/D qualification. The challenge was to provide the best balance between recognizing the new influences, respecting existing professionalism, ensuring no additional expense while also being as equitable as possible. 

The discussions have been long and serious, involving a range of diverse opinions, not all of which started in the same place. Here is what was finally decided:

• As stated at the beginning of this project, once the CIRS-A/D comes into the field, it will be the only option available for individual practitioners in the Aging and Disabilities field (i.e. there will be no separate certification relating only to Aging or only to Disabilities)
• A free online training module will be made available by NASUAD to all existing CIRS-A holders at the time when the new CIRS-A/D exams come into effect. Once available, this training will be offered on the NASUAD IQ Online Learning Center (http://www.nasuadiq.org/).The course could be used to account for 2 hours of professional training towards the 10 hours required for AIRS Recertification
• This training would be on issues relating to providing I&R/I&A to persons with disabilities and their caregivers, and will also touch on some basic awareness issues regarding persons with disabilities
• The training would conclude with a free self-administered (i.e. non-proctored) online quiz of not more than 20 questions. This quiz would have to be passed (cut score of 75%) but could be taken multiple times without penalty
• Upon passing the quiz, individuals will be emailed a confirmation of course completion
• A CIRS-A holder may take that training at any time from when it is available until the existing date of their AIRS Recertification. However, to recertify they will eventually have to complete this required training
• After receiving the completion confirmation from NASUAD, an individual holding a CIRS-A could immediately use the designation of CIRS-A/D. However, they would not receive a CIRS-A/D Certificate from AIRS until they had recertified on their existing renewal date. When completing their recertification application, they will be asked to include a copy of their NASUAD confirmation. At that stage, the individual will receive their full CIRS-A/D Certificate from AIRS. (For example, supposing the CIRS–A/D exam becomes available in December 2014. An individual holding a CIRS-A who is due for recertification in August 2015, may choose to complete their NASUAD training module in February 2015 and upon completion may refer to themselves as a CIRS-A/D. When recertifying with AIRS on their scheduled date in August 2015, they will include their documentation from NASUAD with their application and will then receive their formal CIRS-A/D Certification.)

The only caveat refers to individuals who originally passed a CIRS exam (before the CIRS-A came into being) and then took the supplementary exam to acquire their CIRS-A. These practitioners may choose to recertify as a CIRS rather than a CIRS-A/D (in which case, they would not need to take the NASUAD course). 

We appreciate your understanding of the process and the value which this new qualification will bring to yourself, your organization and your community. One of the noticeable benefits of AIRS Certification has been the enhanced mobility this has introduced within the sector as the qualification is nationally recognized. This fundamental change will only strengthen that value. 

If you have any questions or require additional clarity, please email info@airs.org. 

Sincerely, 

Charlene Hipes
Chief Operating Officer
Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS)
P.O. Box 33095
Portland, OR 97292 

Sandy Markwood
Chief Executive Officer
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)
1730 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite1200
Washington, DC 20036 

Martha Roherty
Executive Director
National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD)
1201 15th St. NW, Ste. 350
Washington, DC

Any questions regarding the new CIRS-A/D certification should be directed to AIRS at info@airs.org.