excerpted from the PARW/CC website:

The CPRW credential, first established in 1991 by the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches, has become the most highly recognized employment industry- wide standard for excellence in résumé development. Professionals who hold this credential have demonstrated a thorough mastery of "the art, science, and psychology of résumé development" © ®.

PARW/CC's certification exam is a well-respected instrument by which résumé professionals are able to demonstrate their commitment to establishing the highest levels of excellence for their clients, providing a concrete measurement in which the job seeking public can place their trust. The current CPRW examination, now in its fourth revision, represents over 100 years of combined, proven résumé writing/job search wisdom; refined by seasoned professionals with significant test development expertise in both academia and the U.S. Armed Forces.

The CPRW exam, comprised of four individual modules, goes far beyond simple memory recall to evaluate problem solving and critical thinking abilities.

1. Module One consists of multiple choice questions which assess the candidate's knowledge of résumé writing strategies and techniques, job search strategies, cover letter techniques, client interviewing skills, and methods of increasing the visual impact of the résumé and cover letter package.
2. Module Two measures the candidate's ability to carefully proofread a résumé.
3. Module Three consists of five short essay questions on topics such as: helping the client overcome barriers to employment; professional ethics; and positioning strategies.
4. Module Four is performance based. The candidate is supplied with biographical and career history information (i.e., a case history) about a "typical" client. Candidates must then produce an above-average, error-free résumé, accompanying cover letter, and a synopsis of strategy. The synopsis gives the candidate an opportunity to explain his/her choice of format and font(s), as well as his/her rationale for inclusion/omission of information.

The CPRW exam is grounded in sound educational principles which sample the candidate's level of expertise in comparison to industry-established objectives and levels of competency...namely what CPRWs should know and should be able to do for their clients. The CPRW credential stands for something incredibly valuable. Holding this certification indicates the candidate has demonstrated an above-average level of professional expertise as a résumé writer. Since 1991, the CPRW has been the most universally-recognized standard by which the public, the business community, and those in related career fields have been able to judge the "best of the best" among résumé professionals.