EXAMINATION FORMAT

The Certified Running Technique Specialist examination consists of a 106 questions. Questions 1 through 60 are a combination of True/False, Matching, and Multiple Choice. This portion of the exam should take about 60 minutes. Questions 61-65 cover Basic Pose Drills, Video Analysis, and a Running 101 Keyword Completion Essay. This portion of the exam should take about 30 minutes. Some of the questions include tables, drawings, photographs, or video clips. Of the questions, 90 count toward the score. The remaining 16 are not scored but are included for a practice known as “pre-testing.” Pre-testing means that these items are being evaluated for potential inclusion on future examinations as scored questions. To ensure the CRTS exam is up to date, secure, and always improving, new questions must be continuously introduced and evaluated. Pretesting is an accepted testing practice that helps ensure high quality and consistent scoring. The scored and unscored questions are spread throughout the examination; candidates should answer all 106 questions to the best of their ability. Candidates have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the exam, which is administered online through a personal computer. The testing program does not allow candidates to move back and forth through the exam, change answers, mark questions for later attention, skip questions, and review questions. It is very important to pace yourself accordingly to finish the exam on time.

An exam will last 1 hour 30 minutes.

EXAMINATION DEVELOPMENT

Development of this credential was based on a practice analysis: a study of the roles and responsibilities of the health and fitness coaching professions. The study, guided by industry leaders in certification standards and psychometric services, began with a survey of over 800 running coaches and health and fitness professionals. In the survey, they identified and ranked the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to be an effective instructor on running technique and training. From this, an examination content outline was developed, and questions were written according to this outline. Content experts were invited to be on the Item Writing Committee, which was responsible for developing the examination questions. These experts represented the fields of running coaching and training, general strength and conditioning, sport coaching, physical therapy, biomechanics and education; they received training to develop content that meets industry standards. The questions underwent extensive review by this committee and the Certification Board to ensure that they were technically accurate, unambiguous, and clearly stated. After initial testing, the examination results were subject to statistical analysis to ensure quality and fairness in testing. Working under the guidance of testing consultants and psychometricians, a group of content experts used the widely accepted Modified Angoff method to recommend the passing score for the initial examination forms. The Academy Certification Board used this recommendation and additional data to determine the passing score. Additionally, the exam was developed in accordance with standards for security, impartiality, and transparency.

EXAMINATION FORMS

There are multiple forms of the examination, each following the content outline noted in subsequent pages. While candidates have the possibility to receive different exam forms, each form remains statistically equivalent in the domains assessed, number of multimedia content included, and difficulty level.

EXAMINATION OVERSIGHT

The Romanov Academy Certification Board is the oversight group responsible for the certification review process. The Certification Board is in charge of approving the current content outline, as well as future content outline additions or revisions. The Board periodically reviews examination analysis data to examine if individual exam items are performing to standard and ensure the exam forms remain equivalent in testing performance. A new practice analysis is conducted every five years as a part of the review process. This study is compared to the previous practice analysis to determine what changes are needed to either the content outline or examination forms. The Board and Item Writing Committee engage in ongoing review of the exam content and develop new exam forms to reflect updates in the latest standards of running coaching and training.

NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS

Candidates will be notified of their official results immediately online upon completion of their examination.

Due to issues of exam item security, Romanov Academy and its representatives cannot provide information on the exact questions that were answered incorrectly.

CERTIFICATION

Candidates who pass the CRTS examination will be awarded a Certified Running Technique Specialist certificate. All certificates are non-transferrable.

DESIGNATION AND MEANING

An individual who has passed the CRTS examination and been granted the CRTS credential will be listed in the Technique Specialist Directory as a Certified Running Technique Specialist (CRTS). Certified individuals may refer to themselves as Certified Running Technique Specialists and list the certification as a personal credential on stationary, website bios, business cards, and other materials as:

• Firstname Lastname, Certified Running Technique Specialist
• Firstname Lastname, CRTS

RETESTING

Romanov Academy Certification Department allows 3 examination attempts.

In the event that a candidate fails the examination on the first attempt, the Certification Department allows an immediate 2nd test attempt without any additional fees or waiting period.

In the event that a candidate fails the examination on both attempts, the Certification Department requires a waiting period of 30 days between the follow up retest attempts. Candidates who fail 3 attempts are permitted to take the exam again for a fee of US$125. This reduced fee is applicable for one year from the date of the approved application. After one year, if a candidate does not pass the exam, he or she must reapply and pay all applicable fees.

Request Retesting

The examination and/or any other exam-related materials remain the sole and exclusive property of the Romanov Academy of Sport Science. These materials are confidential and are not available for review by any person or agency for any reason.

Examination (pass/fail) results are confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone without candidate’s consent, unless directed by valid and lawful subpoena or court order. If you would like your examination results to be released to a third party, you must provide us with a written request that specifically identifies the types of details (e.g., examination date, pass/fail status, etc.) about the examination results that the third-party person or organization should receive.

When you submit an application, you agree to abide by the Certification Application/Renewal Agreement. Among other things, this document addresses post-examination questions and discussions. You agree not to discuss, debrief or disclose, in any manner, the specific content of examination questions and answers, to any individual. Any such discussion would be a potential violation of the Certification Application/Renewal Agreement and thus, could affect the status of your certification, up to and including revocation of your certification or permanent suspension from any Romanov Academy certification examinations.

NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT FOR EXAMINATIONS

This examination is confidential and is protected by trade secrets law. It is made available to you, the examinee, solely for the purpose of becoming certified as a Running Technique Specialist.

You understand, acknowledge, and agree:

• that the questions and answers of the exam, including exhibits, are the exclusive and confidential property of Romanov Academy of Sport Science, are protected by copyright, and are protected by Romanov Academy’s intellectual property rights;
• not to disclose the exam questions or answers, including exhibits, or discuss any of the content of the exam materials with any person without prior written approval of the Romanov Academy of Sport Science
• not to copy or attempt to make copies (written, photographic, or otherwise) of any exam material, including, without limitation, any exam questions or answers;
• not to sell, license, distribute, give away, or obtain from any source other than the Academy the exam materials; that your obligations under this agreement shall continue to be in effect after the examination and, if applicable, after termination of your certification, regardless of the reason or reasons for termination, and whether such termination is voluntary or involuntary.