What Is CRTS-PM Certification?

What the Credential Actually Is

CRTS-PM, as used on this site, stands for Certified Running Technique Specialist (Pose Method). It is the Level 1 credential offered through Romanov Academy of Sport Science (the issuer publicly styles its name "Romanov Academy of Sport Science"), and the issuer itself abbreviates it simply as CRTS. The "-PM" suffix and the crtspmexam.com domain are kept here to match how the credential is searched for and discussed.

The certification centers on the Pose Method of running, a technique-focused approach to how a runner falls, pulls and cycles the foot rather than a general fitness or coaching-business credential. Passing demonstrates that you can explain the method, recognize it in motion, and apply it to drills and running assessments. If you want a shorter definitional treatment, see our companion explainers on what CRTS-PM is and what CRTS-PM stands for.

Two Credentials, Two Issuers: Avoiding the Mix-Up

Searching for "Certified Running Technique Specialist" surfaces more than one program. The Pose Method credential covered here is not The Running School's similarly named certification. They are separate credentials from separate organizations, with different curricula and different exams. Fees, formats, renewal rules and study materials for one do not carry over to the other.

Before you buy any course or study aid, confirm that it references Pose Method concepts and the Romanov Academy exam. Generic "running technique" material may not map onto what this exam asks. For the broader landscape of how credentials compare, the worth-it analysis walks through the decision in more depth.

Inside the 106-Question Exam

The certification exam is administered by the issuer on the Romanov Academy online certification portal, which describes both AI and live proctoring on your own computer. The published structure is:

• 106 total questions, of which 90 are scored and 16 are unscored
• 90-minute time limit
• 75% passing requirement

The unscored items are not identified to you while testing, so every question deserves your full effort. The issuer's examination page and candidate handbook both state the 106 total, but their section numbering is inconsistent and they differ on where the unscored items sit. For that reason, this article does not claim a section-by-section allocation of questions. The verified 106/90/16 total is the number to plan around. For a deeper look at the cut score, see the passing score guide.

Question formats you should expect

The issuer publishes these formats and categories:

• True/false
• Matching
• Multiple choice
• Basic Drills
• Video Analysis
• A Running 101 keyword-completion essay

The mix matters for preparation. Recall questions reward clear definitions of Pose Method concepts. Basic Drills and Video Analysis items reward applied recognition: can you look at a runner and name what is happening? The keyword-completion essay rewards precise vocabulary rather than loose paraphrase. Flashcards alone tend to cover only the first of these, so build practice that includes observing movement and writing short, term-accurate explanations. Our difficulty guide explains where candidates typically find the format most demanding, without relying on invented pass-rate figures; see also the pass rate discussion for why no certification-wide rate is asserted.

Open Book, One Pass Forward

The current certification portal expressly permits personal notes, printed or handwritten materials, and the Internet. The issuer's resources page likewise permits notes and printouts. That sounds generous, but two constraints change how you should use it:

1. Proctoring still applies. Open-book access does not waive proctoring or confidentiality rules. You may consult materials; you may not share, record or distribute exam content.
2. The exam is strictly forward-only. You complete it in one sitting and cannot return to earlier questions, change previous answers, skip items or flag them for later review.

Build a compact reference sheet organized the way the exam asks, with definitions, drill names and a short list of the technique cues you tend to confuse. The one-page cheat sheet shows a practical way to condense what matters.

What the Preparation Curriculum Covers

There are two issuer-linked ways to organize what to study, and they are best treated as complementary resource groupings rather than an official exam blueprint. Neither source publishes percentage weights, and neither establishes exhaustive exam coverage. Only the public course description and public study materials were reviewed, not the full paid master course.

The five preparation domains

The five headings below reproduce the preparation topics named in the issuer's current master-course description, which states that the course prepares candidates for this exact certification. They are unweighted curriculum headings, and the count of five is simply the number of supplied headings, not an official count of exam domains.

For a walk through each area and how to approach it, read the full exam domains guide.

The issuer's study-material groupings

Separately, the issuer's study-material page uses four groupings. Keep them as a second lens on the same body of knowledge instead of merging them into one list:

Who Can Sit the Exam

The issuer's formal eligibility page sets these requirements:

• Age 18 or older
• A high-school diploma or equivalent secondary education
• Two forms of identification
• Acceptance of the candidate agreement and professional standards

You may see marketing copy stating "Prerequisites None." That statement does not override the formal eligibility requirements above. There is also a discrepancy worth flagging: the current certification portal requests one valid ID, while the eligibility page requires two. This guide reports the conflict rather than resolving it for you. The safe approach is to have two forms of ID ready and confirm the current requirement with the issuer before your exam day.

The issuer recommends its Pose Method of Running master course as preparation. Its 20 contact hours describe training time, not examination time, so do not confuse that figure with the 90-minute exam limit. For a fuller checklist, see the requirements guide.

Training, Exam, Retake and Renewal Costs

Cost questions are where candidates most often get misled, because several different fees are easy to blur together. Keep them separate:

Military and program funding, where it exists, depends on your branch, program and approved start date. No universal funding entitlement, reimbursement amount or promotion-point award can be assumed, so verify it with your program before paying. Our certification cost breakdown keeps these lines separate in more detail.

Retakes and Five-Year Renewal

If you do not pass

• After a first failure, an immediate second attempt is free.
• After two failures, you must wait 30 days before the third attempt.
• After all three unsuccessful attempts, another attempt is available for USD 125 within the stated one-year window.

There is a timing distinction to keep straight. The handbook describes a one-year application/attempt window, while the seminar route has its own 30-day deadline for taking the exam after the seminar. These come from different sources and are not combined into a single universal deadline. See the exam dates guide for how to think about scheduling.

Keeping the credential current

Certification is valid for five years. Recertification requires active practice, the required continuing education and a recertification exam. You may renew before expiration or within 30 days afterward. The published package is USD 295 and includes the required webinars.

Where the Credential Gets Used

CRTS-PM is a technique credential, so its value shows up where running form is taught or assessed: running coaching, clinics and gait or form assessments, and military fitness programs. The Military Running seminar route and the ArmyIgnitED-related funding searches reflect that military audience, though funding must be checked against your own situation.

On earnings, be skeptical of any source that quotes a certification-specific salary premium. None is asserted here, and none should be assumed. Coaching income typically depends on your client base, pricing, location and how you combine the credential with other skills, not on the certificate alone. The salary analysis and the jobs overview discuss this without inventing numbers.

If you are comparing options, remember that Pose Method certification and a broader coaching credential such as RRCA's serve different purposes: one is specialized in a specific technique model, the other is a general coaching program. Match the credential to the work you actually want to do.

A Domain-Ordered Study Sequence

Because the exam is forward-only and open book, the aim is fluency, not memorization. One sensible ordering follows the way the domains build on each other:

The forward-only rehearsal in Week 4 is the most CRTS-PM-specific habit on this list: practice committing to answers without backtracking. For a fuller plan, see the study guide, and when you are ready to test yourself, the CRTS-PM practice tests let you rehearse under similar pacing. Browse the main practice site for question sets organized by topic.

Frequently Asked Questions