Recognizing Achievement - US

Comprehensive Certificates	Requirements
Preparatory A Piano	Preparatory A Piano
Preparatory B Piano	Preparatory B Piano
Introductory Practical (non-piano)	Introductory or Preparatory Practical
Level 1	Level 1 Practical
Level 2	Level 2 Practical
Level 3	Level 3 Practical
Level 4	Level 4 Practical
Level 5	Level 5 Practical Level 5 Theory
Level 6	Level 6 Practical Level 6 Theory
Level 7	Level 7 Practical Level 7 Theory
Level 8	Level 8 Practical Level 8 Theory
Level 9	Level 9 Practical Level 8 Theory Level 9 History Level 9 Harmony or Level 9 Keyboard Harmony
Level 10	Level 10 Practical Level 8 Theory Level 9 History Level 9 Harmony or Level 9 Keyboard Harmony Level 10 History Level 10 Harmony & Counterpoint or Level 10 Keyboard Harmony

Theory Certificate	Examinations Required
Level 5 Theory	Level 5 Theory
Level 6 Theory	Level 6 Theory
Level 7 Theory	Level 7 Theory
Level 8 Theory	Level 8 Theory
Level 9 History and Theory	Level 9 History Level 9 Harmony or Level 9 Keyboard Harmony
Level 10 History and Theory	Level 10 History Level 10 Harmony & Counterpoint or Level 10 Keyboard Harmony
ARCT History and Theory	ARCT History ARCT Harmony & Counterpoint or ARCT Keyboard Harmony ARCT Analysis Counterpoint

Pedagogy Certificates	Requirements
Elementary Piano Pedagogy Certificate	Teaching Elementary Piano Course (minimum mark of 70%) Elementary Piano Pedagogy Interactive (Viva Voce) Examination (minimum mark of 70%) Corequisite: Level 9 Piano Comprehensive Certificate
Intermediate Piano Pedagogy Certificate	Prerequisite: Intermediate Piano Pedagogy Certificate ​Teaching Intermediate Piano Course (minimum mark of 70%) Intermediate Piano Pedagogy Interactive (Viva Voce) Examination (minimum mark of 70%) Corequisite: Level 10 Piano Comprehensive Certificate
Elementary Violin Pedagogy Certificate	Teaching Elementary Strings (Violin) Course (minimum mark of 70%) Elementary Violin Pedagogy Interactive (Viva Voce) Examination (minimum mark of 70%) Corequisite: Level 9 Violin Comprehensive Certificate
Intermediate Violin Pedagogy Certificate	Prerequisite: Intermediate Violin Pedagogy Certificate Teaching Intermediate Strings (Violin) Course (minimum mark of 70%) Intermediate Violin Pedagogy Interactive (Viva Voce) Examination (minimum mark of 70%) Corequisite: Level 10 Violin Comprehensive Certificate

A Regional Gold Medal is awarded to the student who has earned the highest mark on their practical examination for their discipline, level, and region. At the Intermediate and Advanced levels, students must have completed any applicable theory co-requisites in order to win the award. Students must have earned a minimum mark of 85% on their practical examination. Regional Gold Medals are awarded from Preparatory levels to ARCT and LRCM.

A National Gold Medal is awarded to the student who has earned the highest mark on their practical examination for their discipline and level across the country. Students must have earned a minimum mark of 90% on their practical examination and have successfully completed the corequisites for their discipline and level. National Gold Medals are awarded for Levels 5 to 10 and include Elementary and Intermediate Pedagogy. National Gold Medals are awarded for Canada and the US.

Diploma Gold Medals are awarded to graduating students who obtained the highest practical mark and fulfilled the
requirements in each Subject Group and Diploma type (Performers, Advanced Piano Pedagogy, Teacher’s – Non-
Piano) in the US and Canada.  Students must have earned a minimum mark of 90% on their practical examination, a minimum mark of 70% in each theory co-requisite examination, and earned a minimum mark of 60% in Level 6 Piano (practical) for non-piano graduates in order to win the award.

The Theory Diploma Gold Medal is awarded each academic year to the graduating student who has achieved the highest average mark in all theory co-requisites in the US and Canada. Students must have earned a minimum combined average mark of 90% for all theory exams listed below:

1. Level 9 Harmony or Level 9 Keyboard Harmony
2. Level 10 Harmony or Level 10 Keyboard Harmony
3. ARCT Harmony or ARCT Keyboard Harmony
4. ARCT Analysis
5. Level 9 History (written or online)
6. Level 10 History (written or online)
7. ARCT History (written or online)

State Awards
These certificates are awarded in each State to the student in Preparatory A, Preparatory B, and Levels 1 to 10 who receives the highest marks for the respective Practical examination in the previous academic year. To be eligible, a student must receive a minimum of 85 percent in the Practical examination, have completed the Theory examination co-requisite (for Level 5 and higher) for the respective level prior to or within the same academic year in which the practical exam is taken, and have their RCM account in good financial standing.

RCM State Award Winners

Awards Requirements*:

Award	Awarded for	Eligible RCM Levels	Minimum Requirements for Eligibility
National Diploma Gold Medal	The highest mark in the country for each discipline	LRCM and ARCT (includes Pedagogy** and Theory)	Practical mark of 90 and completed theory co-requisites***
National Gold Medal	The highest mark in the country for each discipline	Levels 5 through 10 and Piano Pedagogy (Elementary and Intermediate levels)	Practical mark of 90 and completed theory co-requisites
Regional Gold Medal	The highest mark in the region for each discipline	Levels Preparatory through LRCM****	Practical mark of 85 and completed theory co-requisites
State Certificate	The highest mark in the state for each discipline	Levels Preparatory through LRCM****	Practical mark of 85 and completed theory co-requisites

* In addition to the requirements indicated above, a student's RCM account must be in good financial standing by June 30 in order to be eligible for consideration. Please also refer to your instrument's syllabus for specific requirements. Note that music teachers will not be eligible for consideration for examinations taken at the Elementary and Intermediate levels (Levels Preparatory to 8 inclusive)
** Pedagogy includes both Advanced Piano Pedagogy and (non-Piano) Teacher ARCT
*** Theory co-requisites must be completed in the same academic year as the practical exam to be eligible to win a Gold Medal. In the instance of a tie for the highest practical mark, the higher average of the theory co-requisite marks will become the tie-breaker. If the theory average is also tied, the graduates with the tied marks will receive the award.
**** includes Elementary and Intermediate Piano Pedagogy levels plus Advanced Piano Pedagogy/Teacher’s ARCT

Disciplines:
Accordion/Organ/Harpsichord, Brass, Guitar, Harp, Pedagogy/Teacher, Percussion, Piano, Speech Arts & Drama, Strings, Theory (co-requisite ARCT level only), Voice, Woodwinds

Regions:

Region	State
West	California, Hawaii
Northwest	Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
North Central	Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
Northeast	Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
Southeast	Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
South Central	Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas
Southwest	Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming