RCM Teacher Certification | The Royal Conservatory of Music

RCM Teacher Certification

RCM Certified Teachers are dedicated lifelong learners who share a commitment to building a brighter future for music education. As an RCM Certified Teacher, you receive exclusive online access to valuable professional development resources that will help you build and strengthen your teaching practice. You join a private online community of like-minded peers with whom you can share your teaching challenges and celebrate your successes. You raise your profile as a teaching professional through accreditation in your specialty and top-tier positioning in our National Music Teacher Directory.

RCM Teacher Certification is valid for a two-year period and the cost is $249. Please note that you do NOT need to be an RCM Certified Teacher in order to teach RCM curriculum and to send your students to do RCM exams.

Exclusive RCM Certified Teacher Benefits

Boost your studio’s visibility, update your online profile, enroll in audit courses, redeem your benefits, join the Certified Teacher online discussion community, and more!

View the full list of Certification Benefits here.

National Music Teacher Directory

RCM Certified Teachers benefit from top-tier listing in the National Music Teacher Directory and a detailed public profile designed to increase referrals. You can choose what information is displayed; however, you must provide an address for the search function to work. For privacy reasons, you may elect to have an intersection displayed rather than a specific street address. To opt in today, log in to your My RCM account and visit “My RCM Teacher Directory Listing” to get started.
Courses for Audit
Auditing a course means that you are enrolled in the course, but you do not submit any coursework, write exams, or receive a grade for the course.

RCM Certified Teachers are eligible to audit Levels 9, 10, and ARCT of the Online History Courses; Levels 5 through 8 of the RCM Online Theory Study Guides; all available levels of RCM Online Ear Training & Sight Reading; and the online Piano Teacher Courses.

The online Piano Teacher Courses are made available to all RCM Certified Teachers, regardless of your primary instrument. You are eligible to audit Piano Teacher Courses that directly correspond with the designation(s) you hold: Elementary, Intermediate, and/or Advanced.

To access the courses you are eligible to audit:
1. Please visit your “My RCM” page
2. In the left sidebar under “My Learning” click on “My Courses, Learning, and Resources”
3. Click on the image of the course you wish to launch
4. Click on “Access”
5. Enter your My RCM login info
Complimentary Exam Benefit

As an RCM Certified Teacher, you are entitled to one complimentary examination each year from your certification date for an Elementary Level student (Preparatory – Level 4) who has never before taken an RCM exam.

To submit your request, please fill out and submit this form.
Online Community

As an RCM Certified Teacher, you are a member of a distinguished community of like-minded professionals who inspire excellence in students and in each other. To join our private, moderated Facebook groups, click on one or more of the links below that correspond with your designation(s). Here is a conversation which took place in one of our groups recently.

If you don’t have a Facebook account, visit facebook.com and click on “Create a new account.”
RCM Online Bookstore

With more than 250 celebrated teaching materials to support the examinations of The Royal Conservatory, the online bookstore provides teachers and students with unique teaching materials of the highest quality.

RCM Certified Teachers enjoy 30% off all purchases at the RCM Online Bookstore.

Visit Bookstore

How to become an RCM Certified Teacher

RCM Certified Teachers are accredited based on a combination of credentials and demonstrated experience with the RCM system of music study and assessment. There are 2 ways that you can become an RCM Certified Teacher:

You meet the prerequisites for education and successful exam candidates Review our rubrics to see if you qualify.

Teachers who meet the criteria in multiple disciplines (i.e. Piano, Theory, Voice) will receive all applicable specialist designations, at no additional cost. Click on one of the links below depending upon your area of specialty:

Practical/Non-Theory Accreditation

Theory Accreditation

Practical and Theory Accreditation

You successfully complete the RCM Piano Teacher Course, submit 2 successful piano exam candidates at the required levels within two years, and hold the RCM Level or equivalent training that corresponds with that designation.

Apply Now in 3 Easy Steps

Please note: You will need to have your RCME number on hand for this process.

1. Log in to your My RCM account

2. On your My RCM page, fill out the My Experience Form (found in the navigation menu on the left)

Click the "Add" button after completing the information requested in each line
Once you've filled out the entire form, click "Save Teacher Details and Apply for Teacher Certification"

3. Proceed to payment page

You will be prompted to enter your RCME number here
You can pay in full ($249) or in three (3) monthly installments of $83.

Please note that there is a $49 processing fee for non-qualifying applicants (see Terms and Conditions). Please check the rubric of assessment carefully or email us if you have questions regarding your qualifications.

Apply Now

Certification Renewal

RCM Certification is valid for a two-year period. Within 24 months of receiving full certification you must meet the following requirements to remain certified.

Submit at least 4 successful RCM examinations (can be combination of practical and/or theory).

If you have not met the 4 exam requirement, you may request an extension or appeal of the requirement by completing and submitting this form.

Complete 10 hours of eligible RCM professional development.

Professional Development (PD) can consist of any courses, workshops, or other continuing education that you’ve completed. Other PD could be attending music teacher conferences, watching videos, reading articles or music books, participating in RCM Facebook groups, attending concerts, or participating in discussions with other music teachers. To collect this information, an online form will be sent to you after you have submitted your renewal fee to complete as part of your renewal process.

Update your online teacher profile

Submit $249 for continued access to your exclusive Certified Teacher Portal resources and collections

Note: You will receive an email from RCM Teacher Certification to remind you of your upcoming renewal deadline. If you have not heard from us and your renewal date is approaching, please email [email protected].

Renew Teacher Certification

Please make sure that you are logged into the app before clicking 'renew'.

_{Please note: You cannot renew your certification more than three months prior to the status expiry date.}

Pedagogy and Teacher’s ARCT

The RCM Piano Pedagogy Certificate Examinations continue to be offered.

If you have completed one or more levels of the RCM Pedagogy Certificate Program and have submitted the required number of exam candidates, you have achieved Equivalent Standing at the same level in our Teacher Certification Program. You can apply to be Certified via Equivalent Standing and you may also complete your pedagogical studies through our RCM Online Piano Teacher Courses.

ARCT Teacher’s Diploma (piano and non-piano)

If you have completed your ARCT Teacher’s Diploma (piano or non-piano) and have submitted the required number of exam candidates, you have achieved Equivalent Standing as an Advanced Specialist in our Teacher Certification Program. Please click here to apply for Certification in your specialty.

Teacher Certification Terms & Conditions