Certificate of Merit music exams explained for parents

Certificate of Merit, or CM, is a yearly music evaluation for students in California. The Music Teachers’ Association of California, known as MTAC, has run it since 1933. Once a year a student plays pieces, technique, and sight reading for an evaluator, and takes a theory exam with ear training online. A student can enter only through a teacher who is an MTAC member.

Who can enter

• The teacher must be a current MTAC member, with dues paid by July 31.
• The student must be at least 5 years old by September 30.
• The instrument must be one of the 16 that CM covers: piano, violin, viola, cello, harp, guitar, voice, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, and euphonium.

A parent cannot register a child. The teacher does it. If your child’s teacher is not an MTAC member, CM is not open to that studio.

The levels

Each instrument has its own syllabus with 10 or 11 levels. They run from Preparatory to Advanced. The teacher chooses the level for each student.

The syllabus for each level sets out the pieces, the technique, the sight reading, the theory, and the ear training to prepare.

The evaluation

MTAC names five parts.

Part	How it is done
Repertoire	Assessed by an evaluator
Technique	Assessed by an evaluator
Sight reading	Assessed by an evaluator
Theory	An online written exam
Ear training	A section of the online theory exam

A student can be assessed in person at a Regional Testing Facility, or online through MTAC’s testing portal. The evaluations take place between mid-February and March.

After the evaluation the student receives a written assessment of the playing. A student who completes the evaluation with success receives the MTAC certificate for that level.

The theory exam comes every year

In CM, every level has a theory exam, from the first year. A child in an early level writes a theory exam just as an advanced student does.

That differs from the Royal Conservatory system, where a written theory exam is first required at Level 5. Read RCM theory requirements by level.

MTAC sells practice materials for theory, ear training, sight reading, and technique in its online store. Ask the teacher which ones to buy.

Honors and what comes after

• State Honors. A student who meets MTAC’s State Honors requirements gets a seal on the certificate.
• Convention recitals. A student who shows exceptional skill may be invited to play at the MTAC State Convention, which is held in the summer.
• Branch honors. Local MTAC branches hold their own honors recitals and set rules for them. One branch’s rules for 2025 asked for an Excellent rating on the pieces, a Good or Excellent rating on technique and sight reading, and 80 percent or more on the theory exam.
• Senior medallion. Eligible high school seniors receive a medallion.
• Panel. High school students who finish the Advanced level may audition for Panel, and through it for MTAC’s Young Artist Guild.

Ask the teacher for this year’s honors rules.

Key dates

These are the dates for CM 2027.

Date	What happens
July 31, 2026	Teachers must have paid their MTAC dues
September 1 to 30, 2026	Teachers enroll students
October 5, 2026	The application fee is due from the parent
December 15, 2026	The list of pieces must be complete
Mid-February to March 2027	Evaluations

Enrollment happens once a year, in September. A family that asks in November has to wait for the next year.

MTAC’s page does not list the fee. It says the application fee cannot be refunded or moved to another student. Ask the teacher for the amount.

CM and RCM in California

A California teacher may use CM, the Royal Conservatory exams, or both.

	Certificate of Merit	RCM
Run by	MTAC, in California	The Royal Conservatory, across Canada and the United States
Who can enter	Students of MTAC member teachers	Any student
When	Once a year, mid-February to March	In-person sessions, or a remote exam at any time
Theory	A theory exam at every level	Theory exams from Level 5
Levels	10 or 11, Preparatory to Advanced	Preparatory, Levels 1 to 10, and a diploma

Read RCM in the United States for that side.

How a parent can help

• Ask in the spring whether the teacher is an MTAC member and plans to enter students
• Put September on the calendar, and pay the fee by the deadline
• Help choose the pieces before the December deadline
• Set two short theory sessions a week from the fall
• Hold a practice evaluation at home in January: pieces, scales, and a page of sight reading

A weekly practice chart helps a child cover all five parts. For the nerves on the day, read stage fright in kids.

Sources

Checked in November 2026.

• Music Teachers’ Association of California. Certificate of Merit.
• Music Teachers’ Association of California. Certificate of Merit frequently asked questions.
• Music Teachers’ Association of California. Bylaws.
• MTAC San Fernando West Valley Branch. Certificate of Merit, for the level names.
• MTAC Santa Monica Bay Branch. Certificate of Merit, for one branch’s honors rules.