RCM in the United States: how it works

Students in the United States can take Royal Conservatory of Music exams. RCM says the program is the same in both countries, with the same levels, the same syllabus, and the same marks. A student can take a practical exam in person at a US exam center during a set session, or by remote exam at any time of year. A parent or teacher registers the student through an online RCM account.

A short history

RCM is a music school in Toronto, founded in 1886. In 2011 RCM and Carnegie Hall launched a joint program for the United States, called The Achievement Program. It was built on RCM’s exam system. RCM has run the program alone since January 2013. It was renamed more than once, and today it uses the same name as in Canada: the RCM Certificate Program.

What is the same as in Canada

• The levels. Preparatory A and B for piano, then Levels 1 to 10, then the ARCT diploma. Read RCM levels explained.
• The practical exam. Pieces, etudes, technical tests, ear tests, and sight reading.
• The theory exams. They count from Level 5. Read RCM theory requirements by level.
• The marks. Each exam is out of 100, and 60 is a pass. Read RCM exam marks explained.
• The words. RCM uses North American note names, such as whole note and quarter note.

In-person sessions

RCM holds in-person exams in the United States in three sessions a year. These are the dates on RCM’s US registration page.

Session	Registration	Practical exams	Theory exams
August 2026	April 1 to May 13, 2026	July 31 to August 6, 2026	August 7 and 8, 2026
November and December 2026	September 2 to October 14, 2026	November 28 to December 10, 2026	December 11 and 12, 2026
May and June 2027	January 6 to February 17, 2027	May 16 to June 6, 2027	May 14 and 15, 2027

The history exams for Levels 9, 10, and ARCT are offered in the May session only.

RCM says exam centers can be found in many states. The list of centers near you appears when you register.

Remote exams

A remote exam is a live exam over Zoom, taken from home or from the teacher’s studio. Registration is open all year, so a family far from an exam center can use this route. Read RCM remote exams: how they work at home.

Awards for US students

Every student is considered for these awards. There is no form to fill in.

Award	Goes to	Lowest mark that counts
State award	The top practical mark in the state at each level, in each discipline	85
Regional Gold Medal	The top practical mark in the region	85
National Gold Medal	The top practical mark in the country, Levels 5 to 10	90

From Level 5 up, the student must also have the theory exams for that level. RCM holds Celebration of Excellence events each year for its Regional Gold Medal winners.

RCM sorts the states into seven regions.

Region	States
West	California, Hawaii
Northwest	Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Southwest	Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming
North Central	Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
South Central	Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas
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

High school credit

RCM says school systems across the United States may consider its exams for credit. Each state or school board decides. RCM offers a support document that a school official can read. Ask the school counselor before you count on a credit. The Canadian rules are in RCM high school credits by province.

RCM and the state programs

Many states have a program of their own, run by a teachers’ group. California has Certificate of Merit. New York has the NYSSMA festivals. A student can take part in a state program and in RCM.

Some teachers’ groups have taken up RCM as well. The California Association of Professional Music Teachers adopted the RCM Certificate Program in fall 2011.

The teacher is the best guide here. A teacher who enters students in one program knows its books and its deadlines.

How to start

• Ask your child’s teacher whether they enter students for RCM exams. RCM also has an online teacher directory.
• Create an RCM account.
• Choose the level with the teacher.
• Choose a remote exam or an in-person session.
• Register before the deadline.

For a first look at one level, read RCM Level 1 piano.

Sources

Checked in November 2026.

• The Royal Conservatory. US examination registration guide.
• The Royal Conservatory. Recognizing achievement, US.
• The Royal Conservatory. RCM guide to examinations, USA.
• The Royal Conservatory. Certificate Program FAQs.
• The Royal Conservatory. Remote practical exam overview.
• National Association of Teachers of Singing. Q&A on the Royal Conservatory of Music Certificate Program, July 2019.
• The Globe and Mail, reprinted by BCACMS. Royal Conservatory of Music’s exam system to become standard for U.S. music schools.
• Wikipedia. The Royal Conservatory of Music, for the 2013 change.
• California Association of Professional Music Teachers. RCM Certificate Program.