Risk Terrain Modeling Certification

This credentialing program sets a basic standard of excellence for people using Risk Terrain Modeling (RTM). It identifies certificate holders as skilled spatial risk analysts and place-based problem-solvers.

Applicants for certification must demonstrate a more-than-basic level of proficiency in Risk Terrain Modeling methods and practical applications of RTM. This is achieved by (1) submitting an industry standard product demonstrating their application of RTM to a topic of interest and (2) appropriately answering 3 written questions relating to RTM and best practices for professional practice. Certificates are awarded to people who pass both parts of the certification process.

Credential-holders are demonstrably skilled and knowledgeable in: setting-up and running analyses in the RTMDx software; interpreting and communicating RTM results and RTMDx outputs; producing risk narratives and other information from RTM analytics that drives actions; using insights from RTM for decision-making and activities for crime prevention and public safety programming; the origin and history of RTM, and have a basic awareness of the scientific research and evidence base for RTM; common professional use-cases and current best-practices for RTM, risk-based policing, data-informed community engagement, and other fields of professional practice where RTM offers value.

To be eligible for certification: applicants must have an active subscription to the RTMDx software, or be an authorized user within an organization that has an active subscription, and they must have completed an approved training program within the past two years, such as from the Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice (SCJ), Rutgers Center on Public Security (RCPS), International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA), or Simsi (see simsi.com/certification for details). A set of earned micro-credentials that together represent learned content similar to an approved RTM training program may be considered in lieu of a single training program.