The Colleague Diploma of the Royal College of Organists recognises reliable and confident musicianship in public performance at the organ.
It is often taken by organists who are already playing regularly in public settings (in church services for example) and who wish to demonstrate that they have achieved a reliable standard in organ performance, keyboard skills and contextual and critical study.
For many candidates, CRCO provides an important benchmark of proficiency and confidence, and a natural progression beyond graded examinations and the RCO’s CAM scheme.
The Colleague Diploma indicates a standard of reliable and confident musicianship in public performance, together with secure keyboard skills and a deepening understanding of the fundamental musical grammar and repertoire that supports practical musicianship.
Candidates must demonstrate:
CRCO represents a well-established benchmark for organists performing regularly in liturgical or secular settings.
CRCO is suitable for musicians who are already developing practical experience as organists.
Typical candidates include:
Many candidates take CRCO as the first step within the RCO diploma framework, although entry at ARCO may be appropriate for some musicians depending on experience.
If CRCO reflects your current experience and ambitions, you can find full entry information below.
“As a pianist who came to the organ as a young adult, achieving CRCO has helped me establish a solid foundation for professional growth. I greatly valued the ability to customize preparation to suit my needs and schedule. Taking the CRCO sections separately allowed me to focus on refining specific skills such as transposition and improvisation… Resources including iRCO, mentoring and workshops provided me with invaluable support.”— James Janossy (USA)
CRCO assessment combines practical performance with written and aural components designed to support well-rounded musicianship.
Assessment includes:
Candidates should note that two methods of assessment are available for the organ performance part of the practical examination: in-person assessment at an examination centre, and remote assessment by audio-visual submission. All aspects of assessment can therefore be completed remotely as required, making the CRCO fully suitable for international candidates.
Full details of the examination structure and requirements are provided in the published regulations available at the bottom of this page.
Many candidates prepare for the examination as part of their regular organ study and church playing. In addition, candidates preparing for CRCO have access to a wide range of support.
Preparation may include:
Details of these resources are available on the Candidate Hub page.
To enter the Colleague of the Royal College of Organists (CRCO) examination you must be a Full Member, Student Member or Affiliate Student Member of the Royal College of Organists.
There is no prerequisite qualification for CRCO, and many candidates take it as their first RCO diploma.
Application deadlines are published in advance and should be checked carefully before entering.
Organ diploma examinations are held twice each year:
The latest deadlines and examination dates can be found on Key Dates & Fees >>
Fees for the whole examination, or entry and re-entry to individual components, are available on Key Dates & Fees >>
Applications are submitted online and can be completed in a few minutes.
1. Join the RCO >>
You must be a member before entering.
2. Sign in to the Member Area
Access the diploma entry system.
3. Complete the entry form
Select your examination session and pay the examination fee.
You will then receive confirmation and further information about the examination process.
Candidates should review the key documentation for the Colleague of the Royal College of Organists (CRCO) examination.
These documents provide essential information about:
Key documents:
If you have questions about entry requirements, examination structure, or the suitability of CRCO for your current level, please contact the RCO Accreditation team:
We recommend reviewing the published regulations before contacting the team, as many common questions are answered there.