CFM Quick FAQ

Who can apply?

You do not have to be a member of IFMA to take advantage of the program, nor do you automatically become an IFMA member upon receiving your credential. All facility management practitioners who meet the requirements are encouraged to apply. Individuals who work in related fields (architecture, interior design, etc.) who meet the requirements also may qualify to take the exam. 

 Is it worth it?

Earning the CFM credential should be a goal for all facility professionals who wish to be recognized as leaders within their organizations and chosen fields. Certification can be an opportunity, enabling numerous CFMs to find or be promoted into new and better positions. In fact, rather than using traditional approaches, some employers now are contacting IFMA to obtain a list of CFMs in their city when they have high-level openings. There is also an ongoing trend in many organizations to reward new CFMs with salary increases. Research shows that CFMs earn an average of 13 percent more annually than their non-certified counterparts.

 
What’s the process?

Step 1: Review candidate eligibility requirements and fees.

Certification Requirements
The CFM is a competency-based certificate. Candidates must first meet the education and experience requirements outlined in the box below. Once the application is accepted, the candidate must pass an exam.

1. Candidates must fall into one of the following education or work experience categories:
   
   

   Education	Years of FM experience
   Facility management master’s or bachelor’s degree from an IFMA recognized program*	3 years
   Related bachelor’s degree*	4 years
   Non-related bachelor’s degree or associate’s degree*	5 years
   Some post-secondary education*	8 years
   * All categories require some form of continuing education within the past five years.

   
   
2. Successful candidates will also have experience in the following competency areas. These nine areas have been identified as the core areas of skills and knowledge necessary for a successful facility manager.
   
   

   Planning & project management	Operations & maintenance
   Real estate	Quality assessment & innovation
   Leadership and management	Human & environmental factors
   Finance	Communication
   Technology

   
   Ideally, candidates should have experience in all nine areas; however, it is possible for a candidate to have experience in most competency areas, minimal exposure to others and still pass the exam.
   

Step 2: Submit application.

Step 3: Schedule and pass exam.
Within several days of submission, candidates are e-mailed information on how to contact Prometric, the IFMA testing provider, to register for their exam. Candidates must take the exam within three months of acceptance.

Step 4: You’re a CFM!
Once you receive your official notification you may begin using the CFM after your name. You will also receive a certificate, lapel pin and press release in your welcome packet.

What is the exam format?

The computerized exam consists of 180 multiple-choice questions related to the nine competencies listed above. Candidates are given 4 hours in which to complete the entire exam.

 How do I maintain my CFM?

Certification is valid for three years. CFMs must demonstrate a continued commitment to growth and excellence by earning a required number of maintenance points in at least two of the following categories:

• Practice
• Continuing education
• Professional involvement
• Development of the profession

What if I don’t pass the first time?

Don’t give up! We will send you a letter listing the two or three competency areas in which you scored lowest. This information should be used as a learning opportunity to prepare for taking the exam again. Information on re-testing is also included in the letter. 

What is the CFMJ?

Each CFM has the opportunity to apply for, and automatically be granted, the Certified Facility Manager Japan (CFMJ) designation, owned by the Japanese Facility Management Promotion Association (JFMA). IFMA and JFMA have spent several years reviewing each other’s exams and processes. When the programs were found to be equivalent, the decision was made to grant reciprocal certification to designees from either program.

Applying for the CFMJ designation is not a requirement to earning or keeping the CFM. It is, however, another verification of the international relevance of the CFM designation. Once the information is submitted to IFMA along with a payment of $100, a CFM is registered at IFMA headquarters and in Japan as a CFMJ. He or she also receives a Japanese certificate awarding them the CFMJ designation.  

For more information, please contact enquiry@fms-1.com.