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Certified
Facilities Executive (CFE) Program
The final
deadline to apply for certification in 2008 is February
1, 2008. For a quick and easy check to see if you may
have enough points to apply for CFE, use the
One Minute Guide. The
CFE Application and Program Information is now available
for download using the links below. For more
information, contact
Rodney Williams, by
phone 972-906-7441 or one of the
Certification Board members.
THE CFE MESSAGE: SKILL, COMMITMENT, GROWTH
The Certified Facilities Executive (CFE) program was
begun by IAAM in 1976 to recognize excellence in the
professional development and competence of managers of
public assembly facilities.
The program has undergone
continuous modification to ensure fairness and objective
measurement of candidates' qualification for the
designation. In 1993, a new qualification phase was
added to the program-successful completion of a written
exam. Certification Board members are closely evaluating
the validity of the exam, and in future years, objective
measurement of candidates' knowledge and skills will
increase in significance. In 1994, the Certification
Board added a Recertification requirement for CFEs to
maintain the Certified Facilities Executive designation.
Every three years, CFEs are required to submit evidence
of continuing education and professional development. In
the Fall of 1995 the Certification Board approved a
"Retired CFE" status which was updated in 2004
stating that CFEs who have retired and notified
the Certification Administrator in writing of their
retirement will not be required to meet Recertification
requirements and may use the designation “CFE Retired.”
The CFE designation says
three important things about a facility executive: he or
she is a skilled manager, is committed to the industry,
and is pledged to continued professional growth and
development. Managers who earn the CFE designation are
recognized, by those inside and outside the industry, as
experts in their profession.
The basic purpose of the
voluntary certification program is to provide additional
incentive for professional improvement in public
assembly facility management, to assure recognition for
those who attain certain specific standards, and to lead
toward development of a full professional status in the
field of public assembly facility management.
It is not the purpose of
the certification program to determine who shall or
shall not engage in the management of public assembly
facilities. It is recognized that there are many who are
successfully engaged in public assembly facility
management who are not interested in applying for
certification. The primary purpose is to encourage
professional development and to recognize achievement.
THREE
STEPS TO CERTIFICATION
Step One: Professional
Development and Service
The application forms must be submitted with
attachments, outlining education, experience, program
participation, publications, and professional and
community activities. References are requested, as well
as commitment to the IAAM Code of Ethics and a written
essay outlining the candidates' philosophy of facility
management.
Before submitting your
application, double check that all requirements have
been fulfilled. The deadline for receiving applications
is February 1. A check in the amount of
US$375 (US$575 non-member) payable to the "International
Association of Assembly Managers" must accompany the
application or a credit card number for the application
fee. This fee covers administrative costs and the plaque
awarded to Certified Facilities Executives upon
acceptance. If your application is rejected, your
application fee, less a $50 processing fee, will be
refunded.
Step Two: The Written
Examination
Individuals whose applications are accepted become
candidates for the Certified Facilities Executive
designation. Candidates receive written notification
from the Board that they will be allowed to sit for the
written examination. The examination covers basic
knowledge regarding the operation of public assembly
facilities, including arenas, stadiums, convention
centers and performing arts centers. A list of Suggested
Study Materials for the CFE Written Examination as well
as a Study Materials package are available from the IAAM
office.
Step Three: The Oral
Review
Individuals who pass the written examination will be
required to sit for an oral interview by a panel of
Certification Board members. The oral interview panel
will evaluate the candidate’s knowledge of a series of
industry topics that probe professional experience,
management philosophy, professional contributions, and
overall management of public assembly facilities,
including arenas, stadiums, convention centers and
performing arts venues. The oral interview panel will
also evaluate the candidate’s ability to articulate
those points. The panel will consider the above criteria
to determine whether the candidate passes the oral
interview.
After Certification:
Recertification
Certified Facilities Executives must recertify every
three years in order to maintain their certification.
The Certification Board has established this requirement
under the rationale that maintaining competency in the
field of public assembly facility management requires
continuing professional development through activities
such as continuing education programs, teaching and
program planning, writing and publishing and community
service. Recertification demonstrates your continued
dedication to stay up-to-date with the changing Public
Assembly Facility Management profession, and it's an
important indicator that shows your dedication to your
profession and industry by continuing your education and
maintaining your certification. In addition,
Recertification is a process necessary to maintaining
the standards of the Certification program.
CFEs must submit their
application for recertification and fee (US$50 for
members, US$100 for non-members) three years after the
January 1st that immediately follows their earning the
designation. For instance, CFEs who earned the
designation in August 2004 are required to submit a new
application for recertification by January 1, 2008 and
then every three years following.
CFE Retired: The
Certification Board has approved a “CFE retired"
status. A CFE, upon retirement from the industry, is
certified for life. No further action is necessary
except to notify the IAAM office.
The new recertification
requirement, combined with the rigorous selection
process the Certification Board has developed for
certification, will insure that your CFE designation
continues to be an acknowledged mark of your
professional status among public assembly facility
executives.
For more information,
contact
Rodney Williams,
by phone 972-906-7441 or one of the
Certification Board members. |