What is the CEFP?

APPA’s Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP) credential is an advanced level of certification that represents a mastery of professional expertise and is a mark of superior proficiency in the core competencies for education facilities professionals. This designation demonstrates superior proficiency, professional strength, and unfailing dedication in the field of educational facilities. The CEFP represents the foundational knowledge, talent, and skills of facilities professionals by highlighting accountability and emphasizing the importance of the profession as a whole and also at the institutional level.

APPA-certified professionals who have earned this respected credential distinguish themselves among their peers. CEFP recipients tell us that while they gained skills that were immediately applicable to their job, the personal validation that comes from this achievement stands out to them—this kind of recognition cannot be measured simply by a job description.

Earning your CEFP certification enables you to be competitive among other professionals and more desirable for future leadership positions. You will see the personal return on your investment of time in terms of career development.

As the facilities profession becomes more complex, it’s critical to demonstrate your well-rounded knowledge of all the systems that make your campus an efficient place to learn, live and work.

Today’s facilities professionals face a variety of challenges, such as:
• Aging infrastructure of buildings and utilities
• Expanding workload and expectations
• Reduced resources and skills gaps
• Utilizing space more efficiently

APPA’s CEFP certification is the only facilities credential that focuses on your professional development, while encompassing the full, multi-disciplinary range of educational facilities management principles and practices—from planning, design and construction to daily operations and general management.

Professional certification ensures that you are well equipped to meet these challenges and demonstrates your commitment to lifelong learning.

The Certified Educational Facilities Professional credential (CEFP) is a certification designed for both aspiring and existing educational facilities professionals with eight years of combined education and professional facilities management experience. Earning the CEFP demonstrates that you have a mastery of professional expertise and is a mark of superior proficiency in the core competencies for education facilities professionals.

The Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP) designation provides a professional credentialing continuum for the educational facilities professional.

To maintain the CEFP credential, one must demonstrate their commitment to on-going professional development and continuing leadership by means of a recertification process every four (4) years. The process utilizes a point system that assigns recertification credits for participation in professional development programs, as well as APPA and non-APPA volunteer leadership and service in support of the educational facilities profession. To learn more about the recertification process visit our Recertification page.

Two Ways to Earn the CEFP

APPA has two programs you can attend to earn the CEFP credential. Depending on how familiar you are with APPA’s Body of Knowledge will determine which course is right for you.

The CEFP Course and Exam is an online, 90-day self-study course with four live, one-hour review webinars. The CEFP exam must be attempted before the conclusion of your cohort group. If you fail the exam, you will be placed in the next available cohort group to restart the course and retest free of charge. Additional exam attempts can be purchased for $150 each, with 30 days access to the study platform.

The Pathway to Professionalism is a four day, educational program designed to explore APPA’s Body of Knowledge or BOK prior to attempting the CEFP exam, which is optional but included in the registration fee. This program is ideal for anyone looking to become CEFP certified, needing recertification points, or wishing to have a better understanding of the BOK. (Offered virtually or in-person, for groups or individual registration)

Lifelong Learning

Once you have earned your CEFP, you’ll demonstrate your ongoing commitment to professional competence and leadership by adding to your skills and knowledge. Every four years, APPA asks you to document this new knowledge utilizing a point system that assigns recertification credits before you can renew your certification. There are many ways to do this—working in facilities management; attending professional conferences, workshops or webinars; serving on boards and committees; teaching; and publishing articles. You can see a full list of approved activities by visiting our Recertification page.

Questions or inquiries: Contact Certification