CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT

INTRODUCTION

As part of maintaining ASFPM Certification status, the Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) must stay current in their knowledge of floodplain management policies and concepts. This policy paper contains the criteria and procedures for the ASFPM Certification Board of Regents (CBOR) to review Continuing Education Credits (CECs); and the number of (CECs) and type of training eligible for CEC credit.

CFM CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS CRITERIA

The requirement for continuing education within the two-year period can be met through combinations of formal courses, university short courses, home study courses which require an exam for successful completion, or attendance at technical program portions of the ASFPM Annual Conference, state or regional chapter or association conferences, or other related technical conferences and workshops.

Detailed CEC requirements are:

A minimum of 16 CECs over a two-year period is required to maintain certification status.
No more than 12 CECs can be claimed during either the first or second year.
No more than 6 CECs can be claimed for Parallel Discipline Education/Training in the two year renewal period.
A maximum of 2 CECs can be claimed over the two year renewal period for membership/participation in a professional or technical society/association. One CEC will be allotted per organization, for the two year renewal period. Examples of acceptable professional or technical societies/associations include, but are not limited to: ASFPM, State/Regional ASFPM Chapters, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).
CECs may be earned by attending training, workshops or conferences or through home study courses. The number of CECs earned depends on the subject matter and hours of training.
Six CECs will be credited per one full day of education/training in core subjects. "Core subjects" are directly related floodplain management disciplines. Examples of core subjects are listed on the following pages.
Four CECs will be credited per one full day of education/training in indirect or parallel disciplines. Examples of parallel disciplines are also listed on the following pages.
Any CECs earned for a specific training or home study course, will be permitted once each five year period. A CFM will not receive CECs the second time they take a course, unless a minimum of five years have elapsed since taking that course.

In general, the content of training, workshops and conferences presented by ASFPM and State or Regional Chapters or Associations, and State NFIP Coordinating agencies will qualify as core subjects. However, it is not who conducts the training, it is the subject matter that is presented.

Note: No credit will be given for independent or web study where no exam is required.

CORE SUBJECT MATTER

Core floodplain management subjects are those that are directly related to the field of floodplain management. Continued study in these subjects is an important part of maintaining Certified Floodplain Manager status. Examples that are considered as core subjects include but are not limited to, the following:

Floodplain management
Floodplain mapping
Floodplain management regulations
Floodproofing
Floodplain management ordinance administration
Flooding and flood hazards
Floodplains and ecosystems
Flood hazard mitigation
Multi-objective management
The National Flood Insurance Program
Flood insurance
Elevation certificates

PARALLEL SUBJECT MATTER

Parallel floodplain management subjects are those that are indirectly related to the field of floodplain management. Subjects shown below are initially listed as Parallel but could become Core subjects if the focus and content of the subject matter is directly related to the field of floodplain management. Examples that are considered as parallel subjects include but are not limited to, the following:

Emergency management
Disaster assistance procedures
Hurricane response
Water resource management
Land use management
Building construction
Water quality programs
Stream gaging
Stormwater management
Wetlands management
Watershed management

Dam safety
Public information programs
Benefit-cost analysis

Case Examples: A training course on using GIS to develop a flood warning and response plan would be a core subject. A course on using GIS to develop a comprehensive land use plan would be a parallel subject.

A home study course on inspecting a building for compliance with floodplain management regulations is a core subject. A course on the new ICC building code is a parallel subject.

A workshop on how to apply for a floodplain development or a Corps Section 404 Wetland permit is a core subject. A workshop on applying for an NPDES permit for a wastewater treatment plant or a Corps water quality 401 Certification are parallel subjects.

ASFPM will periodically publish a list of Core and Parallel courses, conferences, workshops, etc. and the number of CECs that are awarded for each. These are considered "pre-approved" courses.

TEACHING

Credit will be given every five years for preparation and teaching a course. A core subject would be given 6 CECs per day and a parallel subject course would be given 4 CECs per day. Any CECs earned for teaching at a specific training, or the development of a home study course, will be permitted once each five year period. A CFM will not receive CECs the second time they teach or develop a course, unless a minimum of five years have elapsed since teaching or developing that course.

CEC REVIEW PROCESS

Approximately 3 months after passing the Certification Exam, the CFM will be reminded of the CEC requirements and process.
Approximately 6 months prior to the biennial renewal, the CFM will receive a reminder letter discussing the CEC requirements and renewal process, and a listing of her/his reported CECs.
Approximately 3 months prior to the two-year recertification, the CFM will receive a notification, renewal application, billing statement, and CEC forms for the biennial renewal.
The CFM will submit her/his renewal application, renewal fee, and CECs to ASFPM for review. CECs may be submitted for review at any time during the 2 year renewal period. CFMs need to attach an agenda and a copy of a certificate of completion or verification of attendance on the back of each CEC Form requesting credit for a specific course, workshop, etc.
Those individuals meeting the renewal requirements minimum qualifications will be notified within 30 days after submission of material to the ASFPM. Those not fulfilling the requirements for renewal by her/his renewal due date will be decertified and so notified. Specifics of reinstatement of certification are covered in the Charter.
All verbal and written correspondence directed to the Certification Board of Regents should be sent to the ASFPM Executive Office.

VERIFICATION OF ATTENDANCE

As part of his/her renewal application, the CFM must submit documentation to ASFPM that the required CECs have been earned. A Continuing Education Credit Verification Form pdficon must be submitted for each course or workshop attended along with the following additional documentation:

If the course, workshop or conference is on the ASFPM pre-approved course list, then the following must be submitted:

A signed copy of the Continuing Education Credit Verification Form
A copy of a certificate of completion, attendance or other document provided by the training sponsor that records attendance. If such a document is not provided, then the instructor must sign the Continuing Education Credit Verification Form.
If the conference or training had concurrent sessions, the sessions that the CFM attended must be clearly marked.

If the course, workshop or conference is not on the pre-approved course list, then a course or workshop agenda or other description of the training must be submitted in addition to the above documents.

This page last updated October 12, 2001.