ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager Program

Download ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager Program
Download the CFM Application
Download Background of the Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) Program

The Association of State Floodplain Managers has established a national program for professional certification of floodplain managers. The program recognizes continuing education and professional development that enhance the knowledge and performance of local, state, federal, and private-sector floodplain managers.

The role of the nation's floodplain managers is expanding due to increases in disaster losses, the emphasis being placed upon mitigation to alleviate the cycle of damage-rebuild-damage, and a recognized need for professionals to adequately address these issues. Floodplain managers come from a variety of curricula and backgrounds; there is no college-level degree program for floodplain management. This certification program will lay the foundation for ensuring that highly qualified individuals are available to meet the challenge of breaking the damage cycle and stopping its negative drain on the nation's human, financial, and natural resources.

The formation of a professional certification program is recognized as an effective means to:

• Formalize a procedure to recognize and provide an incentive for individuals to improve their knowledge of floodplain management concepts;
• Enhance individual professional development goals;
• Promote an understanding of relevant subject matter that is consistent nationwide;
• Convey new concepts and practices; and
• Build partnerships among organizations and agencies that share the goal of advancing sound floodplain management.

The primary goal of the ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager Program (CFM Program) is to help reduce the nation's flood losses and protect and enhance the natural resources and functions of its floodplains by improving the knowledge and abilities of floodplain managers in the United States. This goal will be achieved over time by:

• Encouraging self-study and attendance at training courses to pass testing to obtain certification;
• Requiring continuing education as a condition for renewal;
• Encouraging ASFPM chapters, state agencies, and state or regional associations to prepare tests for floodplain managers on specific knowledge of state and regional requirements and legislation: and
• Ensuring that the CFMs have an awareness not only of the NFIP, but of comprehensive floodplain management.

A second goal of the CFM Program is to increase the prominence of floodplain management in decision-making by local officials and the public. This goal will be achieved on a larger scale and over a longer time frame by:

• Improving the recognition of floodplain management as a specific discipline;
• Increasing the status of floodplain managers as knowledgeable professionals in a complex and important field;
• Providing greater credibility and visibility for the profession; and
• Increasing the educational and training opportunities for floodplain managers through partnerships with other organizations.
• Encouraging CFMs to contribute to the profession of floodplain management for the betterment of the nation.

Certification Classifications

The ASFPM CFM Program recognizes individuals who become certified, who pass the ASFPM exam, or an exam prepared by states, ASFPM chapters, state agencies, and state or regional associations or that certify floodplain managers. The ASFPM offers floodplain manager certifications in two categories.

1. ASFPM awarded Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM)

A. ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) This certification is awarded by the ASFPM directly to individuals who apply and successfully pass the exam, demonstrating their knowledge of the basic national standards and programs of floodplain management, but who reside or work in states where ASFPM accredited certification is not available.

B. ASFPM approved State Exam Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) This certification is also awarded by ASFPM, where the state, chapter or other entity has developed an ASFPM approved state specific exam which is tailored to the standards and programs of that state, but where ASFPM continues to perform the administrative work for that state.

2. State [or another entity] Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM)

This certification is awarded directly by a state, ASFPM chapter, state agency, or state or regional association that has been accredited by the ASFPM Certification Board of Regents (CBOR) in accordance with the CFM Program Charter. This certification, although issued by the appropriate state or other entity, is entitled to include a statement that it is "ASFPM accredited".

A person awarded ASFPM accredited certification under a state program might not be recognized as an ASFPM accredited CFM in other states. States with an ASFPM accredited CFM Program will determine the conditions for certification in that state.

CFM® is a registered trademark of the ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager Program and may only be used by Nationally Accredited CFMs.

Procedures

The initial ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager certification will be awarded upon the successful completion of three steps: (1) submitting completed application and fee: (2) submitting an employment Verification form: and (3) receiving a grade of 70% or higher on the certification exam.

ELIGIBILITY FOR ASFPM CFM

The ASFPM CFM Program is directed toward individuals from widely varying occupations, interests, and educational backgrounds who have routine floodplain management duties. This includes representatives from the following groups; community/state/federal officials, the private sector, academia, interest groups, and private citizens. For the purposes of the ASFPM CFM Program, floodplain management is defined as "Activities and efforts undertaken to reduce flood losses and human suffering and to protect the natural and beneficial values and functions of floodplains." Anyone can apply and take the ASFPM CFM exam, except those from a state with an accredited state certification program, who must apply for and take that state's exam. A list of certified state programs is available from the ASFPM website at www.floods.org . Under special circumstances, exceptions may be granted by the state entity for an applicant to take the national exam.

FEES

The following fees have been established:	Fee	Discounted Member Fee*
Application packet, Application Review, & Exam	$340	$100
Biennial Renewal	$290	$50
Re-take Exam Fee	$50	$50
Late Fee	$75	$75
Request for Appeal Fee (Exam results are not eligible for appeal)	$80	$80

* Corporation, Agency, and Chapter Partnerships do not make an applicant eligible for the member rate in the certification process. To be eligible for the member exam rate or the member renewal rate the applicant needs to be an individual member of ASFPM at the time of application and throughout the duration of the certification period.

Additional fees may be established, if necessary to maintain the CFM Program.

When an applicant cancels from a scheduled exam, with at least two weeks notice to the ASFPM Executive Office, he/she will receive a 50% refund. No refund will be given if the cancellation occurs with less than two weeks notice, but the exam can be rescheduled within one year.

Exams for ASFPM CFM

The ASFPM CFM exam shall be approved by the ASFPM Certification Board of Regents (CBOR). The exam will be "closed book" and will be held in a proctored classroom environment. All exams will be pass/fail and the results will be held in strict confidence. ASFPM CFM exams will be given at each ASFPM annual conference and other locations as approved and specified by the CBOR.

The ASFPM certification exam measures a person's knowledge of a community's responsibilities under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and related floodplain management topics. The ASFPM CFM Program has established a policy in which the National Exam is approximately 120 multiple choice and true/false questions. Approximately 20 questions require obtaining information from a Flood Insurance Rate Map, Flood Boundary and Floodway Map and Flood Insurance Study. Another 5 to 10 questions focus on the FEMA Elevation Certificate.

The exam requires approximately 2 to 3 hours to complete. It covers the following seven categories in the proportions shown. Under each category are examples of the topics that are tested.

Topic with Examples	Percentage of Total Questions
Overall Context of Floodplain Management - Unified National Program - NFIP - Community Sanctions	5-10%
Floodplain Mapping - Base flood concept - Discharges, profiles, floodways - Coastal flooding - Reading / using maps - Revising FEMA maps	25-30%
NFIP Regulatory Standards - "Development," requirements for a permit - Encroachment rules - V Zone rules - Building protection standards - Substantial improvement / damage	25-30%
Regulatory Administrative Procedures - Inspections - Rating	20-25%
Flood Insurance - Coverage - rating	10-15%
Flood Hazard Mitigation - Disaster assistance procedures - Funding sources	5-10%
Natural and Beneficial Functions - Wetlands - Multi-objective management	5-10%

Exam Results

Applicants approved for certification will be notified in writing. A certification number will be assigned to the individual and the appropriate certificate will be issued, designating the applicant as an ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager "CFM."

Applicants who fail the exam will also be notified in writing. They will be eligible to retake the exam within one year or at the next ASFPM annual conference. They must submit a retake application and retake fee.

APPEALS

If an application for certification or renewal is denied, the applicant may appeal the ASFPM decision to the CBOR, according to the certification guidelines. An appeal is a request for review of a decision by the ASFPM. An appeal may be made on the grounds that the decision was in conflict with the CFM Charter. Exam results are not eligible for appeal.

Maintaining Certified Status ASFPM CFM®