CFM® Exam Preparation Guide

Download a printable version of the CFM® Exam Preparation Guide (3/23/10)
Download ASFPM Floodplain Manager Body of Knowledge (12/07)

Floodplain Manager Certification Program CFM® Certification Exam Preparation Guide (* Items of most importance)

* Items of most importance

1. * FEMA National Flood Insurance Program Regulations – Recommended Sections:

59 General Provisions and Definitions
61 Insurance Coverage, Rates and Increased Cost of Compliance
60.3 Floodplain Management Criteria
65 Identification and Mapping
67 Appeals from proposed Base Flood Elevations
70 Map Corrections
73 Section 1316 Denial of Flood Insurance

[NFIP Regulations available from the FEMA webpage www.fema.gov/business/nfip/laws1.shtm].

2. * Flood Insurance Study, Flood Insurance Rate Maps and Flood Boundary Floodway Maps for your Community [Available from the FEMA Map Information eXchange webpage www.msc.fema.gov or call the FEMA Map Information eXchange at (877) 336-2627 (877-FEMA-MAP)].

3. * Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance for your Community [Example ordinances are available from the NFIP State Coordinator in your state, contact information is available at www.floods.org/index.asp?menuID=274&firstlevelmenuID=185&siteID=1].

4. * FEMA 480, (2/05 or later publication), "National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Floodplain Management Requirements, A Study Guide and Desk Reference for Local Officials" [Available from the ASPFM webpage at www.floods.org/index.asp?menuID=388&firstlevelmenuID=180&siteID=1 or by mail from the FEMA Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520].

5. * Flood County, USA (FIRM, DFIRM, Index, FIS) [Available from the FEMA Publications Warehouse by calling (800) 480-2520 and referencing Pub# A-0022 or available electronically at ASFPM webpage http://www.floods.org/index.asp?menuid=389&firstlevelmenuid=180&siteid=1].

6. State NFIP Coordinating Agency publications - such as RG-330/ev "Floodplain Management 101" (TNRCC, Aug 2001); RG-12 - "State of Texas Floodplain Administrators Manual," 6/94, or "Guidebook for Local Floodplain Ordinance Administrators," Oklahoma Water Resources Board, 01/99, (or a similar State Coordinator publication) [Available from the NFIP State Coordinator in your state, contact information is available at www.floods.org/index.asp?menuID=274&firstlevelmenuID=185&siteID=1].

7. * MitDiv-2, FEMA Pub# 084 (5/06 or later printing) - "Answers to Questions about the NFIP" [Available from the FEMA webpage at http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/qanda.shtm or ordered from the FEMA Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520].

8. * FEMA MT-1, FEMA Pub# 81-87 Series (9/02 or later printing) – "Amendments and Revisions to National Flood Insurance Program Maps" [Available from the FEMA webpage www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1492 or ordered from the FEMA Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520].

9. FEMA MT-2, FEMA Pub# 81-89 Series (3/08 or later printing) – "Revisions to National Flood Insurance Program Maps" [Available from the FEMA webpage www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?1493 or ordered from the FEMA Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520].

10. FEMA 467-1 Floodplain Management Bulletin, Elevation Certificate, May 2004 (or later printing) [can be downloaded from the FEMA Web Page http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1727 or ordered from the FEMA Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520]

11. FEMA/NFIP Elevation Certificate and Instructions, FEMA 81-31, OMB No. 3067-0077, MAR 2009 (or later printing) [Elevation Certificate can be downloaded from the FEMA Webpage http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/elvinst.shtm or ordered from the FEMA Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520]

12. FEMA 213, (5/91 or later printing) "Answers to Questions about Substantially Damaged Buildings" [Available from the FEMA webpage www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1636 or ordered from the FEMA Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520].

13. FEMA 345, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Desk Reference (10/99 or later printing) [Available from the FEMA webpage www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/publications.shtm or ordered from Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520].

14. FEMA 2010, Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Unified Guidance (6/2009 or later printing) [Available from the FEMA webpage www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3649 or ordered from the FEMA Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520].

15. FEMA Technical Bulletins TB-1 through TB-11, and "NFIP Fact Sheets" (various dates - watch for future publications and updates) [Available from the FEMA webpage www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/techbul.shtm or ordered from Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520].

16. FEMA 301, (9/03 or later printing) Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) – "Interim Guidance for State and Local Officials", Sep 2003 (or later printing) [Available from the FEMA webpage www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1532 (and additional ICC information at www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/ICC.shtm ) or ordered from the FEMA Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520].

17. FEMA 268, (6/96 or latest printing) "Protecting Floodplain Resources- A Guidebook for Communities" [Available from the FEMA webpage www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1419 or ordered from Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520].

18. Community Rating System (CRS) Coordinator's Manual, FEMA Pub# FIA-15 (2007 or later printing) [Available from the FEMA webpage www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2434 or ordered from Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520].

19. FEMA 386, (5/05 or later printing) "State and Local Mitigation Planning – How-to Series", 1 through 8 [Available from the FEMA webpage www.fema.gov/pdf/fima/386-6_Front%20Matter.pdf or ordered from Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520].

20. State Floodplain Management Quick Guides, AK, AL, CO, IL, MI, MO, MS, NM, SC, TX, UT; and other states [Available from the NFIP State Coordinator in your state, contact information is available at www.floods.org/index.asp?menuID=274&firstlevelmenuID=185&siteID=1].

21. FEMA 186, NFIP Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines, Reprinted September 2007. [Available from the FEMA webpage www.fema.gov/good_guidance/documents/10040 or ordered from Publication Warehouse (800) 480-2520].

FEMA publications are available from:

FEMA Map Information eXchange: (877) 336-2627 (877-FEMA-MAP)
FEMA Publication Warehouse: (800) 480-2520
FEMA Online: www.fema.gov
NFIP: (800) 427-4661
NFIP Online: www.fema.gov/nfip
NFIP: FloodSmart.gov (888) 379-9531

This exam preparation guide was prepared by the ASFPM Certification Board of Regents (CBOR) and is not intended to be a complete listing of Floodplain Management documents. Documents designated as " * most important" are considered to be excellent references for preparation for the Certified Floodplain Manager exam and should aide in your understanding of floodplain management.

This page was updated on 3/23/10