Celebrating New CFMs

The decision to become a Certified Floodplain Manager may be perhaps the easiest step in the process of obtaining the CFM credential. The hours of study and on-the-job training needed to actually pass the CFM® exam? That’s not so easy. The CFM exam was created to measure a person’s knowledge across a variety of topics and to serve as an industry benchmark for floodplain managers to demonstrate their competence through a professional certification. The closed book exam includes 120 multiple-choice questions, which candidates have three hours to complete. Topics include floodplain management, mapping, NFIP regulations, flood insurance, mitigation, natural and beneficial functions, and the overall context of floodplain management.

Unlike some standardized exams, there are no ASFPM-approved courses specifically developed to prepare candidates to pass the CFM exam. However, a curated list of technical references can be found in the CFM Exam Resources collection in the ASFPM Library. Exam candidates are strongly encouraged to study these reference materials as they were used to validate every question on the exam.

Passing the exam and earning the CFM credential is a significant professional accomplishment and one that should be celebrated. At the recommendation of the Certification Board of Regents (CBOR), we will now recognize new CFMs in News and Views on a regular basis. I’m happy to announce the newest members of the CFM community here. I encourage all readers to reach out to those you know and congratulate them on their achievement.