Take Your CFM Exam Online: More Convenient, Faster Results
Big changes are coming to the Certified Floodplain Managers exam. After two years of planning, we’re excited to announce the transition to a digital CFM® exam has begun and starting September 1 exam candidates can begin scheduling their online exams.
Moving to an online format provides greater convenience and flexibility to the more than 1,200 floodplain management professionals who take the CFM exam each year. No more having to wait for an exam date to be scheduled in your community or traveling an hour or more to take an exam in a neighboring state. As an added benefit, you will receive your results immediately upon completion of the exam, rather than the typical two-three week turn-around time of the paper exams.
ASFPM has contracted with Scantron, a leading testing services company, to make the CFM exam available at its test center locations in the United States and Canada. Of the top 100 U.S. cities by population, 98% of candidates are within 15 miles of a Scantron testing center. For even greater convenience, there’s also the option of taking the exam from your home or office with Scantron’s remote proctor service.
“This really is a major milestone for the CFM program and it will help us continue to grow the program while protecting the security and integrity of the exam,” said Chad Berginnis, executive director of ASFPM. “By removing the barriers inherent to the traditional paper exams, we anticipate the accessibility of the digital exam will hold particularly strong appeal to the next generation of CFMs.”
Timeline for the digital exam transition
To accommodate exam takers during the transition to a digital exam, the Certification Board of Regents (CBOR) has established a phased rollout for the program. Here are a few key points to keep in mind as you plan your testing options:
- Digital exams can be scheduled starting Sept. 1, 2021
- Existing paper exams that are already scheduled will go on as scheduled
- ASFPM will begin pilot testing digital exam offerings at chapter events later this year
- Paper exams are targeted to be phased out in 2022
Getting started with the digital CFM exam
Registering for the online CFM exam is quick and easy. When you register here to take the exam, you will receive a Notice to Schedule email from Scantron that includes a username/password and instructions to register at a testing center that meets your preferred location and timeframe. You can adjust your location/timeframe search as needed to get more options. A list of testing locations can be found here.
To help you navigate the changes, we’ve developed a resource of frequently asked questions. Ready to get started? Visit the Getting Certified page to learn more and register for your exam.
“Moving to the digital exam is part of our ongoing effort to modernize the CFM program,” said Louie Greenwell, certification and training manager at ASFPM. “In addition to the convenience and flexibility aspects, candidates will enjoy a better test-taking experience as things like FIRM maps and other exhibits are easier to display in a digital format.”
