CFM IFMA CFM 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the IFMA Certified Facility Manager (CFM) credential signify?
- Completion of an IFMA-sponsored training course
- Demonstrated competency across all IFMA facility management competency areas through a combination of education, experience, and examination (Correct answer)
- Membership in the IFMA organization for at least five years
- Completion of a four-year university degree in facility management
Correct answer: Demonstrated competency across all IFMA facility management competency areas through a combination of education, experience, and examination
The CFM credential validates broad FM expertise across IFMA competency areas through a rigorous combination of experience and examination requirements.
The IFMA CFM credential is the most widely recognized professional certification in facility management. Candidates must meet minimum education and FM experience requirements before sitting for a comprehensive competency examination covering all IFMA FM competency areas.
Question 2: How many core competency areas does the IFMA facility management framework include, and which is considered central to all others?
- 5 competency areas; Operations and Maintenance is central
- 11 competency areas; Communication is considered central because all FM work requires it (Correct answer)
- 7 competency areas; Finance and Business is central
- 14 competency areas; Leadership and Strategy is central
Correct answer: 11 competency areas; Communication is considered central because all FM work requires it
IFMA defines 11 core FM competencies, with Communication at the center as it is required to perform all other competencies effectively.
IFMA FM competency framework identifies 11 core competency areas: Operations and Maintenance, Project Management, Finance and Business, Leadership and Strategy, Occupancy and Human Factors, Real Estate and Property Management, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability, Emergency Preparedness, Technology Management, Quality, and Communication.
Question 3: What is the recertification requirement for maintaining the IFMA CFM credential?
- Re-sitting the full CFM examination every three years
- Earning a minimum number of continuing education hours (CEHs) over a three-year recertification cycle (Correct answer)
- Maintaining active IFMA membership without any additional requirements
- Publishing at least one FM industry article per recertification period
Correct answer: Earning a minimum number of continuing education hours (CEHs) over a three-year recertification cycle
CFMs must earn continuing education hours to demonstrate ongoing professional development and recertify every three years.
IFMA CFM recertification requires credential holders to earn 120 Continuing Education Hours (CEHs) over a three-year cycle, documenting professional development activities including courses, conferences, webinars, publications, and volunteer leadership.
Question 4: What is the IFMA-published body of knowledge that forms the basis for the CFM examination?
- The ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals
- The Facility Management Body of Knowledge (FMBK) published by IFMA (Correct answer)
- The BOMA Experience Exchange Report
- The LEED Reference Guide
Correct answer: The Facility Management Body of Knowledge (FMBK) published by IFMA
The FMBK defines the knowledge, skills, and abilities expected of professional facility managers and forms the curriculum for the CFM exam.
The Facility Management Body of Knowledge (FMBK), published by IFMA, is the comprehensive reference document defining the competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities required for professional FM practice. It is the primary study resource for CFM exam candidates.
Question 5: What does the Strategic Facility Plan (SFP) align facility decisions with?
- The local municipal zoning and building code requirements
- The organization overall business strategy, goals, and long-range operational plans (Correct answer)
- IFMA annual industry benchmarking survey results
- The facility most recent condition assessment findings
Correct answer: The organization overall business strategy, goals, and long-range operational plans
The SFP positions FM as a strategic business function by directly connecting facility decisions to organizational direction.
A Strategic Facility Plan translates the organization business strategy including growth plans, workforce evolution, technology adoption, and sustainability commitments into a multi-year facility roadmap. It identifies the facility portfolio required to support business objectives and the capital investments needed.
Question 6: What is benchmarking within the context of the IFMA FM competency framework?
- Setting minimum performance thresholds for new FM hires
- The process of comparing FM costs, processes, and performance against peers, industry standards, or best-in-class organizations to identify improvement opportunities (Correct answer)
- Establishing the physical reference marks used in construction surveys
- A financial forecasting method for estimating future maintenance costs
Correct answer: The process of comparing FM costs, processes, and performance against peers, industry standards, or best-in-class organizations to identify improvement opportunities
Benchmarking is a core FM practice for identifying performance gaps and building data-driven improvement strategies.
Within the IFMA FM framework, benchmarking involves systematically comparing the FM organization costs, processes, service quality, and outcomes against relevant peers. Benchmarking identifies where the FM program underperforms, where it leads, and what practices drive top performance.
CFM IFMA CFM 2
What does the IFMA Certified Facility Manager (CFM) credential signify?