Credentialing and
Certification Programs
CEFP Frequently Asked Questions
Distinguishing Between EFP and CEFP:
What does EFP and CEFP stand for?
The EFP stands for Educational Facilities Professional and CEFP stands for Certified Educational Facilities Professional.
What is the difference between the EFP and the CEFP?
The EFP was designed with the younger and/or newer facilities professional in mind; while the CEFP is more appropriate for the more experienced facilities professional. The EFP is a certificate program; while the CEFP is a credential and the holder of the credential must maintain their CEU credits.
How do I know which program is the best for me to pursue?
You can get some information by reviewing the eligibility requirements page for EFP and the eligibility requirements page for CEFP on our website for each area. Individuals need to actually qualify through a combination of work and/or educational experience in order to take the CEFP exam and these requirements will help you determine your eligibility for the CEFP level.
What is myEFP and myCEFP?
These are your personal and professional navigation portals for all items related to Credentialing. When you click on the myCEFP page for example, you will be asked to provide your APPA ID and password. If you do not have an account with us, you may create one or if you have forgotten your ID and/or password, you may have that information emailed to you. After logging in, you will see a link appear to start a new application or if you already have one opened, you will see a link to finish an application. Complete the online application and at the end of this process, you will see links to either purchase the CEFP online content materials, or register for the online exam. You may register for one or both of these options. Your myCEFP page tracks your application status, exam dates and times, proctors, your Letter of Support, and payment information such as payment receipts or outstanding PO’s to be paid, as well as education transcript information.
CEFP EXAM QUESTIONS:
How many questions are on the CEFP exam?
The CEFP exam has 100 multiple choice questions. Each multiple choice question is equal weight
and worth 1 point. The CEFP exam also contains 5 case studies with multiple choice questions attached to each case study for an overall total of 129 multiple choice questions on the exam.
How much time does a person have to complete the CEFP exam?
All test candidates are given 4 hours to complete the exam.
What is the cost of the CEFP exam?
The CEFP exam is $600.
What do you need to score in order to pass the CEFP exam?
APPA does not release this information.
How soon after taking the CEFP exam can I expect to receive my results?
APPA requires that both the proctor and the test candidate submit signed electronic verification statements acknowledging that exam protocol was adhered to before exam scores will be released to the test candidate. Generally, exam results will be released the same day if both forms are signed and emailed in a timely manner to Christina Hills, APPA’s Director of Credentialing & Benchmarking.
Does APPA provide additional exam feedback beyond the test results?
Your exam results will be either pass/fail. APPA does not provide your raw score or percentage pass rate. APPA will provide general content feedback which will allow a candidate to easily determine their areas of strengths and weaknesses on the exam. APPA does not automatically provide exam feedback. You may easily request this information by emailing Christina Hills, APPA’s Director of Credentialing & Benchmarking.
What are the steps to register for the online CEFP exam?
You will need to access the myCEFP menu option and follow the steps to complete your online application form. The online exam requires a minimum 5 day advance notice, so you will not be able to register for the exam earlier than 5 days from today’s date. The online exam window registration period is 6 months from the time that you begin an application.
If I fail the CEFP exam, how long must I wait before signing up to re-take the CEFP exam?
APPA does not have a mandatory wait period between exam re-takes but APPA encourages individuals to request exam feedback and spend time studying the CEFP exam content before considering how soon to re-take the CEFP exam.
How many times in one year can I re-take the CEFP exam if necessary?
APPA allows a test candidate to re-take the CEFP exam up to four times in one year (from the date of the first exam) if necessary.
Are there any requirements to maintain the CEFP credential?
Yes. The CEFP credential must be maintained through a combination of Continuing Education Credits (CEU's) that must be earned within a certain period of time. APPA will be posting detailed information regarding CEFP CEU's in the near future.
CEFP Exam Content Questions:
What is the content for the CEFP exam?
The CEFP exam consists of APPA’s four core areas known as the Body of Knowledge or BOK. The four core content areas are:
Part 1 - General Administration and Management
Part 2 - Operations and Maintenance
Part 3 - Energy, Utilities, and Environmental Stewardship
Part 4 - Planning, Design & Construction
APPA also offers an additional electronic CEFP supplemental guide to the CEFP BOK content. The CEFP Guide contains many sample exam questions over each of the content areas noted above and it provides the test candidate with a useful exam content outline to help narrow the focus of study.
I already purchased the EFP BOK content. Can I use the EFP BOK content to study for the CEFP exam?
No. The EFP BOK content is different than the CEFP BOK content. The CEFP BOK content comes from the original four volume set of BOK texts and the EFP BOK content is a newer/more recent version of these texts. There will be some overlap in the content but the EFP BOK content does contain updated information that will differ from the CEFP content. The CEFP exam questions are tied to the CEFP BOK content specifically.
Can I purchase the CEFP BOK or CEFP Guide without registering for the exam?
Yes, you may purchase the CEFP Guide before registering for the exam. The CEFP BOK is not purchased as a stand alone body of content. Your CEFP eligibility application fee of $150 to qualify for the CEFP exam includes access to the online CEFP BOK content. APPA recommends that an individual complete the CEFP application right away to gain access to the CEFP BOK content and then register for the CEFP exam at a later date.
What is the cost to purchase the electronic supplemental CEFP Guide?
The electronic supplemental CEFP Guide is $150.
CEFP Proctor Questions:
Does APPA require the CEFP exam to be proctored?
Yes, the CEFP exam must be proctored. APPA does not require that test candidates go to a testing center to take the CEFP exam.
What are the proctor guidelines and requirements for the CEFP exam?
The proctor guidelines and requirements can be found on the APPA website. APPA encourages both the test candidate and the proctor to thoroughly review the guidelines and requirements before agreeing to complete the online CEFP exam.
Is there a difference between the proctor guidelines and the proctor requirements?
Yes. The proctor guidelines provide general guidance over the expected level of responsibility that the proctor will assume before, during, and after the examination. The Proctor Requirements Document contains specific oaths that the proctor will electronically sign after the examination is completed. The Proctor Requirements Document is then emailed to Christina Hills, APPA’s Director of Credentialing & Benchmarking where it will be verified. This document and the Test Candidate Verification Form must be signed and emailed to Christina Hills before a test candidate’s pass/fail notification will be released to the test candidate. View instructions for completing the Proctor Requirements page.
Does the test candidate need to complete a form after completing the CEFP exam?
Yes. The test candidate will be required to complete the Test Candidate Verification Form which is an oath electronically signed by the test candidate. This document will then be emailed to Christina Hills, APPA’s Director of Credentialing & Benchmarking where it will be verified. This document and the Proctor Requirements Document must be signed and emailed to Christina Hills before a test candidate’s pass/fail notification will be released to the test candidate. View instructions for completing the Test Candidate Verification Form.
EFP Prep Course Questions:
Am I allowed to take the EFP prep course if I'm trying to prepare for the CEFP exam?
Yes, APPA does not restrict CEFP test candidates from registering for the EFP prep course. APPA does not formally offer the EFP prep course as an option to individuals who qualify for the CEFP but we will be happy to accommodate them.
When does APPA offer the EFP prep course?
APPA offers the prep course at all the Institute and Leadership Academy venues and at APPA’s Annual Conference each year. APPA Regions also provide opportunities to attend the EFP prep course each year. Registration dates for any of these venues will appear on the application form as the dates are confirmed.
What are my options for a EFP prep course if I do not plan to travel or cannot travel to one of the EFP prep course venues?
APPA will work with you and your institution or school to bring the EFP prep course to your location. Please contact Christina Hills, APPA’s Director of Credentialing & Benchmarking for additional information about this option.
What is the cost of the EFP prep course and what does it include?
The EFP prep course costs $540 per person and includes all your electronic study materials as well as lunch for the all day training session.
How are instructors selected to teach the EFP prep course?
APPA qualifies all prep course instructors and there are currently eight qualified prep course instructors across all APPA regions who also serve as prep course faculty members.
What advantage will the EFP prep course provide for me?
The EFP prep course will help to narrow the focus of content material by providing more specific information on exam content breakout. The course will provide attendees with key terms and definitions to prioritize as well as group exercises and sample test questions that closely mirror actual exam questions. The attendee will develop the critical thinking skills and strategies to use when considering which exam responses are correct or incorrect. Lastly, the EFP prep course will definitively allow an attendee to accurately assess their readiness and level of preparedness for the CEFP exam.
How long do I need to wait after attending the EFP prep course before I can register for the CEFP exam?
APPA does not impose a mandatory wait time and a candidate may register to take the CEFP exam immediately following the EFP prep course. APPA recommends that test candidates use the EFP prep course as an opportunity to assess their level of preparedness for the CEFP exam before committing to an exam date.
