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Certification – Annual Continuing Education Credit Requirements
INTRODUCTION
As part of maintaining Certification status, the Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) must stay current in their knowledge of floodplain management policies and concepts. This policy paper has been adopted by the Texas Floodplain Management Association, a State Chapter of ASFPM, and contains the criteria and procedures developed by the ASFPM Certification Board of Regents (CBOR) to review Continuing Education Credits (CECs); and the number of (CECs) and type of training eligible for CEC credit.
CFM CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS CRITERIA
The annual requirements for continuing education can be met through combinations of formal courses, university short courses, home study courses which require an exam for successful completion, or attendance at technical program portions of the TFMA Annual Conference, the ASFPM Annual Conference, state or regional chapter or association conferences, or other related technical conferences and workshops.
Detailed CEC requirements are:
1. A minimum of 8 CECs over the one-year (calendar year) period is required to maintain certification status.
2. No more than 12 CECs can be claimed during any calendar year.
3. No more than 3 CECs can be claimed for Parallel Discipline Education/Training in the one year renewal period.
4. A maximum of 1 CECs can be claimed over the one year renewal period for membership/participation in a professional or technical society/association. Examples of acceptable professional or technical societies/associations include, but are not limited to: TFMA, ASFPM, State/Regional ASFPM Chapters, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).
5. CECs may be earned by attending training, workshops or conferences or through home study courses. The number of CECs earned depends on the subject matter and hours of training.
6. Six CECs will be credited per one full day of education/training in core subjects. "Core subjects" are directly related floodplain management disciplines. Examples of core subjects are listed on the following pages.
7. Four CECs will be credited per one full day of education/training in indirect or parallel disciplines. Examples of parallel disciplines are also listed on the following pages.
8. Any CECs earned for a specific training or home study course, will be permitted once each five year period. A CFM will not receive CECs the second time they take a course, unless a minimum of five years have elapsed since taking that course or the course has been updated. The 4-day NFIP course is excluded from this limitation.
In general, the content of training, workshops and conferences presented by TFMA, ASFPM and other State or Regional Chapters or Associations, and State NFIP Coordinating agencies will qualify as core subjects. However, it is not who conducts the training, it is the subject matter that is presented.
Note: No credit will be given for independent or web study where no exam is required.
CORE SUBJECT MATTER
Core floodplain management subjects are those that are directly related to the field of floodplain management. Continued study in these subjects is an important part of maintaining Certified Floodplain Manager status. Examples that are considered as core subjects include but are not limited to, the following:
• Floodplain management
• Floodplain mapping (including GIS, LIDAR etc)
• Floodplain management regulations (including NAI)
• Floodproofing
• Floodplain management ordinance administration
• Flooding and flood hazards
• Floodplains and ecosystems (Section 404)
• Flood hazard mitigation
• Multi-objective management
• The National Flood Insurance Program
• Elevation certificates
• Hydrology and Hydraulics
• Disaster Response and Recovery
• Dam and Levee safety
PARALLEL SUBJECT MATTER
Parallel floodplain management subjects are those that are indirectly related to the field of floodplain management. Subjects shown below are initially listed as Parallel but could become Core subjects if the focus and content of the subject matter is directly related to the field of floodplain management. Examples that are considered as parallel subjects include but are not limited to, the following:
• Emergency management
• Water resource management
• Land use management
• Building construction (including Codes)
• Water quality programs
• Stream gaging
• Stormwater management (including NPDES, MS4, etc.)
• Wetlands management
• Watershed management
• SkyWarn and Storm Ready
• Environmental (Wetland, Endangered Species Act, etc)
• Public information programs
• Benefit-cost analysis
Case Examples:
A training course on using GIS to develop a flood warning and response plan would be a core subject. A course on using GIS to develop a comprehensive land use plan would be a parallel subject.
A home study course on inspecting a building for compliance with floodplain management regulations is a core subject. A course on the new ICC building code is a parallel subject.
A workshop on how to apply for a floodplain development or a Corps Section 404 Wetland permit is a core subject. A workshop on applying for an NPDES permit for a wastewater treatment plant or a Corps water quality 401 Certification are parallel subjects.
ASFPM will periodically publish a list of Core and Parallel courses, conferences, workshops, etc. and the number of CECs that are awarded for each. These are considered "pre-approved" courses for CFM’s in Texas.
TEACHING
Credit will be given every five years for preparation and teaching a course. A core subject would be given 6 CECs per day and a parallel subject course would be given 4 CECs per day. Any CECs earned for teaching at a specific training, or the development of a home study course, will be permitted once each five year period. A CFM will not receive CECs the second time they teach or develop a course, unless a minimum of five years have elapsed since teaching or developing that course. The TFMA Certification Committee can render an opinion regarding courses that are updated and could count for CEC credit even though the 5-year period has not lapsed.
CEC REVIEW PROCESS
1. TFMA will email or mail the CEC Policy to new CFMs along with the CFM certificate and card. This information is also posted on the TFMA website at www.tfma.org.
2. January 1 of each year is the annual renewal date for all CFM’s.
3. In November, prior to the January 1st renewal date, TFMA will notify all CFMs by email and website posting of the CEC requirements and renewal process. Renewal forms for TFMA membership, CFM renewals, CEC documentation and CEC annual summary will be posted on the TFMA website.
4. The CFM will submit her/his TFMA Membership and CFM renewal application, renewal fee, and CEC documentation to TFMA Executive Office prior to the annual renewal deadline. CFMs must attach an agenda and a copy of a certificate of completion or verification of attendance on the back of each CEC Form requesting credit for a specific course, workshop, etc.
5. Those individuals meeting the minimum annual renewal requirements will be notified within 30 days after submission of material to the TFMA. Those not fulfilling the annual requirements for renewal by January 15th (after the January 1 annual renewal date) will be decertified and so notified. Specifics of reinstatement of certification are described in the TFMA CFM Charter.
6. All verbal and written correspondence directed to the TFMA Certification Committee should be sent to the TFMA Executive Office.
VERIFICATION OF ATTENDANCE
As part of his/her annual CFM renewal application, the CFM must submit documentation to TFMA that the required CECs have been earned. A Continuing Education Credit Verification Form (posted on www.tfma.org) must be submitted for each course or workshop attended along with the following additional documentation:
If the course, workshop or conference is on the TFMA or ASFPM pre-approved course list, then the following must be submitted:
1. A signed copy of the Continuing Education Credit Verification Form
2. A copy of a certificate of completion, attendance or other document provided by the training sponsor that records attendance. If such a document is not provided, then the instructor can sign the Continuing Education Credit Verification Form.
3. If the conference or training had concurrent sessions, the sessions that the CFM attended must be clearly marked.
If the course, workshop or conference is not on the TFMA or ASFPM pre-approved course list, then a course or workshop agenda or other description of the training must be submitted in addition to the above documents.
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