Continuing Education

Who Must Comply?

ICCIFP requires that each active Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP) complete 72 hours of continuing education triennially to be eligible for renewal of their certification. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) or equivalent continuing education hours shall be relevant to the practice of construction financial management, and earned in the following ratio:

• A minimum of two-thirds (or 48 hours) of construction-specific continuing education; and
• Up to one-third (or 24 hours) of general topic continuing education

The full 72 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) or equivalent continuing education hours may be earned in construction-specific qualifying activities; there is no requirement to earn general topic continuing education.

Triennial Requirement

For the initial certification period: Credits shall be prorated in the first year of certification according the Credit Proration Schedule developed by the Compliance & Recertification Committee. Each CCIFP thereafter must earn 48 hours of continuing education in the remaining two years. Only continuing education hours earned on or after the initial date of certification shall be accepted for recertification requirements.

For subsequent certification periods: Each CCIFP must earn 72 hours of continuing education in each three year certification period. Only continuing education hours earned on or after the initial date of certification shall be accepted for recertification requirements.

The annual recertification period is April 1 through March 31. Continuing education must be earned between the dates of April 1 through March 31.

If the registrant earns more than the required 72 hours in any renewal period, a maximum of 12 of the remaining hours may be carried forward into the following renewal period.

Qualifying Activities

Acceptable CPE or equivalent hours for CCIFPs include:

• Successful completion or auditing of accredited college credit courses relevant to the practice of construction financial management
• Successful completion of approved continuing education courses offered by a professional or trade organization, university or college, or offered in-house by an entity relevant to the practice of construction financial management
• Successful completion of an approved seminar, conference, convention or workshop, relevant to the practice of construction financial management
• Successful completion of approved online courses relevant to the practice of construction financial management
• Authoring published papers, articles, or books (to be used only once and only in the year that it was published) for a maximum of 12 credits toward recertification in any three year period
• Teaching or instructing construction financial management relevant courses, seminars or workshops for a maximum of 16 credits annually (a course title may be submitted only once in any three year period)
• Live web seminars relevant to the practice of construction financial management where the provider is able to verify and confirm attendance and participation
• For full time faculty teaching at a college or university a total of 12 hours may be claimed one-time only for teaching a construction financial management course in an accredited curriculum
• Being an officer or committee chair, at the local or national level, of any of the following construction industry organizations: ABC, ACCE, AGC, ASA, CFMA, CICPAC, or NAWIC (credit granted for service in only one organization annually)

Nonqualifying Activities

Unacceptable CPE or equivalent hours for CCIFPs include:

• Elementary and entry-level training normally expected to have been completed by construction financial professionals prior to CCIFP application
• Regular full-time employment
• Any level of computer courses in spreadsheet, word processing, presentation, or web design software (MS Office, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Dream Weaver, etc.)
• Self-directed study
• Topics not relevant to the construction financial management profession
• Attending general committee or business meetings as required by your employment
• A published book, article, or paper prior to the applicable reporting period
• Any formal professional examinations, including the CCIFP examination

CPE or Equivalent Continuing Education Conversion Hours

• 50 minute CPE hour of attendance at a conference, seminar or workshop = 1 CPE hour
• 1 accredited university or college credit = 3 CPE hours
• 1 continuing education credit (CLU, CE, CEU, etc.) = 1 CPE hour
• 1 published paper, article, or book (only in the year published) = a maximum of 12 CPE hours
• 1 year of service as an officer or committee member of an approved construction financial professional society or association = 2 CPE hours (up to a maximum of 6 credits in any three year period)
• 1 contact hour of teaching a class, course, seminar, or workshop = 2 CPE hours (a course title may only be submitted once in a three year period, up to a maximum of 8 contact hours annually)

Recordkeeping

Each CCIFP shall be responsible for maintaining records to support his or her own professional development hours. Records required include, but are not limited to:

• A log showing the type of activity claimed, sponsoring organization, location, duration, instructors or speaker’s name and hours earned
• Documents supporting evidence of attendance: completion certificates, attendance log or other documents supporting evidence of completion

Records must be maintained for a period of three years. Such documentation shall be made available to the Compliance & Recertification Committee for random audit and/or verification purposes. Documentation must support the professional development hours claimed.

Reinstatement

A CCIFP may reinstate an inactive status by obtaining delinquent CPE or equivalent continuing education hours and by meeting the requirements set forth in ICCIFP’s policy, “Procedure for Reinstatement to Active Status.” Included with the application for reinstatement, the CCIFP shall provide a report showing CPE earned during the period of inactive status. To be considered, the CPE or equivalent continuing education hours report must demonstrate completion of 1/3 (or 24 hours) of the current 3 year CPE or equivalent continuing education hours requirement for each year the certificate has been in inactive status. If reinstatement is approved, the CCIFP will begin a new 3 year compliance period at that point.

Exemptions

An exemption from the CPE or equivalent continuing education hours requirement may be granted if a registrant is on active duty in the U.S. military. A request must be made in writing to the Compliance & Recertification Committee including official documentation of military active duty.

In limited cases, the Compliance & Recertification Committee may grant an exemption from the CPE or equivalent continuing education hours requirement because of a medical condition and/or other reason. You must contact the Compliance & Recertification Committee for a Waiver Request form. The form must then be completed and submitted with a written letter of explanation to the Compliance & Recertification Committee for consideration. Continuing education waivers shall be determined on a case-by-case basis.

(Contact ICCIFP Headquarters at 609-945-2400 for the Continuing Education Waiver Request Form or for additional details and eligibility requirements for consideration.)

Noncompliance

In accordance with ICCIFP policies, completion of the required CPE or equivalent continuing education hours is a condition of certification renewal. No CCIFP shall be renewed until the requirement is satisfied. If, after renewal, it is found that the CCIFP did not comply with these requirements, disciplinary proceedings will be initiated.

CCIFPs found to have provided false information or documentation to the Compliance & Recertification Committee will be referred for Code of Ethics violation review and potential disciplinary action.