CFREs recertify every three years to maintain their credential.

As soon as you become a CFRE, you are given access to your recertification application so you can easily track points. Recertification does not require an exam.

CFREs document they have met requirements in:

  • Education – 45 Points
  • Professional Practice – 30 Points
  • Professional Performance – 40 Points

The recertification application works on a points system and automatically calculates points. Recertification does not require an exam.

Each CFRE is responsible for knowing their certification expiration date and to complete the recertification application by the stipulated deadlines.

Recertification deadlines are located on each CFRE’s certificate and in their My CFRE account.

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If You Are Unable to Meet the Requirements

We realize special circumstances can prevent CFREs from meeting the recertification requirements. CFREs may apply for Special Circumstances Status or satisfy the Education requirement by re-taking the CFRE Exam (see Candidate Handbook for more information).

Minimum Points Required in Each Application Category for Recertification:

1. EDUCATION: 45 Points (must be within the past 3 years)

Education includes continuing education on fundraising topics (including conference attendance and webinars), academic degrees, teaching on fundraising topics, authoring on fundraising topics, and service learning through volunteer experiences. Points are awarded as follows:

  • Continuing Education:
    • 1 Point for each hour spent attending educational conference sessions or workshops.
    • 2 Points for each hour spent teaching educational conference sessions or workshops using previously developed. 
    • 3 Points for each hour spent teaching educational conference sessions or workshops using newly developed material. Presentations made on behalf of your employer must be listed as Professional Performance.
  • Authoring:
    • 5 Points per published article (500 words or more; self-published material is ineligible).
    • 15 Points per book chapter.
    • 30 Points per book.
  • Academic Degrees:
    • 5 Points for an associate’s degree.
    • 10 Points each for a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.
    • For Recertification, only academic degrees awarded in the past 3 years count.
  • Service Learning:
    • 2 Points per year for each ongoing leadership role.
    • 1 Point per year for each instance of general volunteer service.
    • A maximum of 10 points will be counted.

A maximum of 5 points of non-fundraising-related continuing education may be counted, providing that the non-fundraising-related content develops skills that will help the individual become a more proficient fundraising professional. Sessions on general leadership skills, time management, etc., are examples of non-fundraising-related content that might be applicable.
 

2. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: 30 Points (must be within the past 3 years)

  • 1 Month of employment = 1 point. Only 1 point will be awarded for any given month regardless of the number of employers or clients.
  • Candidates for the CFRE credential must be or have been employed full-time as a professional member of a fundraising staff or as a fundraising consultant to nonprofit organizations; at least 50% of their job duties and responsibilities must consist of fundraising activities, resource development, and/or the management of fund development which results in generation of philanthropic support.
  • Candidates who are or have been employed half-time (defined by CFRE International as 50% FTE or greater) may also qualify, providing 100% of their job duties and responsibilities consist of fundraising activities, resource development, and/or the management of fund development which results in generation of philanthropic support.
  • Consultants must submit a client list for the time period claimed as a consultant.

 

3. PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE: 40 Points (must be within the past 3 years)

Candidates can earn points in any of the following three areas, or a combination thereof. It is not necessary to document points in each category.

  • Actual funds raised: 1 point = Equivalent raised in local currency of US$25,000. Fundraisers in non-OECD member countries will receive 1 additional point for each point of Actual Funds Raised.
  • Communications projects: 5 points for each project with outcomes that had a measurable impact on the success of fundraising for the organization.
  • Management projects: 5 points for each project with outcomes that had a measurable impact on the success of fundraising for the organization.

A project is a temporary endeavor with a unique result. Each project must have a definite beginning and end.

In contrast, an ongoing work effort or repetitive process that follows an organization’s existing procedures would not be considered a project. Incomplete projects are ineligible.

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