Recertification
"Enhanced career mobility and advancement potential are certainly important reasons for keeping up my CFRE credentials. Maintaining my CFRE also assures that I will stay on top of what is happening in the field through continuing education. For me, having CFRE credentials is a tremendous source of personal pride. Those four little letters (along with the recertification process) provide tangible evidence to me and others that I am a competent, well-trained fundraising professional who is committed to adhering to high ethical standards." - Madelynn Arana, CFRE St Louis, MO USA
Because fundraising, resource development and management are dynamic and rapidly changing fields, individuals are awarded certification for a three (3) year period.
In order to remain certified, candidates must apply for recertification at the end of each three (3) year period.
Candidates are required to meet requirements in the Education, Practice, Performance, and Service categories. These requirements are designed to show evidence of on-going practice in the fund-raising profession and to provide the CFRE Board with a way to measure continued competence in the field.
Candidates for recertification DO NOT need to retake the CFRE Examination. However, candidates may CHOOSE to sit for the current form of the CFRE Examination in lieu of the Education requirements of the Recertification application. Candidates must meet all additional requirements.
Education
45 points minimum. Candidates earn one (1) point for each one (1) hour of continuing education workshops, seminars, conferences they have attended during the past three (3) years. Points also awarded for academic degrees conferred during the past three years. CFRE candidates are expected to have participated in on-going educational activities.
Professional Practice
30 points minimum. Candidates earn one (1) point for each one (1) month of paid, professional experience as a member of a philanthropic fundraising staff or a consultant to a nonprofit during the past three (3) years. This allows for allowing for employment gaps. A minimum of 50% of job duties must be directly related to generating philanthropic dollars
Professional Performance
40 points minimum. Candidates can earn points three ways: 1) Communications projects that have outcomes that directly impacted the development function of the organization (5 points per project); Management projects that had outcomes that directly impacted the development function of the organization (5 points per project) ; or 3) Actual dollars raised ( 1 point per $25,000
Service
55 points minimum. Candidates earn points on a sliding scale - depending on the level of involvement - through participation in professional associations and/or community organizations (i.e., local church, youth groups, service clubs, etc.)
Notice of Recertification
Approximately six (6) months prior to the expiration of your certification, the CFRE Professional Certification Board will send you a notice and a current application.
This notice will be sent to your last address on file with the CFRE Program Office. Be SURE to forward change of address information to the CFRE Board. Notifying your professional association will NOT change your address for certification purposes.
However, it is the professional responsibility of each individual CFRE to be aware of his or her certification expiration date and to complete the application by the stipulated deadlines.
Candidates must submit recertification applications according to when they were originally certified:
| Certified | March 1 | due | January 30 |
| Certified | June 1 | due | April 30 |
| Certified | September 1 | due | July 30 |
| Certified | December 1 | due | October 30 |
Inactive Status
Individuals may request to be placed on Inactive Status for up to three years (one recertification period.)
Reasons for requesting Inactive Status include unemployment, maternity/paternity leave, illness, and education.
During the Inactive period, the individual is required to meet the Education requirements of the application so as to keep abreast of changes in the field.
To apply, individuals should send a letter requesting Inactive Status to the CFRE Professional Certification Board, along with an application form with the first and last pages AND the Education section completed. The CFRE Board will review the request and send a letter of determination to the individual.
The recertification fee is not waived for the period a person is Inactive and is to be paid at the time recertification is necessary.
If the individual does not meet the continuing education requirements during the Inactive period, the individual's certification will expire. He or she will be required to begin the process again as a candidate for initial certification.
