Read on as we put common candidate misconceptions to rest.
1. You need five years’ fundraising experience to submit your application.
Truth: You need to work 36 months out of the most recent five years in a paid, professional fundraising role. You do not need to have five full years’ experience.
2. The CFRE credential is for people who have been in fundraising for a long time.
Truth: Fundraising professionals at various career stages earn their CFRE. If you meet the application requirements, it’s not too early or too late to become a CFRE. Many CFREs who achieve certification later in their careers tell us they wish they had done it sooner.
3. There are trick questions on the CFRE Exam.
Truth: You will not find trick questions on the CFRE Exam. The CFRE Exam is made up of 200 multiple-choice questions. Each question has four answer options. There are no essay or open-ended questions.
4. I need a college/university degree to become a CFRE.
Truth: No degree is required to become a CFRE.
5. I need to go back to school to earn the 80 Education points required for the initial application.
Truth: You don’t need to go back to school. You will need to attend fundraising-related education which can include: conferences, webinars, master classes, panel discussions, lunch and learns, and more.
6. Only education from a CFRE-Approved Provider qualifies.
Truth: Attending relevant fundraising education from any provider, as long as the session is at least 45-minutes long and it was completed in the last five years, will likely qualify. If you have a question about if your education qualifies, email succeed@cfre.org.
7. It is better to take the CFRE Exam from your home or office with OnVUE than it is to go to an in-person testing center.
Truth: Many candidates report the in-person testing center to be quiet and conducive to test taking. Those who sit for the exam from their home or office often find it distracting that they are being monitored via their web camera and have a more difficult time getting into a test-taking frame of mind.
8. When taking the CFRE Exam, you may not leave your seat for any reason.
Truth: After you complete the first 100 questions, you have the option to take a 10-minute break. During this time, you may use the restroom, eat, drink, and take medications. Candidates testing at an in-person test center are permitted to use the restroom at any time, but the clock will keep ticking for breaks taken outside of the allotted 10-minute window.
9. If I present non-fundraising related content, I can still earn Education points for it.
Truth: While you may earn up to 10 points for attending non-fundraising related training towards the initial application’s Education requirements, unfortunately points cannot be awarded for presenting material not related to fundraising.
10. Fundraising-related education of any duration qualifies towards the Education requirement.
Truth: Sessions must be at least 45 minutes to qualify.
11. The CFRE Exam is based on American fundraising.
Truth: The CFRE Exam is developed by a committee of current CFREs from around the world. Questions apply globally.
12. I have to read every book on the Resource Reading List.
Truth: Most candidates read one to three books. You are not expected or required to read every book.
