APPA Credential Governance
The CEFP credential is governed by the CEFP Commission, a body of practitioners
APPA’s Certification Mission
The mission of APPA's Certification program is dedicated to strengthening and sustaining the profession by increasing professional competency and supporting the educational mission through establishing and validating standards for professional practice.
The purpose of APPA's Certification program is to:
- Assure educational institutions of the quality of their facilities management professionals
- Drive professional development
- Establish standards for professional performance in educational facilities management
How the CEFP Credential Is Governed
The Certified Educational Facilities Professional credential is governed by the CEFP Commission, established under a Charter adopted by the APPA Board of Directors.
The Commission holds exclusive authority over the decisions that define the credential: eligibility requirements, examination development and administration, the passing standard, recertification, professional conduct, and discipline and appeals. These decisions rest with the Commission and are not subject to APPA Board approval.
A majority of Commissioners hold and maintain the CEFP credential. The Commission also includes a representative of the APPA membership and may include a representative of the public. Commissioners serve three-year staggered terms and may serve two consecutive terms. Commissioners may not simultaneously serve on the APPA Board of Directors.
APPA provides the Commission with staff, facilities, financial, and legal support, and the credential program operates within APPA. Program revenues and expenses are tracked and reported separately.
Governing Documents
CEFP Commission Charter
Adopted by the APPA Board of Directors. Establishes the Commission, defines its authority and composition, and sets its relationship to APPA. Amendment requires both a majority of the APPA Board and a two-thirds majority of the Commissioners.
Standing Rules
Adopted by the Commission. Governs how the Commission operates: meetings, officers, Commissioner appointments, discipline and appeals, committees, and amendments.
Policies
Adopted by the Commission. Governs the credential program: conflict of interest, credentialing operations, examination development and security, recertification, and records.
Code of Professional Conduct
Adopted by the Commission. Sets out the ten principles to which all CEFP credential holders are held.
APPA Credentialing Board
The office of Immediate Past Chair is vacant until a Chair completes a term. Two Commissioner seats are open: a representative of the APPA membership, nominated by the APPA Chair, and an optional representative of the public.
Serving on the Commission
The Commission issues an open call for Commissioner nominations each year. Nominations may be made by a current Commissioner, by any APPA member, or by self-nomination. Nominees provide a written consent to serve, a brief biographical statement, and an indication of CEFP credential status.
The Commission also establishes committees to carry out its work, and credential holders may be invited to serve on them.
To express interest, write to professionaldevelopment@appa.org.
Questions and Concerns
Credential holders and candidates may raise questions or concerns about the credential, including about the Code of Professional Conduct or any Commission policy, by writing to professionaldevelopment@appa.org. Matters will be brought to the Commission for its consideration.
Governance History
The CEFP credential was established under the APPA Board for Educational Facilities Professionals Certification, a Virginia nonstock corporation incorporated in 2007 and operating as a 501(c)(6) organization. That structure gave the credential an independent governing body at a time when legal separation was the prevailing practice among credentialing programs.
In 2026, APPA and the Certification Board agreed to modernize the arrangement. The credential program transferred to APPA on August 31, 2026, and governance passed to the newly established CEFP Commission, which operates within APPA as a 501(c)(3) organization. The Certification Board was dissolved.
The change simplified the credential's administration and aligned it with the practice of comparable credentialing bodies. The substance of the credential was unaffected: the same examination, the same testing partner, the same eligibility and recertification requirements, and continued governance by practitioners in the field.