Frequently Asked Questions

A: Formed in April of 2017, ProFMI is a partnership between National Facilities Management & Technology (NFMT), Milwaukee, WI, provider of live and online facilities management education and Holmes Corporation, an instructional design, marketing and distribution firm delivering premium-quality learning systems to professionals around the world.

Led by a commission of voluntary leaders speaking for the market and representing the diversity of the FM profession, ProFMI is committed to elevating the facility management industry and serving its professionals around the world. It assembles the top thought leaders in the industry to define the required knowledge and competencies of all facility managers, validate these findings with ongoing market research, create and deliver superior education, and evaluate professionals against these standards.

A: The FM profession is evolving as it adapts to new technologies, globalization, and significant retirement gaps.

• Today’s facility professionals are being asked to go beyond traditional FM tasks, to become strategic business leaders focused on driving organizational success. FM professionals at all levels need to understand the scope of knowledge and skills required of them today and in the future.
• FM training and credentials are not keeping pace, which is becoming a big concern for organizations as the most experienced FM professionals and leaders plan for retirement.
• Facility professionals need one source for gaining the full spectrum of FM knowledge, skills, abilities and personal attributes. The ProFM Credential Program provides the most current and comprehensive training to help individuals and organizations identify and fill their knowledge gaps.
• ProFM is the global standard for today’s facility professionals.

A: The foundation of the ProFM credential is the ProFM Body of Knowledge which defines the 19 functional FM knowledge areas and five cross-functional competencies required of today’s facility professionals. This Body of Knowledge is the result of an extensive research study led by ProFMI and the ProFMI Commission with input from over 3,300 facility professionals spanning 93 countries.

A: The development of the ProFM credential was led by the ProFMI Commission, a group of independent voluntary leaders representing the diversity of the FM profession. The ProFMI Commission and ProFMI conducted an extensive research, gathering input from over 3,300 professionals spanning 93 countries.

The original ProFMI Commission included:

• Lawrence Bick, CFM, SFP, Senior Director, Property & Aviation Services, Xcel Energy Company
• David Brady, President & CEO, Silver Loc Associates, LLC
• Ryan Darnell, Executive Director, Facilities Management, Khidmah
• Mostafa El Ashiry, Director, Collaborative Programs, The American University in Cairo
• Stormy Friday, President, The Friday Group
• John Hajduk, Director, Penn State Facilities Institute, The Pennsylvania State University
• Caroline Horton, Facilities Associate, Prominent Asset Management Business
• Sharon Jaye, Executive Director, Green Schools Alliance
• Stan Mitchell, CEO, Key Facilities Management International
• Darrell Rounds, Manager, Electrical and Mechanical Systems, Sustainable Workplaces, General Motors Company
• Terry Vergon, Director, Engineering & Maintenance, C&W Services
• Wendy Dietzler, VP, Education & Conferencing, National Facilities Management & Technology (NFMT), Trade Press Media Group
• Randy Olson, VP, Business Development, Holmes Corporation

A: The ProFM Credential Program training materials were developed by a team of subject matter experts and instructional design experts. Their combined expertise has resulted in a practical and easy-to-understand training and credential program. We greatly appreciate their incredible dedication and the contributions made by each individual.

• Larry Bick, Xcel Energy
• Mike Cowley, CE Maintenance Solutions
• Stormy Friday, The Friday Group
• John Hajduk, Penn State
• Paul Head, Ernst & Young
• Caroline Horton, Prominent Asset Management Business
• Sharon Jaye, Green Schools Alliance
• Christopher Laughman, EdR Collegiate Housing
• Dean Mayfield, CBRE
• Stan Mitchell, Key Facilities Management International
• Michael Riseborough, Greater Toronto Airports Authority
• Darrell Rounds, General Motors Company
• Steve Smith, Arvest Bank

A: ProFM is the most significant project in years focused on supporting the FM profession, and the success and upward career mobility of facility professionals. Today’s facility professionals need to be equipped with broad spectrum FM knowledge and strategic business skills. There is no other credential that currently meets that need. ProFM is:

• Comprehensive: The ProFM Body of Knowledge includes 19 functional areas and five cross-functional competencies that have never before been combined together into one complete program.
• Applicable: ProFM focuses not only on enhancing your knowledge, but also building practical application skills.
• Global: ProFM’s Body of Knowledge reflects the globalization of the FM industry from the incorporation of global FM ISO standards, the perspective of international ProFMI Commission members, and input from facility professionals in 93 countries.
• Relevant/Current: The ProFM Body of Knowledge, developed in 2017, is the most current and relevant standard for facility professionals. It goes beyond the traditional definition of FM to reflect the knowledge and skills required of today’s facility professionals.
• Independent: ProFM was built by the ProFMI Commission, an independent and voluntary group of respected Facility Management industry leaders, experts, and practitioners who have come together with the common goal of elevating and uniting the FM profession.

A: We know and respect the value of the CFM certification, which is why the ProFM is not positioned to compete with it. Rather, it has been established to elevate the FM industry as a whole. Furthermore, the ProFM and CFM credentials are different in very significant ways:

• The ProFM credential is a knowledge-based designation, focused on building knowledge and skills. IFMA’s CFM is an experience-based certification, designed to validate knowledge and experience by passing the proctored CFM exam.

• ProFM is created as a universal credential, not only in its global reach and content, but also in its applicability to FMs at any point in their career.

• The ProFM Body of Knowledge, created in 2017 with input from over 3,300 professionals in 93 countries, covers 19 FM knowledge areas and 5 cross-functional competencies. The CFM exam is based on IFMA’s 11 core competencies.

The ProFM Institute conducted extensive research as we explored the potential for this credential, and found that of the 3.2 million FM professionals in the United States, less than two percent hold an FM credential. That tells us the market is currently under-served, both here and around the world. We want to help change that.

The FM industry includes many practitioners who are unaffiliated with a specific association, but still want to enhance their capabilities. We’re confident that the ProFM designation is that tool, allowing facility professionals to advance their careers and the important industry they serve.

A: ProFM has a number of significant differences from IFMA’s Facility Management Professional (FMP) credential.

• The FMP teaches four of IFMA’s eleven FM topic areas. ProFM teaches all 24 knowledge areas and cross-functional competencies required of FM professionals included in the ProFM Body of Knowledge.
• ProFM is designed to fill the knowledge gaps of FM professionals at all career stages, providing exposure to the full spectrum of FM topics and business strategies that you may not have been exposed to through your work experience.
• The ProFM Body of Knowledge was created in 2017 and reflects the most current requirements of FM professionals. The ProFM will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure it covers emerging trends and best practices.
• ProFM has a 3-year term of validity. The credential maintenance requirements  are designed to keep your knowledge and skills up-to-date through practical and convenient professional development activities.

A: ProFM was designed to be the one credential for all facility professionals, applicable across industries, job titles, and geographies. ProFM is beneficial at all career levels:

• Early Career FM-Related Roles: ProFM provides early-career facility professionals with new FM skills and knowledge and a way to gain recognition with employers, clients, and coworkers.
• Mid-Career FM-Related Roles: ProFM helps mid-career facility professionals identify and fill their knowledge and skill gaps, prove that they have the skills desired by employers, and show their commitment to leadership.
• Senior FM Professionals: ProFM helps senior facility professionals update and validate their knowledge and skills while also serving as a helpful tool for identifying knowledge gaps in themselves and their staff.

A: We’ve made it simple for all facility professionals to earn the knowledge and skills they need to advance their careers.

• No Prerequisites: There are no mandatory pre-requisites, however it is beneficial for candidates to have a basic knowledge of facility management, a related FM credential, and/or work experience in an FM functional area such as Operations & Maintenance, Asset Management, Risk Management, or Business Management.
• Steps to Earn ProFM: Everything you need to grow your FM knowledge and earn the ProFM credential is included in the ProFM Credential Program.
  • ASSESS your current FM knowledge and identify gaps with an online pre-test.
  • BUILD your FM knowledge by reading printed or online study materials.
  • CHECK your knowledge retention and understanding using online quizzes and flashcards.
  • EARN your ProFM credential by passing the two-part online final assessment with a score of 65% or higher.
  • RENEW your credential every three years and stay on the cutting edge of the FM industry.
• Three Study Options: The ProFM Credential Program is delivered through three convenient formats: self-study program, instructor-led courses and corporate/group training.

A: The ProFM Credential program was released in March 2018.

A: The ProFM Credential Program includes everything you need to build your knowledge and earn the ProFM credential with no additional application or assessment fees. Regardless of the study option you choose, self-study, instructor-led courses, or group training, everyone will receive:

• Reading materials, available online via an embedded e-reader, teach the entire ProFM Body of Knowledge. Printed versions of the reading materials are also available.
• Online study tools help you identify your knowledge gaps, build a study plan, and apply the topics you’ve learned through quizzes, flashcards, and more!
• Online final assessment, available on-demand, determines if your knowledge meets the ProFM standard. This is a two-part assessment. Both parts must be completed with a score of 70% or higher to earn the ProFM credential. The exams may be repeated at no additional charge.
  • Part 1: Knowledge Exam – Designed to measure your breadth of knowledge in the FM profession, based on the 19 functional knowledge areas and five (5) cross-functional competencies of the ProFM Body of Knowledge.
    • 75 multiple-choice questions
    • 90 minute time limit
  • Part 2: Application Exam – Designed to test your ability to apply your skills to real-world scenarios that you may encounter in your work. Questions focus on reviewing and critically analyzing different situations to best apply the ProFM knowledge and competencies.
    • 50 multiple-choice questions
    • 90 minute time limit

A: The length of time it takes to earn the credential will depend on your chosen study method, your level of experience, how quickly you read, and other factors. However, we estimate that most candidates can complete the online training and assessments within 55-60 total hours.

A: The cost of the ProFM Credential Program, including online reading materials, online study tools, and online final assessment, is US$1695 (plus applicable taxes). Candidates may choose to add a printed version of the reading materials for US$50 (plus shipping and applicable taxes). There are no additional application, administration, or exam fees.

Visit https://store.profmi.org to order.

A: To ensure that your knowledge is kept relevant and up-to-date, you will be required to renew your ProFM credential every three years.

• You must earn a minimum of 45 contact hours of continuing education related to the FM profession or “renewal credits” for each renewal cycle.
• Renewal credits will be awarded for FM professional development related to the individual, the organization, and/or the profession.
• A small renewal fee of US$99 will be applicable every 3 years. This fee is currently being waived, so you can renew for $0.
• A predetermined percentage of credential holders will be audited annually.

Visit www.ProFMi.org/renewal for complete details.

A: ProFM has partnered with BadgeCert to give you an easy and secure way to share your ProFM credential achievement and maintenance.

Post your digital badge anywhere – it may be shared as part of your profile on social media sites, embedded in your email signature, or posted on your website. Once shared, your digital badge validates your achievement for employers, peers, clients, and customers.

Visit www.ProFMi.org/digital-badge for complete details.

A: Yes, ProFM was developed to meet the needs of FM professionals and employers. A number of well-known and well-respected FM employers from around the world contributed to the development of ProFM. In fact, our ProFM research study gathered input from professionals representing over 1,800 unique employers.

There are a number of reasons why employers have already committed their support to ProFM:

• ProFM sets a global standard for the profession: By creating a globally accepted standard for today’s evolved profession, employers can confidently evaluate their staff against these standards and provide training to fill knowledge and skill gaps with ProFM.
• ProFM offers employers a way to evaluate and train staff: ProFM offers broad FM training and business strategies while providing an independent verification of the knowledge and skills required of today’s facility professionals.
• ProFM builds a broad spectrum of FM and business skills to fill retirement gaps: With the most senior facility professionals preparing to retire, there is a critical need for new and mid-career professionals to expand their skill set and prepare for leadership.
• ProFM offers an independent market view of FM: ProFM was developed by facility professionals, for facility professionals. Respected FM thought leaders, employers, and working professionals came together to identify the knowledge and skills required of today’s facility professionals. We are committed to the advancement of the FM profession and its professionals.
• ProFM will continue to represent evolving corporate needs: ProFM is developing a corporate advisory board to ensure the credential and training remain relevant and current to industry needs.

A: Enacted in 2010, the US Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act makes facility management training a priority for federal personnel and contractors.

In October 2018, the U.S. General Services Administration announced the ProFM credential is in alignment with the knowledge and skills needed to meet the U.S. Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act (FBPTA) standards. As of 2021, the ProFM Credential Program is the most up-to-date and aligned training program with 151 FBPTA performance criteria covered. When you focus in on the 146 FM criteria, ProFM covers 120 or 82%. It is also the only FM credential program that aligns with the FBPTA cybersecurity criteria.

A: We are glad you asked! Whether you would like to stay up-to-date on the latest ProFM news, are interested in becoming a ProFM instructor, or would like to be part of our corporate advisory board, we’d like to stay in touch. Visit www.ProFMi.org to get started.

A: According to ISO 41011:2017, facility management is the organizational function which integrates people, place, and process within the built environment with the purpose of improving the quality of life of people and the productivity of the core business.

Put simply, facility professionals are involved at a strategic, tactical and operational level to ensure that buildings and facilities are optimized to meet an organization’s strategic goals.

The ProFM Body of Knowledge defines the specific knowledge areas and cross-functional competencies required of today’s facility professionals.