Accreditation

The School Facilities Management Institute (SFMI) works in collaboration with the NYS School Facilities Association to offer comprehensive accreditation programs on timely school facilities management issues. Educational programs are offered to Directors of School Facilities, their key staff, and others interested in pursuing a career in the field.

Which Program Is Right for You?

Certified Director of Facilities (CDF)

The CDF Program certifies that you are a professional, who is:

• Fully qualified and competent to handle the duties and responsibilities of your profession.
• Continually upgrading skills to match the latest school systems and procedures.
• Committed to a Code of Ethics insuring the highest level of personal and professional conduct. 

For you, the CDF Program will:

• Provide verification of your knowledge and skills, proof that you are one of the best of the best.
• Open doors of opportunity.
• Offer a path to professional knowledge, growth, and recognition.
• Provide an opportunity to network among peers who have achieved certification and will serve as valuable career contacts.
• Offer opportunities for greater earning potential and career advancement.

You can apply for your CDF if you:

• Are a paid, Active member of the SFA in good standing
• Have at least five years’ experience in the operation or maintenance of educational facilities*
• Currently are employed as a full-time director of facilities (as defined in the NYSSFA by-laws) by an educational facility in New York State
• Demonstrate knowledge, and the ability to apply professional skills, in five key areas
• Pledge to adhere to the NYSSFA Certified Director of Facilities Code of Ethics
• You demonstrate knowledge in, and the ability to apply, the professional skills in five core competencies in the management of educational facilities:
      1. Personnel management in facility operations
      2. Technical systems in school facility operations
      3. Principles of school facility management
      4. Codes, standards, administrative and legal rules
      5. Environmental and occupational safety and health

Registered Director of Facilities (RDF)

If you have not worked for five years in the operation and maintenance of educational facilities but you meet all the other requirements, you can obtain your Registered Director of Facilities (RDF) certificate. Then, on your fifth anniversary of working as a director of school facilities, you will receive your CDF.

How Do You Earn Your CDF?

Earning the CDF designation requires the accumulation of qualifying points. The point system represents a broad base of knowledge and experiences of the candidates. Completion of the Personal Data Portfolio (PDP), written and oral exams, seminars and training courses, and volunteer leadership in the organization are some examples of accomplishments that qualify for the point accumulation system. A total of 600 points is required.

• Apply. Review the CDF brochure, complete and return the application, together with the nonrefundable fee. When we receive your application, we will send you instructions on completing the rest of the process. You’ll also receive a list of CDF mentors who can support you and answer your questions.
• Complete your Personal Data Portfolio. The PDP helps the CDF Committee evaluate your qualifications in the five key competency areas (see what skills and abilities you have to demonstrate?). You can demonstrate qualifications in two ways: through documented work experience (a detailed, chronological narrative that you prepare, with affidavits from work references) and education (a listing of schools and colleges attended, programs of study, etc., with transcripts from the schools). The CDF Committee evaluates the PDP and awards credit toward certification in certain areas, according to your demonstrated strengths.
• All CDFs must attend at least two New York School Facilities Managers Annual Professional Development Conferences & Expos in a five-year period. Participation in the Annual Professional Development Conference & Expo is worth 5 points for every year a CDF attends.
• Take the CDF exam. Consisting of multiple-choice questions, several essays, and an oral test, the exam focuses on your technical and managerial abilities in the five key areas. You can take the exam once your PDP has been approved. A grade of 70 on each exam section is required for passing.
• Interview with the CDF Committee. A problem-solving interaction scenario similar to a job interview. Through this process, the committee examines the candidate’s ability to respond to situations an experienced facilities director may face.

Affiliate Development Program

What is ADC?

The Affiliate Development Certification, or ADC, enables SFA Affiliate Members (those whose duties support the director of school facilities) to broaden their knowledge, sharpen their skills and achieve a key milestone that can move their career forward. Through ADC, you prove or gain competencies across the spectrum of facility issues — from personnel management and technical systems to facilities management, safety, and codes. 

Download the Affiliate Development Program Brochure.

Who Qualifies?

All Affiliate members in good standing qualify to participate in the program.

Who Can Become an Affiliate Member?

• All persons who are regularly employed by a public or private educational institution in the State of New York.
• All persons who perform similar duties within the scope of the Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds or duties allied to this position such as health and safety coordinator, supervisor of maintenance, and supervisor of custodians.
• Eligibility for membership in doubtful cases is to be determined by the membership committee after investigation.
• Affiliate Members shall enjoy the same privileges as Active Members except the right to vote. They may hold office at the Chapter level but may not hold office as State Officers and/or State Directors.

Why ADC?

Because it upgrades your skills and opens doors to professional development opportunities. With technology changing so fast, and communities asking more of their facilities, school districts actively seek leaders who have demonstrated their skills, experience, and commitment to learning. The ADC communicates that you are committed to your field and to professional development, making you a more desirable candidate as you seek to move forward. Even in your current position, the knowledge you gain from the ADC equips you to better serve your community.

How Do I Complete the ADC?

For starters, complete and return an application. Once enrolled in the program, candidates will need to earn 300 points after acceptance of the program. These points come from many different sources: completion of education and training courses, attendance at the SFMI Professional Development Conference, production of a Personal Data Portfolio that displays your work experience, college courses, certifications, and an interview, among others. And if you become a school facilities director, you can apply your ADC points directly to your pursuit of the Certified Director of Facilities (CDF) designation. It is the ADC participant’s responsibility to track points earned and to maintain support documentation of all programs attended.

Requirement	Points	Required	Minimum/Max
SFMI Annual Conference	5	Yes	1 conference required/ max 20 points
Seminars	6/day		Facilities-related/max 30 points
SFMI Course	10/day	Yes	Minimum 2 courses/no max points
B.O.C. or Equivalent	6/day		Max 50 points
Additional B.O.C.	6/day
Portfolio	50	Yes	Minimum 38 points
Leadership	2		Per office held per year/max 10 point
MVCC	25		3-hour course (must be required in FM Syllabus)
Other College	25		3-hour course (must be required in FM Syllabus)
BOCES Training	6/day		Max 30 points
Vendor Training	4/day		Max 20 points
NYS Codes Enforcement	50
NYS Pesticide	25
Certified Pool Operator	25
Other certifications (Facilities related)	6/day		Max 25 points
Interview	25	Yes	Minimum score 19
School Facilities Managers’ Academy	100	Yes
School Facilities Personnel Academy	50
School Facilities Communication Academy	50
Total ADC			Must achieve 300 points
Total AADC			Must achieve 450 points

General Procedures for Tracking Your Progress:

• Application received at SFMI office
• The applicant’s SFA membership status is confirmed and information is entered into the SFMI database
• Applicant registers and attends required training programs, as noted above
• SFMI training program attendance is tracked in the SFA database
• Upon earning enough points, the applicant submits their resume to the SFMI office
• SFMI staff forwards Candidate Qualifications portfolio to SFMI Co-Chairs for review/evaluation
• If the candidate meets the criteria, an appointment for a “mock interview” is made
• If the candidate successfully completes the interview phase they are issued a certificate of completion at the SFMI annual convention

Congratulations on your commitment to professional growth in the field of facilities management. Please contact us if we can be of assistance to you along the way at sfmi@nyssfa.com or (800) 359-7242.

What is AADC?

Advanced Affiliate Development Certification is the next step on your road to success. After successfully completing your ADC you can move on to earn your AADC. The AADC consists of 13 additional competencies, an Accreditation Committee Review, and an Accreditation Committee interview. 

Who Qualifies?

All Affiliate members who are in good standing and have successfully completed the ADC

Why AADC?

Through AADC you continue to gain and prove competencies across the spectrum of facilities issues. At this advanced level, you gain competencies in architectural systems, transportation systems, facility maintenance systems, occupational safety and health, civil structural systems, blueprint reading, real property contracts, fire protection systems, principals of measurement, legal relationships, site systems, managerial accounting and insurance for vendors.

How Do I Complete the AADC?

To complete the AADC you must earn an additional 150 points after you complete your ADC (450 total) in the 13 additional competencies listed above. This will be followed by an Accreditation Committee review and an Accreditation Committee interview. See the points chart above for point values of various training/professional development options. Please note that it is the ADCC participant’s responsibility to track all points earned and maintain support documentation for all training completed.

General Procedures for Tracking Your Progress

1. Application received at SFMI office
2. Applicants’ SFA membership is confirmed and information is entered into our database
3. Applicant attends the appropriate training programs
4. SFMI training program attendance is tracked in the SFA database
5. Upon earning enough points, the applicant submits their resume to the SFA office
6. Staff forwards Candidate Qualification portfolio to SFMI Co-Chairs for review/evaluation
7. If the candidate meets the requirements, an appointment for a mock interview is scheduled
8. If the candidate successfully completes the interview phase they are issued a certificate of completion at the SFMI annual conference