How Do I Maintain a CGFM?
To retain the CGFM certification, all CGFMs must adhere to the
AGA’s
Code of Ethics.
In addition, to continue using the CGFM designation after their name,
CGFMs must be in an active or retired status.
Active status:
To maintain the
CGFM certification in an active status, CGFMs are required to:
-
Pay the CGFM renewal fee by the due
date every year.
-
Complete at least 80 hours of
continuing professional education (CPE) every two years in
government financial management topics or related technical
subjects.
-
Maintain and, if requested by AGA,
provide detailed information on CPE hours completed.
By submitting
their annual renewal payment, CGFMs affirm that they have and will
continue to abide by AGA’s Code of Ethics and that they have
fulfilled the minimum CPE Requirements.
Annual Renewal Requirement
All active CGFMs must renew their
certification annually. At the beginning of each year, invoices will be
sent to all active CGFMs. Annual CGFM renewal payments are due by
March 31. AGA reserves the right to periodically adjust the renewal
rates.
CGFMs must promptly notify AGA of any
change of mailing address. It is the responsibility of each CGFM to pay
the annual CGFM renewal fee, even if that individual did not receive an
invoice from AGA. Go to
CGFM renewal page to renew your CGFM.
Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
Requirements
All active CGFMs
are required to complete at least 80 hours of continuing professional
education (CPE) every two years in government financial management
topics or related technical subjects. As part of the annual audit of a
random sample of CGFMs, AGA may request CPE documentation for
verification.
CPE requirements
page contains detailed information on CGFM CPE requirements.
Waivers or extensions on
earning CPE hours are granted on an individual case basis. All requests
for waivers must be sent in writing to the AGA’s Office of Professional
Certification no later than April 30 in the year following the end of
the two-year CPE cycle.
Retired
status:
Individuals who are retired from AND
are no longer substantially working in the government financial
management community can request an adjustment of their status to
“retired” by contacting AGA’s Office of Professional Certification (by
mail or e-mail at
agacgfm@agacgfm.org). CGFMs in retired status are not required to
remit the CGFM renewal fee or earn the 80 CPE hours.
If retired CGFMs return to work (substantial employment or contracting)
in the government financial management community, they must contact AGA
to change their status back to "active."
Inactive status:
If a CGFM
fails to meet the requirements to maintain the CGFM in an active or
retired status, the CGFM becomes inactive.
Inactive
CGFMs may not present themselves as CGFMs either in writing or orally or
display the CGFM certificate.
Inactive
CGFMs may request a reactivation by complying with current reactivation
requirements, but may not use the “CGFM” after their name until after
they receive a written confirmation from the AGA’s Office of
Professional Certification that their reactivation submission has been
approved.
Current
reactivation requirements:
-
Submitting a completed
CPE
report listing at least 40 CPE hours earned within the last 12
months with required back-up documentation (Note: the report will not be
accepted without required back-up documentation – see
Guidelines document for more details);
-
Paying the current year’s renewal fee and
reactivation fee (see
Payment Form).
Professional
Certification Board reserves the right to revise the reactivation policy
without notice.
A CGFM can remain
in inactive status for up to 5 consecutive years. After that period, the
CGFM is voided. A CGFM can only enter inactive status twice. The third
time the CGFM is automatically voided.
Voided status:
CGFM designation
will be voided if the holder is inactive for longer than 5 consecutive
years or enters inactive status for the third time.
Those who have had
their CGFM certification voided may not present themselves as CGFMs
either in writing or orally. They must also destroy or return their CGFM
certificate to AGA.
If a certification
is voided, the Professional Certification Board may grant reinstatement
on an individual case basis, and will decide what requirements, if any,
must be met for reinstatement. These requirements may include passing
one or more of the CGFM Examinations, taking additional CPE, and/or
paying a reinstatement fee. In all cases the individual has the right
to appeal to the National Executive Committee. Individuals seeking
reinstatement need to contact the Office of Professional Certification
at
agacgfm@agacgfm.org.
Certification Revocation:
A CGFM may be revoked for just cause
stemming from a violation of AGA’s Code of Ethics. A written
rebuttal can be submitted within 60 days to the Professional
Certification Board by any person whose certification is to be revoked.
Those who have had
their CGFM certification revoked may not present themselves as CGFMs
either in writing or orally. They must also destroy or return their
CGFM certificate to AGA.
A person whose CGFM has been revoked
because of an ethics violation may petition PCB for reinstatement of the
certification after a three-year period. Based on its merits, a
reinstatement request may be accepted by the Professional Certification
Board. The individual may be required to pass the three CGFM
Examinations before reinstatement is approved.