Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Requirements
This page outlines the detailed CPE Requirements for maintaining the
CGFM Certification. To help you determine your CPE Cycle, go to
the Calendar of CPE Cycles.
For more information on all of the requirements to maintain the CGFM
certification, please visit the "How
Do I Maintain a CGFM?" page
Please click on a question below or scroll down to view the contents
of the entire "Interpretation of Continuing Professional Education
Requirements" booklet.
INTRODUCTION
1. Continuing professional education (CPE) has become an important topic in the government financial management community. In an environment of increasingly complex financial management work and accelerating change, professional financial managers recognize the need to make a strong commitment to their CPE. The Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) Program is specially designed to help meet the critical need for greatly increased emphasis on the professional qualifications and stature of government financial managers.
Government financial managers must be ready to meet today's financial management challenges. CPE for government financial managers serves to maintain and enhance professional proficiency. The result is financial managers who continually improve and refine their knowledge and skills in government financial management topics or related technical subjects applicable to government financial management areas.
2. 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.
To maintain the
CGFM certification in an active status, CGFMs are required to: (1) pay
the CGFM renewal fee by the due date every year; (2) complete at least
80 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) every two years in
government financial management topics or related technical subjects;
(3) maintain and, if requested by AGA, provide detailed information on
CPE hours completed.
See “How
do I maintain a
CGFM?”
page for additional information on the requirements to maintain the CGFM
certification.
3. Complying with the CGFM CPE requirements is the responsibility of the individual certificate holder. Carrying out this responsibility requires exercising sound professional judgment. Individual CGFMs are responsible for (1) seeking opportunities for CPE, (2) successfully completing CPE programs and activities, (3) maintaining documentation of the CPE hours completed for reporting to the board if requested, and (4) monitoring their own progress toward meeting the CPE requirements. To assist individual certificate holders in exercising that judgment, this interpretation has been issued.
4. The CPE requirements are based on the premise that all CGFMs will maintain and enhance their professional proficiency in government financial management. CGFMs will have wide latitude in selecting suitable CPE.
APPLICABILITY OF CPE REQUIREMENTS
5. The CPE requirements stated under the CGFM program apply to all active CGFM certificate holders who work in the public or private sector. The CPE requirements set forth 80 hours as the minimum number of hours of CPE that CGFMs must complete every two years to maintain their CGFM certification.
EXEMPTIONS
6. QUESTION: Are retired CGFM certificate holders exempt from meeting the CPE requirements?
7. INTERPRETATION:
Yes, 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".
EXCEPTIONS
8. QUESTION: Can the Professional Certification Board grant exceptions from the CPE requirements?
9. INTERPRETATION: The Professional Certification Board may grant exceptions from the CPE requirements for valid reasons such as foreign residency, ill health, maternity leave or military service. The certificate holder should fully describe the reasons for requesting an exception and
must submit it to the Office of Professional Certification for a
determination by the Professional Certification Board - no later than April 30 in the year following the end of the two-year CPE cycle. The Office of Professional Certification will notify the CGFM of the board's decision and retain that documentation for an appropriate period of time. (See paragraph 48).
DETERMINING COMPLIANCE WITH CPE REQUIREMENTS
10. To maintain CGFM certification in
an active status, the program requires that certificate holders renew
their CGFM on an annual basis and complete at least 80 hours of CPE in government financial management topics or related technical subjects every two years. Paragraphs 11 through 22 of this interpretation address issues related to determining compliance with those requirements.
ESTABLISHING RENEWAL DATE
11. QUESTION: What is the CGFM renewal process?
12. INTERPRETATION: Active CGFMs
must pay the applicable CGFM renewal fee by the due date every year and
complete at least 80 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
every two years. CGFM holders do not need to submit supporting
documentation of the CPE hours at the time of renewal. The payment
itself serves as the CGFM holder's affirmation of his or her compliance
with the CPE requirements.
13. The first CPE cycle starts on January 1st of the year following the one when the CGFM designation was earned. For example, if the CGFM was received anytime in 1996, the first CPE cycle starts on January 1, 1997 and ends on December 31, 1998. For a schedule of all CPE cycles, click here.
14. If a CGFM fails to meet the requirements to
maintain the CGFM in an active or retired status, the CGFM becomes
inactive. Please visit the "How
Do I Maintain a CGFM?" page for
additional information on annual renewal requirements and inactive
status.
CPE CARRYOVER
15. QUESTION: May a CGFM carry over CPE hours earned in excess of the 80-hour requirement from one period to the next two-year period?
16. INTERPRETATION: No, the 80-hour requirement is the minimum number of hours of CPE that CGFMs should complete every two years.
DEFICIENCY MAKEUP
17. QUESTION: Can CGFMs make up deficiencies in the CPE requirements?
18. INTERPRETATION: CGFMs who have not completed the required number of CPE hours for any two-year period will have the three months (January 1 - March 31) immediately following the two-year period to make up the deficiency. Any CPE hours completed toward a deficiency in one period should be documented in the CPE records and may not be counted toward the requirements for the next two-year period.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CGFM & OTHER CPE REQUIREMENTS
19. QUESTION: Would satisfying the CPE requirements of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) or of a state board of accountancy also satisfy the requirements of the CGFM program?
20. INTERPRETATION: Possibly, however, individual CGFMs who are members of the AICPA, IIA or are licensed certified public accountants, are cautioned that the CGFM CPE requirements, while similar in many respects to those of the AICPA, IIA or of state boards of accountancy, are not identical.
MONITORING COMPLIANCE
21. QUESTION: How will compliance with the CPE requirements be determined?
22. INTERPRETATION: As part of the annual audit of a random sample of CGFM holders, AGA may request CPE documentation for verification. Thus, individuals should maintain documentation to substantiate their statements of completed CPE for a minimum of three years. In case of an audit, the certificate holder will be asked to provide supporting documentation, such as the dates, locations, titles, sponsoring organization and proof of attendance.
CPE PROGRAMS & TOPICS/SUBJECTS
23. Paragraphs 24 through 35 of this interpretation address what programs and activities and topics and subjects would and would not satisfy the CGFM CPE requirements.
CPE PROGRAMS
24. QUESTION: What are CPE programs?
25. INTERPRETATION: CPE programs are structured educational activities designed to maintain or enhance the CGFM's professional proficiency in government financial management. This may be achieved through interaction with an instructor and other participants (a group program) or without major interaction with an instructor (an individual or self-study program).
CRITERIA FOR CPE PROGRAMS
26. QUESTION: What criteria should be used to determine if group and individual/self-study programs qualify for CPE hours?
27. INTERPRETATION: The CGFM Program does not establish detailed criteria for CPE programs. However, it does require that CPE contribute to the CGFM's professional proficiency in government financial management, and that CGFMs maintain documentation of the CPE completed. To determine if programs contribute to professional proficiency and to facilitate documentation, the following criteria for CPE programs may be considered as appropriate.
a. For both group and individual/self-study programs:
An agenda or outline is prepared in advance and retained by the program sponsor that indicates the name(s) of the instructor(s); the subject(s)/topic(s) covered; the date(s) and length of the program; and, when appropriate, the program's learning objectives and any prerequisites.
The program is developed by individuals qualified or experienced in the topic/subject matter.
Program materials are technically accurate, current, and sufficient to meet the program's learning objectives.
The program is reviewed, when appropriate, by other qualified or experienced individuals. The nature and extent of any review may vary depending on characteristics of the program.
Evaluations of the program are obtained from instructors and participants, when appropriate.
b. For group programs:
Attendance records are maintained.
The program is presented by a qualified instructor or discussion leader.
c. For individual/self-study programs:
Participants are required to register for the program.
The program sponsor provides evidence of satisfactory completion (a certificate or transcript).
PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES THAT QUALIFY
28. QUESTION: What CPE programs and activities qualify for CPE hours?
29. INTERPRETATION: The following programs and activities qualify for CPE hours provided they are in acceptable topics and subjects as discussed in paragraphs 30 through 33:
a. Group programs such as:
Internal training programs (courses, seminars and workshops).
The portion of a financial management organization staff meeting in which a structured educational program is used to provide staff with knowledge regarding topics and subjects such as those included in paragraph 32 and 33. Informal discussions of current events in the financial management profession do not qualify for CPE hours.
University and college courses (credit and noncredit).
Education
and development programs presented at conferences, conventions,
meetings, seminars and workshops of professional organizations. For
example, the Association of Government Accountants' (AGA) annual
Professional Development Conference (PDC) and National Leadership
Conference (NLC).
Training programs presented by other financial management organizations, educational organizations, foundations and associations. For example, education and training programs sponsored by AGA, AGA's individual chapters, GFOA, IIA, etc.
b. Individual study programs such as:
Correspondence courses, self-study guides and workbooks.
Courses given through audio cassette tapes, videotapes and computers.
On-line CPE sponsored by AGA, AICPA and other organizations.
c. Other professional activities, subject to the limitations discussed in paragraphs 42 and 43 are:
Serving as a speaker, instructor, or discussion leader at group programs (AGA PDC) that qualify for CPE hours.
Publishing articles and books or developing CPE courses on topics and subjects that qualify for CPE hours and that contribute directly to the author's professional proficiency. For example, writing an article published in The Journal of Government Financial Management.
TOPICS AND SUBJECTS THAT QUALIFY
30. QUESTION: What topics and subjects qualify for CPE hours?
31. INTERPRETATION: See paragraph 32: The CGFM is initially responsible for determining whether a topic or subject qualifies as acceptable CPE. For instance, there are CPE programs that include a wide variety of topics and subjects that may contribute to maintaining or enhancing the professional proficiency of some CGFMs, but not others. Determining what topics and subjects are appropriate for individual CGFMs to satisfy the CPE requirement is a matter of professional judgment. Among the considerations is exercising that judgment are CGFM's experience, the government financial management area(s) in which they work and the responsibilities they assume in performing government financial management functions.
32. CPE that would satisfy the CGFM Program's requirement should be in government financial management topics or related technical subjects applicable to government financial management areas. Examples of such topics and subjects include, but are not limited to, the following:
- accounting principles and standards
- accounting systems
- analytical procedures
- assessment of internal controls
- assessment of management controls
- asset management systems
- audit methodologies
- audit of contract compliance/costs
- audit/evaluation of program
- audit risk and materiality
- audit/evaluation standards
- budgeting
- business law
- business
- compliance with laws and regulations
- computer science
- computer security
- contracting and procurement
- cost accounting
- data analysis
- economics
- electronic data processing
- evaluation design
- financial auditing
- financial management
- financial management systems
- financial planning or analysis
- financially related fraud
- investigations
- financial reporting
- forecasts and projections
- industrial engineering
- information resources management
- interviewing techniques
- mathematics
- operations research
- oral and written communications
- performance or operations
- pension accounting
- performance measurement and reporting
- principles of management and supervision
- probability
- process reengineering
- productivity
- program evaluation
- public administration
- public finance
- public policy and structure
- quality control
- report writing
- sampling
- social sciences
- strategic planning
- taxation
- workpaper preparation
33. Except as discussed in paragraph 35, instruction in topics and subjects that meet the CPE requirements of licensing bodies (state boards of accountancy) or other professional organizations (the AICPA or the IIA) would satisfy the CPE requirement providing that the CPE maintains or enhances the CGFM's professional proficiency in government financial management.
PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES OR TOPICS & SUBJECTS THAT DO NOT QUALIFY
34. QUESTION: What education and training programs and activities or topics and subjects do NOT qualify for CPE hours?
35. INTERPRETATION: Examples of programs and activities or topics and subjects that do not qualify for CPE hours include, but are not limited to, the following:
On-the-job training.
Basic or elementary courses in topics and subjects in which the CGFM already has the necessary knowledge and skills and that served as the initial basis for qualification as a CGFM.
Programs that are not designed to maintain or enhance CGFMs' professional proficiency, but are designed for the general public, such as resume` writing, improving parent-child relations, personal investments and money management and retirement planning.
Sales-oriented programs that demonstrate office equipment.
Programs restricted to the financial management organization's administrative operations, such as how to prepare time and attendance reports or internal administrative reporting responsibilities.
Business sessions at professional organization conferences, conventions and meetings.
Participation as a member of a committee of a professional organization.
Preparation and presentation time for repeated presentations within the two-year period. (See paragraphs 40 and 42).
Conducting external quality control reviews.
Taking exams or tests.
ADMINISTERING CPE REQUIREMENTS
36. The CGFM program requires that certificate holders meet the CPE requirements. Paragraphs 37 through 50 of this interpretation provide specific guidance on measuring CPE hours, documenting completion of CPE, retaining CPE records and preparing reports on CPE.
MEASURING CPE HOURS
37. QUESTION: How are CPE hours measured for qualifying group programs, individual study programs and other professional activities?
38. INTERPRETATION: A CPE hour may be granted for each 50 minutes of participation in programs and activities that qualify. At conferences and conventions where individual presentations are less than and/or more than 50 minutes, the sum of the presentations should be considered as one total program. For example, two 90-minute, two 50-minute and three 40-minute presentations equal 400 minutes or eight CPE hours.
39. Sponsors of CPE programs should monitor their programs to accurately assign the appropriate number of hours. CGFM participants should receive CPE hours only for the actual time they attend the program. Preparation time for students participating in a CPE program is not counted.
40. CGFMs completing or teaching university or college noncredit courses should receive CPE hours based on the guidance provided in paragraphs 38 and 42 of this interpretation. For CGFMs completing university or college credit courses, each semester hour credit equals 15 CPE hours, and each quarter hour credit equals 10 CPE hours. Instructors for university or college credit courses should receive CPE hours based on the number of credit hours the university/college gives a student for successfully completing the course (a three-semester hour credit course x 15 CPE hours per semester hour = 45 CPE hours).
An instructor should not receive CPE hours for teaching a course more than once within the two-year period, unless the course was changed significantly. The maximum number of CPE hours that may be granted to an individual as an instructor under this paragraph and paragraph 42, should not exceed 40 hours for any two-year period.
41. CGFM participants in correspondence or individual study programs should be granted CPE hours when they satisfactorily complete the program. These programs generally should be pretested by the vendor or sponsor to determine the average completion time, and CPE hours should be granted in an amount equal to the average completion time.
For example, a correspondence course that takes an average of 600 minutes to complete should be granted 12 CPE hours. However, if the program has not been pre-tested, participants may still be granted CPE hours in an amount equal to one-half of the time they actually spent on the program.
For example, a CGFM who takes 800 minutes to complete an individual study program may be granted 8 CPE hours (800 minutes x ½ = 400 minutes divided by 50 minutes = 8 CPE hours).
42. Speakers, instructors (university/college noncredit courses) and discussion leaders at programs that qualify for CPE should receive CPE hours for preparation and presentation time to the extent the topic or subject matter contributes directly to the CGFM's professional proficiency. One hour of CPE should be granted for each 50 minutes of presentation time, and up to two additional hours of CPE may be granted for advance preparation for each 50 minutes of their presentation.
For example, a discussion leader could receive up to 21 hours of CPE for a presentation of 350 minutes (seven hours for presentation and 14 hours for preparation). An individual should not receive CPE hours for either preparation or presentation time for repeated presentations that he or she makes within the two-year period, unless the topic or subject matter involved was changed significantly. The maximum number of CPE hours that may be granted to an individual as a speaker, instructor, or discussion leader under this paragraph and paragraph 40 above, should not exceed 40 hours for any two-year period.
43. Articles, books, or CPE courses written by CGFMs on topics and subjects related to their expertise and/or work that contribute directly to professional proficiency will qualify for CPE hours in the year they are published. One hour of CPE should be granted for each hour devoted to writing articles, books, or course materials that are published. However, CPE hours for published writings should not exceed 20 hours for any two-year period.
MAINTAINING DOCUMENTATION
44. QUESTION: What is the CGFM's responsibility for maintaining documentation of CPE?
45. INTERPRETATION: The CGFM is responsible for maintaining documentation of the CPE hours completed.
46. The CGFM's records should include the following information for each CPE program or activity attended or completed:
- the sponsoring organization (AGA National Office or local chapter),
- the location at which the program was given,
- the title of the program and a brief description of its contents (50th Annual Professional Development Conference & Exposition; current issues affecting state and local government financial management operations),
- the dates attended for group programs or dates completed for individual study programs (July 2-6, 2001),
- the number of CPE hours earned (27), and evidence of attendance or completion. This might include the following:
- Record of the grade received for a university or college credit course.
- An outline and evidence of attendance or of having been the instructor or discussion leader from the program sponsor.
- Evidence of completion from the program sponsor (AGA CPE Form).
- A copy of the published book, article, or course.
RETAINING RECORDS
47. QUESTION: How long should CPE records be maintained?
48. INTERPRETATION: All CPE records should be maintained for a minimum of three years.
PREPARING CPE REPORTS
49. QUESTION: Are CGFMs required to prepare reports on CPE?
50. INTERPRETATION: CGFMs are required to maintain records on CPE hours earned and, if requested by AGA, provide supporting documentation on CPE hours completed.
RESERVATIONS & APPEALS
51. QUESTION: Can these requirements be appealed and if so, who can waive the requirements?
52. INTERPRETATION: The Professional Certification Board can waive any and all requirements on a case-by-case basis depending upon the extenuating circumstances as may be presented to the Board.
53. QUESTION: Can a certificate holder appeal the Professional Certification Board's decision based on these requirements?
54. INTERPRETATION: The Professional Certification Board's decision can be appealed to AGA's National Executive Committee.