Where Do I Start?
If you have already earned a college degree (bachelor’s or higher)
with 24 credit hours of courses in financial management or
related topics (see Education Requirement below), apply for the
CGFM Program now!
To apply:
1.
Read the AGA’s
Code of Ethics
2. Fill out and submit the
CGFM Application
Form, including a
nonrefundable
application fee of $85.
3. Fax (703.562.0361) or mail to AGA (2208 Mt. Vernon Avenue,
Alexandria, VA 22301) the required degree documentation
(see Education Requirement below). Note: this documentation must
be submitted within six months of submitting the application
form.
What about the CGFM
Work Verification Form?
This form does not have to
be submitted at the time of application, but is required before
the CGFM can be awarded. If you already have the required
experience, we suggest that you submit this form at the time of
application. Please see
Required
Professional Experience for more information.
What happens after you apply? Once your CGFM application and degree
documentation
are received and processed, the Office of Professional Certification will mail
you an eligibility letter with instructions on how to purchase your
examinations.
You’ll have three years from the date your application is
processed to pass the three CGFM Examinations.
Overview of CGFM Process
describes your pathway to earning the CGFM certification.
Education
Requirement
To take
any of the Certified Government Financial Manager examinations, you
must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college
or university, and completion of at least 24 semester credit hours (or
36 quarter credit hours) of study
composed of courses in one or more of the following areas:
- Accounting
- Auditing
- Budgeting
- Economics
- Electronic Data Processing
- Finance
- Information Resources Management
- Public Administration
- Other Financial Management or Related Topics
Your degree must be from a U.S.
college or university, accredited by one of the regional
accrediting agencies that accredit colleges and universities or
higher education institutions. If you have a foreign degree, you
must provide an evaluation report that states that your degree
is equivalent to a U.S. degree (bachelor’s or higher) from an
accredited college or university. The evaluation report must be
prepared by an organization that performs foreign educational
credential evaluation services and is
a member of either National Association of Credential
Evaluation Services (www.naces.org)
or Association of International Credentials Evaluators
(www.aice-eval.org).
REQUIRED DEGREE DOCUMENTATION: a copy of your transcript from
an accredited college or university. The transcript must show
that a degree (bachelor's or higher) was awarded and must list at
least 24 semester credit hours (36 quarter credit hours) of
study composed of courses in financial management or related
topics. Official transcripts are not required, but your name and
the name of the college or university must appear on all
transcripts.
An evaluation report is required for foreign degrees. If the
evaluation report does not have the course-by-course analysis, a
transcript with an English translation is required. Please note: CPA card or license is not acceptable
as proof of degree.
Please send the transcript to the Office of Professional
Certification via fax 703.562.0361, or mail (AGA, 2208 Mount
Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301).
Please include your name, contact information and the date the
CGFM application was submitted. The transcript must be received
within six months of the date of the CGFM application - if
the transcript is received after six months, a new CGFM
application with an application fee is required.
WITHIN ONE YEAR OF GRADUATION: If you
are currently enrolled and are within one year of graduation
with an appropriate bachelor’s degree, you may be able to apply
for the CGFM Program and start taking the CGFM Examinations
before your degree is conferred (note: proof of the degree will
be required before the CGFM can be awarded). Contact the Office
of Professional Certification at 800.AGA.7211 (703.684.6931),
ext. 341 or
agacgfm@agacgfm.org for more information – please indicate
the number of college credits completed, the number of financial
management courses completed and the expected graduation date.
WAIVERS: If you have not completed
your bachelor’s degree or if you have a bachelor’s degree but
not the 24 credit hours as described above, you may submit a
request for a waiver of the educational requirements based on
the combination of your education and your years of experience
in government financial management. Contact the Office of
Professional Certification at 800.AGA.7211 (703.684.6931), ext.
341 or
agacgfm@agacgfm.org for more information – please indicate
the number of college credits completed, the number of financial
management courses completed and the number of years of
experience in government financial management.