While there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to studying for the CGFM examinations, here are a few tips that many candidates find helpful:

• Read everything about CGFM certification on the AGA website
• Start your preparation with the examination content outlines and pay special attention to the acronyms and sample questions
• Review additional references in areas with which you are less familiar
• Make flashcards for local, state and federal terms
• Use reputable resources, such as AGA materials, information provided by a government agency or college textbooks (beware of poor quality materials that are sometimes sold online)

AGA’s CGFM Study Guide Tips

• Read the most recent version of the AGA study guide (cover to cover) and pay attention to highlighted boxes, key terms, etc.
• For the end-of-chapter/section questions, don’t just identify the correct answer; ask yourself why the other answers are incorrect
• Know what the AGA study guides are and are not:
  • These are resources that provide an excellent foundation for studying for the CGFM examinations
  • Are not intended to offer answers to individual exam questions
• Determine if you need more in-depth preparation: while many candidates find the guides to be sufficient in their preparation, some individuals may need to go a step further and review additional references

AGA’s CGFM Practice Exam Tips

• Pay attention to your timing as you go through the 115-question practice exam;  keep in mind that you will be given 2 hours and 15 minutes for each live CGFM exam at a testing center
• Don’t just identify the correct answer; ask yourself why the other answers are incorrect
• Print the result pages of your practice exam and review the references for incorrect answers
• Understand that practice exam questions are a study tool and not a predictor of your performance on the actual CGFM exam

During the Exam

Slow down and read each exam question thoroughly – look for specific terms in the questions that might help you identify the correct answer.

Exam Retake Tips

• If you don’t pass a CGFM examination, you’ll receive an instant report that shows your performance by content area – use this score report as your guide to help you focus your study preparation
• Within a week of taking the exam, contact Pearson to schedule a retake for the first available date, after your waiting period
• Go back to the exam content outline and highlight the areas you struggled with during the exam. When studying for the retake, focus on those areas. 
• Remember that candidates may not discuss exam questions with anyone, including AGA staff
• Many successful CGFMs have struggled with at least one of the examinations, so please don’t feel discouraged!

Questions? 

Do you have any questions about the CGFM certification process? Need additional tips on your path to CGFM? Contact AGA’s CGFM staff for assistance at agacgfm@agacgfm.org or 800.AGA.7211.