Credentialing and
Certification Programs
EFP Frequently Asked Questions
Distinguishing Between EFP and CEFP:
What does EFP and CEFP stand for?
The EFP stands for Educational Facilities Professional and CEFP stands for Certified Educational Facilities Professional.
What is the difference between the EFP and the CEFP?
The EFP was designed with the younger and/or newer facilities professional in mind; while the CEFP is more appropriate for the more experienced facilities professional. The EFP is a certificate program; while the CEFP is a credential and the holder of the credential must maintain their CEU credits.
How do I know which program is the best for me to pursue?
You can get some information by reviewing the eligibility requirements page for EFP and the eligibility requirements page for CEFP on our website for each area. Individuals need to actually qualify through a combination of work and/or educational experience in order to take the CEFP exam and these requirements will help you determine your eligibility for the CEFP level.
What is myEFP and myCEFP?
These are your personal and professional navigation portals for all items related to Credentialing. When you click on the myEFP page for example, you will be asked to provide your APPA ID and password. If you do not have an account with us, you may create one or if you have forgotten your ID and/or password, you may have that information emailed to you. After logging in, you will see a link appear to start a new application or if you already have one opened, you will see a link to finish an application. Complete the online application and at the end of this process, you will see links to either purchase the EFP online content materials, register for the online exam, or register for one of our prep courses offered at our educational venues. You may register for one or all of these options. Your myEFP page tracks your application status, exam dates and times, proctors, EFP prep course dates and venues, payment information such as payment receipts or outstanding PO’s to be paid, as well as education transcript information.
EFP EXAM QUESTIONS:
How many questions are on the EFP exam?
The EFP exam has 135 multiple choice questions. Each multiple choice question is equal weight
and worth 1 point.
How much time does a person have to complete the EFP exam?
All test candidates are given 3 hours to complete the exam.
What is the cost of the EFP exam?
The EFP exam is $480 unless you are an Institute graduate. APPA’s system will match your APPA ID and password to your education transcript and if you have completed all four tracks of APPA’s Institute, the system will note this and discount your exam fee to $280.
Why does APPA offer a discount for people that complete the Institute training?
APPA believes that individuals completing the Institute training are well prepared to take the exam and successfully earn their EFP designation. The Institute training consists of four tracks which mirror the four core content areas of the EFP exam commonly referred to as the Body of Knowledge or BOK. After graduating from the Institute, the attainment of the EFP designation is seen as the next logical progression on the APPA educational continuum path.
How can I learn more about APPA’s Institute training?
You may visit the following area of our website to learn more about the Institute courses.
What do you need to score in order to pass the EFP exam?
APPA does not release this information but we have an 85% pass rate with the EFP exam.
How soon after taking the EFP exam can I expect to receive my results?
APPA requires that both the proctor and the test candidate submit signed electronic verification statements acknowledging that exam protocol was adhered to before exam scores will be released to the test candidate. Generally, exam results will be released the same day if both forms are signed and emailed in a timely manner to Christina Hills, APPA’s Director of Credentialing & Benchmarking.
Does APPA provide additional exam feedback beyond the test results?
Your exam results will be either pass/fail. APPA does not provide your raw score or percentage pass rate. APPA will provide general content feedback which will allow a candidate to easily determine their areas of strengths and weaknesses on the exam. APPA does not automatically provide exam feedback. You may easily request this information by emailing Christina Hills, APPA’s Director of Credentialing & Benchmarking.
What are the steps to register for the online EFP exam?
You will need to access the myEFP menu option and follow the steps to complete your online application form. The online exam requires a minimum 5 day advance notice, so you will not be able to register for the exam earlier than 5 days from today’s date. The online exam window registration period is 6 months from the time that you begin an application.
How soon after successfully passing the EFP exam can I apply to qualify for the CEFP exam?
As long as the individual meets the requirements of eligibility for the CEFP exam, there is currently no wait period between the EFP exam and the CEFP exam.
If I fail the EFP exam, how long must I wait before signing up to re-take the EFP exam?
APPA does not have a mandatory wait period between exam re-takes but APPA encourages individuals to request exam feedback and spend time studying the EFP exam content before considering how soon to re-take the EFP exam.
How many times in one year can I re-take the EFP exam if necessary?
APPA allows a test candidate to re-take the EFP exam up to four times in one year (from the date of the first exam) if necessary.
Are there any requirements to maintain the EFP designation?
No. The EFP is a certificate and not a credential, so there is no need to renew your EFP designation.
EFP Exam Content Questions:
What is the content for the EFP exam?
The EFP exam consists of APPA’s four core areas known as the Body of Knowledge or BOK. The four core content areas are:
Part 1 - General Administration and Management
Part 2 - Operations and Maintenance
Part 3 - Energy, Utilities, and Environmental Stewardship
Part 4 - Planning, Design & Construction
Can I purchase the EFP content without registering for the exam or prep course?
Yes, you may just purchase the EFP content separately without registering for the exam or prep course. You can always come back to the online application form and sign up at a later date for the exam and/or prep course.
What is the cost to purchase the electronic EFP Body of Knowledge (BOK) content?
The cost is $150 to purchase the online study materials unless you are signing up for a prep course. In this case, the cost of your study materials is included in the cost of the prep course fee.
EFP Proctor Questions:
Does APPA require the EFP exam to be proctored?
Yes, the EFP exam must be proctored. APPA does not require that test candidates go to a testing center to take the EFP exam.
What are the proctor guidelines and requirements for the EFP exam?
The proctor guidelines and requirements can be found on the APPA website. APPA encourages both the test candidate and the proctor to thoroughly review the guidelines and requirements before agreeing to complete the online EFP exam.
Is there a difference between the proctor guidelines and the proctor requirements?
Yes. The proctor guidelines provide general guidance over the expected level of responsibility that the proctor will assume before, during, and after the examination. The Proctor Requirements Document contains specific oaths that the proctor will electronically sign after the examination is completed. The Proctor Requirements Document is then emailed to Christina Hills, APPA’s Director of Credentialing & Benchmarking where it will be verified. This document and the Test Candidate Verification Form must be signed and emailed to Christina Hills before a test candidate’s pass/fail notification will be released to the test candidate. View instructions for completing the Proctor Requirements page.
Does the test candidate need to complete a form after completing the EFP exam?
Yes. The test candidate will be required to complete the Test Candidate Verification Form which is an oath electronically signed by the test candidate. This document will then be emailed to Christina Hills, APPA’s Director of Credentialing & Benchmarking where it will be verified. This document and the Proctor Requirements Document must be signed and emailed to Christina Hills before a test candidate’s pass/fail notification will be released to the test candidate. View instructions for completing the Test Candidate Verification Form.
EFP Prep Course Questions:
When does APPA offer the EFP prep course?
APPA offers the prep course at all the Institute and Leadership Academy venues and at APPA’s Annual Conference each year. APPA Regions also provide opportunities to attend the EFP prep course each year. Registration dates for any of these venues will appear on the application form as the dates are confirmed.
What are my options for a EFP prep course if I do not plan to travel or cannot travel to one of the EFP prep course venues?
APPA will work with you and your institution or school to bring the EFP prep course to your location. Please contact Christina Hills, APPA’s Director of Credentialing & Benchmarking for additional information about this option.
What is the cost of the EFP prep course and what does it include?
The EFP prep course costs $540 per person and includes all your electronic study materials as well as lunch for the all day training session.
How are instructors selected to teach the EFP prep course?
APPA qualifies all prep course instructors and there are currently eight qualified prep course instructors across all APPA regions who also serve as prep course faculty members.
What advantage will the EFP prep course provide for me?
The EFP prep course will help to narrow the focus of content material by providing more specific information on exam content breakout. The course will provide attendees with key terms and definitions to prioritize as well as group exercises and sample test questions that closely mirror actual exam questions. The attendee will develop the critical thinking skills and strategies to use when considering which exam responses are correct or incorrect. Lastly, the EFP prep course will definitively allow an attendee to accurately assess their readiness and level of preparedness for the EFP exam. The prep course is the best way to gauge your level of readiness for the EFP exam.
How long do I need to wait after attending the EFP prep course before I can register for the EFP exam?
APPA does not impose a mandatory wait time and a candidate may register to take the EFP exam immediately following the EFP prep course. APPA recommends that test candidates use the prep course as an opportunity to assess their level of preparedness for the EFP exam before committing to an exam date.
