IAF Credential?

From the LinkedIn Professional Facilitators Network Group

Hi! I am a certified coach both for individuals and teams/systems….other facilitators said that I “couldn’t get jobs” in the government and/or large corporations without the IAF Credential – and that they wouldn’t recommend my work because I didn’t have the credential even though I worked with them and they said I was great. What is everyone’s experience? Do you have the IAF credential? If so, how has it assisted your business? If you don’t have it, do you think it has been an obstacle you have had to get around?  

Editor’s Note: The answers are all interesting, including one from the IAF US Rep.  To view the rest of the responses,  join the Professional Facilitators Network Group on LinkedIn.

CPF Recertification

(Excerpts from an email by Michael Spivey IAF Director for Professional Development, c/o Beatrice Corley, April 21, 2009)

Dear Fellow Certified Professional Facilitator

Since the inception of the CPF program in 1998, our profession has continued to grow. The IAF CertifiedTM Professional Facilitator designation is now recognized around the world as we have certified over 660 facilitators in over 40 countries. The re-certification process was part of the original design of the CPF program. After several years of focusing solely on the CPF program itself, I am pleased to announce we are now at a point to roll out the IAF CPF Re-Certification Program.

The following re-certification criteria were developed in 2007 by a CPF work group consisting of our fellow CPFs. This criterion was presented to and approved by your IAF Board Members. The re-certification application process requires that each CPF complete an application consisting of three components:

1. A listing of seven (7) facilitated workshops completed within the last three (3) years. The selected workshops should ideally demonstrate a variety of processes that demonstrate your range of facilitation skills.

2. A listing of professional development undertaken since your original certification date. A short essay (1000-1500 words), linking lessons learned since you became a CPF to the IAF Core Competencies, demonstrating changes in facilitation style / behavior, and indicating what growth has occurred during the period since your CPF Certification.

If you were originally certified between the years of 1998 and 2005, you are due to be re-certified.

In order to allow all of our CPFs enough time to properly complete their re-certification application, you will be able to complete and submit your re-certification application anytime between May 2009 and October 30, 2009 (Editor’s note: if you haven’t received this application yet you will in the near future.)

The cost of re-certification is $350.00 USD.

If you were originally certified as a CPF from 2006 until present, your certification year is [four years following the year in which you were certified, e.g. if you were certified in December 2006, you would complete your re-certification process in the year 2010].

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact recertify@iaf-world.org or prof.dev@iaf-world.org.