IFMA FMP Certification: Everything You Need to Know

 What Is Facilities Management? (FM)

Facility management (FM) is defined as a professional level management is a professional management subject that focuses on the effective and effective provision of support services and facilities for the organization/business that it tends to serve.

Facilities management is an interdisciplinary organizational function with the objective of supplying services and facilities within private and public companies and coordinating their demand. The word “Facility” basically means something that is established, installed or built to serve a purpose – i.e; “any tangible asset which helps a business.” Examples include real estate property, lighting, technical infrastructure, transportation, HVAC, furniture, IT services, custodial and grounds maintenance & any other user-specific appliances and equipment.

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In a nutshell, facilities management is the business activity that integrates technology, processes, places and people within the established work environment with the prime aim of enhancing the productivity of the main business and quality of life of the people, in combination with the auxiliary and the support services as well.

Facilities Manager Job Description: What Does A Facilities Manager Do?

Facilities managers work across various business activities. The prime priority of a facilities manager is to keep people safe and alive. FMs operate at these two levels:

Tactically-strategically: Helping end-users, customers and clients in understanding the potential influence of their decisions on the delivery of business risk, cost, services and space.

Operationally: To ensure cost-effective and corporate environments for occupants to perform.

FMs are responsible for the services, maintenance and security of work facilities so as to ensure that they are in line with the requirements of the business and its employees. Thus, they essentially cater to all those services which help an organization in doing its work. Facilities management job description includes:

• Agreeing and managing contracts and services providers including technology, catering, cleaning, parking, security etc.
• To ensure that fundamental facilities like water and heating are all properly maintained
• To supervise multi-disciplinary groups of staff including security, grounds, maintenance and cleaning
• Making written recommendations and drafting reports
• Ensuring cost-effectiveness and managing budgets
• To ensure that the facilities meet security, health environmental and government regulations standards
• Managing space and allocation between buildings
• To advise organizations on increasing cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency
• To help organizations in relocating to new work places and making decisions regarding leasing
• Oversee refurbishments, renovations or building projects
• If facilities manager work for a construction business, they might also have to put some input into the designing of a new work place building so as to ensure that all facilities are delivered in the most operational manner.

Although several FMs undertake a wide range of responsibilities, it’s likely to specialize in “soft” facilities maintenance management services or “hard”. Soft services include anything that is more related to people while hard has to do more with physical buildings like electrical systems.

Facility Management Jobs- Typical Employers

Facility managers might work directly for the business for which they manage the facility/services or for an organization that offers such services to different organizations. Facilities management jobs and typical employers are:

• Large organizations in the private and public including the National Health Sector (NHS), universities, colleges etc.
• Construction companies
• Property management organizations and property firms
• Specialist facilities management organizations

What Is The FMP Credential?

The Facility Management Professional (FMP) title is a skills and knowledge-based certification for facility management (FM) industry suppliers and professionals who wish to enhance their depth of expertise within the core topics of FM, as considered important by potential employers. This excellent credential is a must-have for you gain a competitive edge, build credibility, increase your skillset and network with other facility management professionals all over the world.

Also Read: Studying High School Aboard

By earning this excellent designation, an FMP will become a part of more than 10,000 experts globally who have enhanced their knowledge, improved their skills and obtained immediate integrity with peers, clients and employers.

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How Do You Earn The FMP Designation?

The International Facility Management Association’s (IFMA) FMP credential is the only platform you will need to get your FM designation. IFMA is a recognized body that offers a set of professional credentials and qualifications for career development at every stage – from experienced professionals to new entrants – it provides a well-defined pathway for advancement and entry within FM and unifies facilities management training opportunities.

Also Read: Facility Management Professional (FMP)

What Is IFMA? 

IFMA is a not for profit organization that strives to grow by investing in facility professionals globally. IFMA’s facilities management professional credential is for FM professionals, those who work within the related industry and wish to succeed in the FM area and those who work with facilities managers. IFMA’s FMP certification will help you in obtaining a thorough understanding of the FM profession, advance the skills and knowledge deemed by employers whilst also proving to your prospective and current employers that your capabilities exceed and meet the industry wide standards and eventually earn the esteemed facilities management credential.

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The best bit? The IFMA body is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ANSI is the authorized representative in the USA to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and is internationally and nationally renowned as a mark of supreme quality. This means that IFMA is accredited to produce the FMP certification to those candidates who have successfully completed the FMP program by the ANSI.

Moreover, IFMA credentials namely FMP, CFM international and SFP lead to an increased salary of around $6000 USD within the first year.

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Why Consider The FMP Designation?

Salary Of A Facilities Manager:

With respect to the salary of a facilities manager, it normally starts from around $32,376 USD a year and can go up to $56,041 USD as you gain more experience. People who are regional facility managers or at more senior roles have the potential to earn up to $74,722 USD.

The facility industry is gaining recognition and grounds globally. Around 75% of the companies require or prefer IFMA’s FMP credential when making salary decisions, promoting or hiring facilities management professionals. FM professionals also earn around 20% more than their non-FM counterparts and are likely to occupy bigger management positions within their company.

Researches show that facilities management professionals who hold the esteemed FMP credential and an average of 5-10 years of work experience earn $8,727 USD more than their counterparts annually.

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Sets You Apart From Your Colleagues:

• Do you plan to do a business with a facilities manager? Or are you applying for a promotion or position within the field? This is where this excellent credential will give you an edge since having the designation “FMP” with your name shows your professional skills and expertise.

Builds A Strong Foundation:

• IFMA’s FMP credential comes with an updated and enhanced course syllabus prepares you for real world challenges and demands of the profession and emphasizes on competencies that are super-essential to a facility manager’s everyday responsibilities.
• The prestigious IFMA FMP certification provides you with a digital stamp for instant verification and safe recognition online.

Kick-Start Your Profession In The Right Direction:

• FM is a profession that is evolving continuously. IFMA’s FMP credential is undoubtedly your commitment to professional development and continuing education that ensures that you are up to date with the latest required skill set and expertise throughout your career phase.
• Facilities management goes wherever you go. It is industry trusted and internationally recognized for more than 15 years.

Build-Up Your Professional Network:

• While perusing this top-notch credential, you get to enjoy the opportunity to network and meet with the industry’s peers and expert instructor during your live four FMP course You also get to take full advantage of significant FMP seminars and events held at international, national and local level.
• FMP is an ANSI accredited program certification and comes with no renewal costs or prerequisites.

Step By Step Process To Earn The FMP Certification

1. The first step is to order the FMP credential IFMA’s official website.
2. For better understanding on how the FMP credential works and how you’re supposed to go about it, you must review the FM introduction video for an overview on the facilities management sector.
3. Read and review FMP’s study materials (by using e-learning modules or printed books). It is recommended that you also complete the interactive study platforms and tools online for every course to increase your knowledge and skills with the FM profession.
4. Complete and pass all four Facilities Management Professional’s final assessments online with a passing score.
5. Submit your Facilities Management Professional application fee and application online to authenticate your FM certification. Please note that you will be directed to the facilities management professional application automatically once you have effectively completed all four final assessments.

Note: Certificate packs are shipped via the local mailing service. For international deliveries, it might take up to two months. You can also find the IFMA’s Facilities Management Professional credential shipping fee with tracking form in the candidate’s credential application (Candidate’s CAMP). If you would like your certificate pack to be shipped to you with tracking details, you would have to pay a $75 shipping fee.

4 FMP Courses

The FMP credential course by IFMA offers one source for gaining knowledge and expertise about the facilities management skills required by potential employers and for earning the credential itself. These online FMP exam preparation courses are especially designed for people who wish to earn the IFMA FMP certification or boost their professional growth in the FM industry.

IFMA’s facility management courses comprise of four excellent knowledge based spheres that are constantly updated to stay in line with the foundations of skills and expertise as required by facilities management employers and the body’s international job task analysis. In order to gain the facilities management credential, one must successfully pass each of these four domains (through either instructor-led channels or e-learning), complete their respective final assessments and then submit an application for the FMP credential to IFMA for their approval.

These four online FMP exam preparation course modules are the core competencies of facilities management and your gateway to becoming a facilities manager:

Course 1 –  Operations and Maintenance

Course elements include the following:

• An introduction to course module –  Operations and Maintenance, and identifying its role in the FM industry
• Selecting the best possible resources
• Identifying deficiencies in exteriors, interiors, systems, building structures and grounds and also the accompanying environmental, security, safety and health concerns.
• Overseeing/Managing the operations and maintenance of Equipment, System and Buildings
• Assessing Facility Management Essentials
• Describing the components related to replacements, operation, maintenance, installation and acquisition of assets associated to FM.
• Optimizing and measuring operations and maintenance overall performance
• Overseeing/Managing occupant services and outlining the procedure for monitoring and determining it.
• Planning the procedure for selecting the occupant service providers, developing service specifications, monitoring the performance, negotiating the service level contracts and agreements and resolving any disputes in contracts.

The principle role and responsibility of a facilities maintenance manager is to supervise operating facilities. Overseeing a facility means managing change continuously.

In order to do so, FMs must possess in-depth professional knowledge of exteriors, interiors, structures, grounds and building systems so all of facility’s essential systems are working securely, safely, reliably, efficiently and also continuously in line with the current standards and regulations.

Also, several factors of operations and maintenance are constantly evolving because of operational modifications, new requirements or regulations, deterioration or wear and various other distinct but interconnected circumstances.

Course 2 – Project Management

Course elements include the following:

• An introduction to the course module- Project Management
• Planning and defining common projects within the FM industry
• Role and responsibilities of the project manager and facilities manager in a project
• Managing/Overseeing projects and closing project contracts
• Various essential project management models and processes

• Describing the outputs, inputs and processes associated with the initial and planning phase of the project.
• Controlling and executing a project
• Acquiring proper resources and a skilled team
• Evaluating outcomes and accepting deliverables

Projects may vary in financial risk, duration, complexity and scope. Project roles in FM revolve around controlling, planning, monitoring, delegating and organizing projects, while simultaneously ensuring that the customers’ and FM organization’s best interests are seen to during the project’s life-cycle.

Facility maintenance managers have a very important role to play on every component of project management, starting from planning it to scoping, evaluating and scheduling it. Thus these are FM industry’s core skills and are specifically essential due to a huge variety of projects and tasks assigned to facility management companies.

The capability of an FM to develop a properly organized and feasible project budgets, estimate the cost of the project accurately and keep it on the planned budget affects the manager’s authority strongly with clients or senior executives and their capability to receive funding for upcoming facility management projects as well.

Course 3 – Finance and Business

Course elements include the following:

• The importance of finance and business activities in a facility business and the foundational principles of managing them
• Execution of charge back procedures and procurement in the organization
• Supervising contracts in the facility company
• Financial management of the organization
• Managing the day-to-day financial components of the company by understanding its basic budgeting aspects.
• Establishing business cases backed by pertinent financial information and documentation.
• Identifying key cost containment prospects, cost concepts and usage of chargebacks in FM.

The role of a facility manager is to manage components of the facility management business that signify financial investments in exteriors, interiors, grounds, buildings, structures and technology. Managers are also responsible for overseeing, operations and maintenance of grounds and buildings along with service contracts.

Business and financial management is a technical area for an organization’s general management because of the dynamic work environment globally.  Facility managers should involve risk, legal procurement, finance managers and other relevant individuals within their company in order to take decisions that maximize value.

Finance and business activities in facilities management revolve around:

• Facilities related to contracts
• Procurement
• Administering management of finance of the facilities management organization.

Note: This course highlights important business and finance concepts, important for becoming a facility manager. It signifies a unified organizational function and structure instead of a stand-alone operation and targets to provide students with proper guidance and proficiency. The information and topics within this course program is self-contained therefore people with limited experience in business and finance sectors can easily grasp its contents and details.

Course 4 – Leadership and Strategy

Course elements include the following:

• Managing and leadership within the facility business
• Strategic Planning
• Offering leadership services to the facilities company
• Applying communication planning and change management to the facilities management role
• Applying best leadership practices and leadership theories while managing the people
• Applying relevant requirements and tools to complete the outputs, processes and inputs in crafting a well-planned strategy.
• Management of compliance with organizational procedures and policies through channeling FM leadership

Exercising leadership and implementing impactful strategies are vital tools that FMs might use (where applicable) to boost every facility management activity. These are finance and business, operations and maintenance and project management activities. A skilled facility manager must demonstrate these two leadership roles and responsibilities:

• A facility manager should influence the attitude and decisions of the company’s business partners, community leaders, suppliers, government officials, occupants and leaders.
• Next, they should lead the company by offering expert guidance to service providers and the staff.

In order to be efficient in both of these leadership responsibilities, an FM must craft effective strategies to carry out prime initiatives successfully and thus influence the attitude and decisions of key stakeholders within the FM organization. Such effective strategies call for being able to assimilate process, place and people.

The facilities maintenance manager should have the ability of aligning the facility functionality and portfolio with the organization’s available resources and missions. They should also be equally innovative and creative enough to move forward with their processes and staff so as to respond proficiently to the ever-changing industry requirements.

These modules are accessible in IFMA’s independent e-learning option. Every topic in each of these online FMP exam preparation course modules is delivered in an easy-to-understand and concise format, to help you earn this prestigious credential seamlessly.

FMP Training Components

LEARNING

IFMA’s FMP Credential Program offers a single source for learning about the FM profession, gaining the desired skills that are demanded by employers and earning the FMP credential.

IFMA’s Independent E-learning

IFMA’s FMP Credential Program offers a single source for learning about the FM profession, gaining the desired skills that are demanded by employers and earning the FMP credential.

The most popular learning choice for students perusing the FMP credential is the independent e-learning option, which consists of excellent interactive study platforms, learning modules and final assessments as well so as to provide you with the freedom of completing your studies and obtaining the facilities management certification as per your own convenience.

IFMA’s FMP programs are designed for you to learn online independently.  With the independent learning option, you will have every element you need to pass and take your course online.   This implies that you will have access to all relevant material in soft copy form to take the course. These include:

• Complete access to case studies, chapter quizzes and pre-tests
• Interactive study tools online
• Proper access to attempt final tests and evaluate yourself when the module ends
• Facility management glossary and e-Flashcards

Independent E-Learning Plus Points:

• You get to take and finish the course at your own speed
• Establish a customized study plan
• Lets you avoid time away from offices and other travel expenses
• Study and learn wherever and whenever your schedule allows you to

Candidates also have to option to purchase each of the four course programs individually instead of the entire bundle. The access for an individual course expires a year after the date the module was enrolled into your account or activated. This option offers added flexibility to students who are not yet prepared to commit themselves to the entire course program, thus making it much more worthy of their time and financial investment.

FMP Independent E-Learning Module Purchase Costs:

FMP Independent E-Learning Module Costs Along With Optional Hard Book Copy:

IFMA’s Instructor-Led Programs

IFMA’s instructor-led programs mix its facilities management certification’s online and print constituents with the guidance of a competent instructor. These programs are also available via approved providers like associated educational partners and colleges. You can view the complete list of approved learning FMP training providers and instructor-led courses on IFMA’s official website that are registered to provide you with necessary FM training.

You can also go for various educational websites that offer FMP study materials that will not only help you enhance your expertise but will also systematically lead you on how to pass this exam economically, efficiently and effectively.

Instructor-led Course Plus Points:

• You get to learn from colleagues and instructors who have years of experience and industry knowledge to impart.
• Lets you take full advantage of employee tuition/company reimbursement packages with university courses.
• You also get to clarify tough topics there and then and discuss them in a live class platform while avoiding procrastination.
• Lets you be on track with classroom expectation and weekly assignments. Avoid procrastination and stay on track with weekly assignments and classroom expectations.

Corporate/Group Trainin

Do you have a group of friends or co-workers or multiple candidates within your company who wish to prepare and gain the IFMA’s facilities management professional credential? If you are one of those then IFMA’s Corporate/Group training program would be your best bet. Under this, you get to take full advantage of bulk discounts when you buy the FMP certification program for you entire group.

Corporate/Group Training Plus Points:

• You get bulk discounts on a group of 5 or more.
• Once you place your order you will have access to turn-key, top-notch training platforms along with excellent tracking tools that let you monitor your group’s overall performance, identify their weaknesses and strengths and therefore ensure that you are making a sound return on your investment.
• IFMA’s registered instructor-led and self-study course programs provide corporate groups with consistent, personalized training solutions for their local and international teams. The best part? IFMA itself can also assist you in finding a certified teacher for your online or on-site learning.

TESTING YOURSELF

IFMA’s study platforms online include:

• A complete video with an overview on the facilities management industry and introduction on FM
• A pre-test assessment for every course program to evaluate your initial knowledge and thereby guiding you on how to go about your study journey while pursuing the FMP credential.

• A number of course-specific tests and quizzes in order to assess your ability and understanding of concepts and their application.
• Instant solutions, rationale and feedback on every chapter quiz conducted.
• Sufficient case studies for application within the real world
• Glossary and relevant flashcards for review and revision of definitions and key terms
• An activity where you can “Analyze Your Progress” with the help of a scorecard report. The Scoreboard feature and reports have your most recent pre-test results for you to track your progress throughout your study journey and know which topics require more attention – chapter quizzes and initial pre-tests to your FMP final assessments.

Once you buy a single course/program, you will get the access to these study tools for a year. For people who have purchased the complete set of 4 courses/programs, they will get the access for two years.

STUDYING AND ATTEMPTING THE FINAL FMP ASSESSMENT

Once you are done with your course, you have to give a final FMP assessment online for each of the four FMP course programs to gain your credential. You can give this test whenever you want to and wherever you wish to as per your schedule. It’s important to know that the final assessment pass marks and the set time limit to undertake and pass the assessment varies with each course program.

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Note: Candidates are provided with a maximum of 3 attempts to pass and complete the final assessment. In cases where the candidates are unable to clear the assessment after the 3^rd attempt, it will go into a holding period of 30 days. Once the 30 days period is over, you will get 3 more attempts to pass the assessment. This procedure keeps on repeating itself till the candidate passes and completes his/her final assessment or the course program expires. Also, you course will not be available once you have successfully complete every final FMP assessment online since it would have served its motive.

Note: You are supposed to complete every final assessment online in one sitting. You’re not allowed to pause and return to the assessment later. Also, if you do not get a pass score within the set time, you have to start the assessment all over.

Applying For The IFMA FMP Certification

Once you have successfully passed and completed each of the four course programs’ final assessments, you become a qualified candidate for applying for the FMP certification.

Application Fee: You have to submit the FMP credential application fee after the final assessment. You will receive an email with a link after which you will be directed to the FMP application automatically after passing the four online final assessments. Here is the fee breakdown:

• $ 140 USD for IFMA members
• $ 250 USD for Non-members
• $ 115 USD for Young Professional Members

P.S: Visit IFMA’s official website to learn more about how to gain an IFMA membership and its benefits. You can join as a Student Member, Young Professional Member, Associate Member or Professional Member via an IFMA membership application form online.

Post Application For The FMP Credential Submission

Once you have submitted your application for the FMP credential and earned a successful passing score for each one of the four assessments, IFMA will process your application to officially verify the results and then approve it. The process to verify takes around 30 business days.

Should You Become An FMP?

There are no experiential or educational prerequisites to enroll into the FMP program. IFMA’s knowledge-based FMP credential will help you in stepping up into the FM profession and showcase a proven understanding of the basics of facilities management profession.

The prestigious FMP credential is an outstanding option for transitioning and entry-level facilities experts who do not possess hands-on experience as yet that is deemed necessary for acquiring the CFM international credential (Certified Facilities Management is the most respected program that sets the facilities management profession industry standards in order to ensure the skills and expertise of practicing facility managers). It is surely a career-booster for:

• Related specialists within the industry such as safety engineers, designers and architects.
• Facility maintenance management professionals with not more than five years of work experience.
• People adapting towards the facilities management profession and possibly have some experience in related industries.
• FM specialists wanting to enhance their depth of skillset and knowledge in the core FM topics, considered critical by the industry and employers.
• You are a commercial provider of FM services and products.
• Students who wish this profession from technical programs, certifications or universities/colleges.
• Service providers and facility-related products.
• You are a facilities related expert, for example a safety engineer, designer or architect.
• Contractors and federal employees considering conforming to the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act (FBPTA).
• LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) experts pursuing continuing education hours.

Elements To Reflect Over

Since a facility manager professional wears many hats, he/she needs to stay updated about a variety of elements of their workplace to maintain productivity and efficiency. Going for IFMA’s Facility Management Professional (FMP) credential certification is undoubtedly one of the best ways to let you potential employers and team know that you have the necessary skillset and knowledge to excel in your respective field. Here are some factors to consider when completing your FMP program and becoming a facilities manager:

1. Take Full Advantage Of Value

Doing a FMP credential is an outstanding achievement in itself however, a plan of what you intend to do afterwards will let you optimize the best out of your facility management certification. Consider the ways in which you wish to communicate achievements to your potential employers, managers or peers and craft concrete steps in order to implement the skills and knowledge you’ve learned during this journey. Pouring some thoughts into how you will be using your certification is essential and will definitely justify the resources and time you’ve spent to achieve it.

There’s no denying that Facilities Management profession is and will always be a multifarious career that draws from various professions altogether to get the job done effectively. This is where the FMP credential outshines since it helps expand the candidate’s skillset in these professions/areas and provides them with a stronger integrity to their specialized brand. Eventually, your actions would speak much louder than your credential if you take the time to enhance your expertise and put them into your work.

2. Alignment With Your Personal Objectives

Think about the outcomes and goals that you expect to get from your FMP credential. If your objectives align with yours and the company’s goals, do consider going for them to cover all costs. The prestigious FMP program gives you efficient practical knowledge and expertise that help your company reduce operating costs whilst also boosting your personal brand image and giving you a competitive edge within the industry and your company as a whole.

Another plus for people opting for LEED credential management (a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification program that is based on a points based system and primarily focuses on latest commercial-building project) is that they can receive general continued education hours towards it that could be important, depending on their personal career goals and organization’s vision.

3. Preparing For The Test

We understand that it may take some time for you to recall your individual study practices if you have been working for a while. Make sure you take notes of everything that you need to get your credential and reflect over your style of study beforehand. This may include video tutorials, resources like books, flash cards, scheduled quiet time and group study sessions.

You can even make a study plan sample (or discuss one with our expert team) before you make your decision to opt for this certificate. This will provide you with a proper understanding of how much commitment and time will be required to prepare for this assessment.

4. Time And Scheduling

The FMP credential requires around 50 – 90 hours to complete and tests four courses: Leadership and Strategy, Finance and Business, Operations and Maintenance and Project Management, but it differs between candidates depending on background knowledge and experience, the study time available, familiarity and comfort with online learning portals, reading comprehension and other personalized factors.

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You have to pass all four FMP courses to earn the certification, thus it’s important for you to be aware of the time requirements before you dive in. However, even though managing time is tricky, FMP comes with flexible study options fortunately. Corporate training, online self-study and in-class coursework are all available so go for something that works best for you.

Don’t forget to check out the IFMA’s website for further information about this excellent facilities management professional credential. For any queries you can drop us an email or comment below. Our expert team will get to you right away!

About Post Author

Maham Kazi

An accountant by profession with a deep-rooted passion for writing. Crazy about reading, food, swimming and travel

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