Assoc. of Gov. Accountants (CGFM) CPE Requirements

How to reach the regulator directly.

Association of Government Accountants
2208 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia 22301-1314

Tel: (800) AGA-7211
Tel: (703) 684-6931
Fax: (703) 548-9367

Email: agacgfm@agacgfm.org

The regulator's own published rules and related resources.

CGFM Certification: Continuing Education Requirements

The total continuing education hours required.

80 hours.

The detailed rules behind that total -- category minimums, ethics, and other conditions.

All CPE must be earned in governmental financial management topics or related technical subjects.

Effective January 1, 2007: The CPE requirements apply to all active CGFMs, whether employed or not, and whether employed full or part-time by a government or other organization. Active CGFMs must complete a minimum of 80 CPE hours every two years to maintain their CGFM certification. While there is no minimum number of hours required to be earned each year, CGFMs are encouraged to earn CPE hours throughout their two-year cycle.

Prior to January 1, 2007: During the first year of the CPE cycle, at least 20 hours of CPE must be completed. By the end of the second year of the cycle, CGFMs must have earned a total of 80 hours of CPE.

How the reporting cycle is structured.

Biennial.

If CGFM was awarded in an even year, every CPE cycle will also end on an even year (Exception: 1994 follows the odd year's schedule).

When a reporting cycle begins.

January 1.

How completed credits are reported to the regulator.

CGFM holders do not need to submit supporting documentation of the CPE hours at the time of renewal. The payment itself serves as the CGFM holder's affirmation of his or her compliance with the CPE requirements.

As part of the annual audit of a random sample of CGFM holders, AGA may request CPE documentation for verification. Thus, individuals should maintain documentation to substantiate their statements of completed CPE for a minimum of three years. In case of an audit, the certificate holder will be asked to provide supporting documentation, such as the dates, locations, titles, sponsoring organization and proof of attendance.

The CGFM's records must include the following information for each CPE program or activity attended or completed:

• the sponsoring organization (for example, AGA National Office, a local AGA chapter)
• the title of the program, including subject matter, field of study or a brief description of its contents;
• the dates attended for group programs or dates completed for individual study programs;
• the number of CPE hours earned; and
• evidence of attendance or completion. This might include the following:
  • a certificate of attendance, a CPE form or other evidence or completion of CPE from the CPE provider for group and individual-study programs.
  • a grade report received for a university or college credit course.
  • a letter from the program sponsor, documenting the CPE courses presented and/or developed.
  • a copy of the published book, article, or materials that names the writer as author or contributor, a written statement from the writer supporting the number of CPE hours claimed, and the name and contact information of the publisher, if applicable.
  • an official report from the employer that has the employer's name and lists all of the required information (employee's name, sponsoring organization, title of the program , completion date and number of CPE hours earned).

The renewal or reporting deadline.

March 31.

→ Get monthly reminders before this deadline

What happens if the requirement is not met.

Use of CGFM

• Only active CGFMs may use the “CGFM” after their names.
• Inactive CGFMs may not present themselves as CGFMs, either in writing or orally, and any reference to the CGFM designation on a resume, bio or other statements of qualification must clearly indicate that the CGFM is inactive.
• Retired CGFMs must clearly indicate their retired status by using “CGFM-Retired” after their names and using “Retired” or “Retired status” on a resume, bio or other statements of qualification. Individuals who have had their CGFM certification voided may not present themselves as CGFMs, either in writing or orally, and must remove any reference to their CGFM designation on a resume, bio or other statement of qualifications.
• CGFM candidates may not use the CGFM designation after their names until after they receive an official award letter from AGA. The CGFM designation may not be used after the name of those who have not earned the CGFM.

Certification Revocation

The Professional Certification Board reserves the right to revoke any certification for cause as determined by the PCB. Cause may include, but is not limited to a violation of AGA's Code of Ethics, repeated violations of the CGFM policies, or actions discreditable to the CGFM Program.

Individuals who have had their CGFM certification revoked may not present themselves as CGFMs, either in writing or orally, and must remove any reference to their CGFM designation on a resume, bio or other statement of qualifications. They must also destroy or return their CGFM certificate to AGA.

Reduced or prorated requirements for a first renewal.

The first CPE cycle starts on January 1st of the year following the one when the CGFM designation was earned.

CPE earned between the date of initial certification and the immediately following December 31 cannot be applied towards the CPE requirement of the designee's first renewal.

Who may be excused from all or part of this requirement.

Deficiency Makeup:

CGFMs who have not completed the required number of CPE hours for any two-year CPE cycle will have the three months (Jan. 1 – March 31) immediately following the two-year cycle to make up the deficiency. Any CPE hours completed toward a deficiency in one CPE cycle must be documented in the CPE records and may not be counted toward the requirements for the next two-year cycle.

Reservations and Appeals:

The Professional Certification Board may grant exceptions from the CPE requirements for valid reasons such as ill health, maternity or paternity leave, extended family leave, sabbaticals, leave without pay absences, foreign residency, military service or disasters. The individual requesting an exception must demonstrate that an effort was made to satisfy the CPE requirement prior to the situation that makes the exception necessary. Workload, budget or travel constraints are not considered valid reasons for a CPE exception.

The CGFM needs to fully describe the reasons for requesting an exception and must submit it to the Office of Professional Certification no later than April 30 in the year following the end of the two-year CPE cycle. The Office of Professional Certification will notify the CGFM of the board's decision and retain that documentation for an appropriate period of time.

Retired Status:

Individuals who have permanently retired from AND are not working in the field of financial management can request an adjustment of their status to “retired” by the Board. Individuals should include their date of retirement and confirm that they are not working in the field of financial management.

CGFMs in retired status are not required to remit the CGFM renewal fee or earn the 80 CPE hours.

CGFMs must be active at the time of retirement in order for their status to be changed to “retired”; if the CGFM first becomes inactive, the individual must reactivate the designation before being able to change the CGFM status to “retired.” Therefore, CGFMs retiring in the second half of the year should renew their designation that year—to avoid their CGFM become inactive and not being able to adjust it to “retired” status.

There are additional clarifications for the retired status definition. Refer to the CGFM website for details.

Inactive Status:

If a CGFM fails to meet the requirements to maintain the CGFM in an active or retired status, the CGFM becomes inactive.

Inactive CGFMs may not present themselves as CGFMs, either in writing or orally, or display the CGFM certificate. Any reference to the CGFM designation on a resume, bio or other statements of qualification must clearly indicate that the CGFM is inactive.

Inactive CGFMs may request a reactivation by complying with current reactivation requirements, but may not use the “CGFM” after their name until after they receive a written confirmation from the AGA’s Office of Professional Certification that their reactivation submission has been approved.

Current Reactivation Requirements:

• Submitting a completed CPE report listing at least 40 CPE hours earned within the last 12 months with required back-up documentation (Note: The report will not be accepted without required back-up documentation. The report and the documentation must be submitted no later than 30 calendar days after the end of the 12-month period).
• Paying the current year’s renewal fee and reactivation fee.

AGA's Professional Certification Board reserves the right to revise the reactivation policy without notice. A CGFM can remain in inactive status for up to five consecutive years. After that period, the CGFM is voided. A CGFM can only enter inactive status twice. The third time the CGFM is automatically voided.

Voided Status:

The CGFM designation will be voided if the holder is inactive for longer than five consecutive years or enters inactive status for a third time.

Individuals who have had their CGFM certification voided may not present themselves as CGFMs, either in writing or orally, and must remove any reference to their CGFM designation on a resume, bio or other statement of qualifications. They must also destroy or return their CGFM certificate to AGA.

Whether unused credits can apply to the next period.

Carryover credit is not allowed.

→ CE Tracking calculates carryover for you

Rule changes the regulator has finalized, with effective dates.

Refer to the specific sections above for more details on any of the items noted below.

Breakdown of Specific Requirements:

Effective January 1, 2007: The CPE requirements apply to all active CGFMs, whether employed or not, and whether employed full or part-time by a government or other organization. Active CGFMs must complete a minimum of 80 CPE hours every two years to maintain their CGFM certification. While there is no minimum number of hours required to be earned each year, CGFMs are encouraged to earn CPE hours throughout their two-year cycle.