How do you get CHFM certified? Achieving certification is a strategic move for healthcare facility management professionals.
- Eligibility Requirements: Understand the educational and experiential prerequisites for taking the CHFM exam.
- Study and Preparation: Leverage resources and best practices to thoroughly prepare for the exam.
- Exam Registration: Navigate the registration process smoothly to secure your examination date.
Embark on your journey to CHFM certification today.
Understanding CHFM Certification
The Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM) is a designation that sets the standard for operational excellence in the healthcare facilities management field. So, why pursue CHFM certification? It’s simple: this certification showcases your commitment to excellence and can propel your career to new heights in a competitive field.
Why CHFM Matters
- Professional Recognition: Possessing the CHFM certification signals to employers, peers, and patients that you’re proficient in the critical aspects of healthcare facility management.
- Career Advancement: It typically leads to better job prospects, higher pay, and the potential for leadership positions.
- Continuous Improvement: The preparation for CHFM certification ensures that you’re at the forefront of industry standards, regulations, and best practices.
The CHFM Advantage
Holding a CHFM certification can give you an edge by:
- Demonstrating your dedicated specialization in healthcare facility management.
- Signifying that your knowledge has been vetted by a respected authority — the American Hospital Association.
- Providing you with a broader network of professionals who’ve reached a similar milestone.
The Value of Certification
- For Individuals: The CHFM certification is a career milestone that can lead to personal satisfaction, professional growth, and increased credibility within the field.
- For Employers: It signifies that their team members have a proven level of expertise and are committed to maintaining the integrity of their facilities.
CHFM Exam Eligibility Requirements
Before diving into how you get chfm certified, it’s crucial to understand if you meet the prerequisites. Your unique combination of education and experience in healthcare facilities management determines your eligibility for the exam.
Education and Experience
- With a Bachelor’s Degree: At least three years’ experience in healthcare facility management, and of those, three must be in a managerial/supervisory role.
- With an Associate’s Degree (or equivalent): Five years of experience with three years in a management role.
- Without a Degree: Seven years of associated experience, with three in a management role.
Healthcare Engineering Experience
Here, experience refers to your role relevant to the healthcare industry, from compliance and safety to maintenance and operations—tasks central to the integrity of healthcare facilities.
Proving Competency
To qualify for the CHFM exam, your experience must clearly demonstrate competencies in healthcare facilities management. Maintenance, compliance with healthcare regulations, and the ability to handle administrative and managerial responsibilities are key factors.
CHFM Exam Outline
The CHFM examination is a thorough assessment of your professional competency, cutting across several knowledge domains. Here’s what you need to master to ace the exam:
The Five Domains of Knowledge
- Compliance: Understand and apply healthcare facility regulations and standards.
- Planning, Design, and Construction: Equip yourself with the know-how of creating and revamping healthcare environments.
- Maintenance and Operations: Achieve expertise in managing the daily functions and maintenance of healthcare facilities.
- Finance: Understand the financial aspects related to healthcare facilities, such as budgeting and cost control.
- Administration: Hone your skills in general healthcare facility administration and human resource management.
Structured Preparation
Breaking down your study plan domain by domain can make the process more manageable and effective. For comprehensive outlines and exam content, consider resources such as the CHFM Exam Review Course to help guide your studies.
Preparing for the CHFM Exam
Adequate preparation is vital to ensure you’re ready to face the rigorous content of the CHFM exam.
Study Strategies
- Utilize Official Resources: The AHA’s CHFM handbook and self-assessment exams are excellent starting points.
- Join Study Groups: Connect with peers to benefit from different perspectives and shared knowledge.
- Familiarize with Test Format: Simulate the testing environment to boost your confidence and time-management skills.
Materials to Master the Content
- Review Courses: Enroll in courses specifically tailored to the CHFM exam’s content domains.
- CHFM Practice Exams: These can help identify areas where you may need additional focus.
- Recommended Readings: Deepen your knowledge with literature that aligns with the exam syllabus.
CHFM Exam Registration Process
When you feel prepared to take the CHFM exam, the next step will be to complete the registration process.
How to Register
- Check Eligibility: Verify that you meet all the necessary prerequisites.
- Submit an Application: Navigate to the AHA’s Certification Center and fill out your exam application.
- Choose Your Test Date: Select a date that gives you ample time for any last-minute reviews.
Registration Details
- Application Fees: Be prepared to pay the exam fee upon submitting your application.
- Confirmation: Once registered, you’ll receive a confirmation email with details about the exam center and further instructions.
It’s important to adhere to all registration deadlines and to ensure you have all the required information at hand.
Test Day Protocols
When the day to validate your knowledge and skills arrives, it’s vital to be well-prepared not just intellectually, but logistically too. The test day protocols ensure a fair and smooth process for all candidates seeking CHFM certification.
Before You Leave Home
- Review Your Confirmation: Confirm your test center location, the time of your exam, and any specific instructions provided.
- Gather Necessary Items: Ensure you have the appropriate identification, typically a government-issued photo ID.
At the Test Center
- Arrive Early: It’s recommended to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled examination time.
- Exam Room Regulations: Be prepared to adhere to strict guidelines regarding permissible items. Most testing centers do not allow food, drinks, or electronic devices in the exam room.
The right mindset is also a critical component of your test day strategy. Approach the exam with confidence, knowing that you have thoroughly prepared and are ready to demonstrate your expertise.
How the CHFM Exam is Scored
The assessment of your CHFM exam will reflect your proficiency in the healthcare facility management areas. Understanding how the exam is scored will help you set realistic expectations and interpret your results accurately.
Scoring Criteria
- Raw Scores: Only your correctly answered questions contribute to your score. The exam contains non-scored pretest questions, included to collect data on question performance.
Your test results provide not only a pass or fail status but also a performance breakdown by the different content areas of the exam. This detailed feedback can be especially useful if you need to retest or wish to focus on specific areas for professional development.
Retaking the CHFM Exam
In the event that you don’t pass the CHFM exam on your first try, don’t be discouraged. There’s a clear process to follow for retesting, and many successful CHFM certificants have taken the exam more than once.
The Retest Policy
- No Limits on Attempts: You have the opportunity to take the exam multiple times if necessary.
- New Application: For each attempt, you must submit a new application and repay the examination fee.
The possibility to retake the CHFM exam underscores your commitment to the field of healthcare facility management. Use your initial experience as a learning tool to strengthen your knowledge base and test-taking strategy.
FAQs
As an answer to your query, “how do you get CHFM certified,” here are some commonly asked questions that may arise along your certification journey.
General Queries
- Why Seek CHFM Certification? Becoming a CHFM stands as a testament to your specialized knowledge and dedication to the field of healthcare facility management.
Preparing for the Test
- What Resources Are Available to Help Me Prepare? The American Hospital Association offers various materials, including self-assessment tools and study guides, to support your preparation.
These FAQs are just a sample of the many queries you may have as you navigate the certification process, highlighting the essential aspects of how to get CHFM certified.
Conclusion: The Path to Becoming a Certified Healthcare Facility Manager
In closing, your quest for CHFM certification illustrates a commendable pursuit of professional excellence. Every step you’ve taken, from familiarizing yourself with the eligibility criteria, thorough preparation, understanding the registration process, and navigating test day and beyond, demonstrates your dedication in how you get CHFM certified. As a certified healthcare facility manager, your knowledge and skills will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare infrastructure, patient care, and operational efficiency.