Is facilitation part of your role? Do you want to be recognised for your skills in helping groups achieve their goals? If so, IAF’s Endorsed™ Facilitator (EF) credential may be just what you need to stand out from the crowd.

To become an endorsed facilitator, you need to:

• Be an IAF member
• Have been facilitating for at least one year
• Demonstrate that you understand the IAF Core Competencies.

When you apply, you:

• Provide information on how you use the competencies in your day-to-day practice
• Take a multiple-choice online exam to demonstrate your understanding of the competencies.

Our assessors review your application and exam results to determine whether you have met the standards to become an IAF Endorsed™ Facilitator. Assessments are conducted in English and Mandarin.

The endorsement is given for 4 years. To maintain it, you must remain an IAF member and apply again after 4 years.

Click here to start your application.

If facilitation is a significant part of your role, you want this premier certification for professional facilitators. It is held by hundreds worldwide and widely recognised in the global marketplace. In fact, being a CPF is often a prerequisite to apply for some RFPs. And our online CPF directory is a go-to resource for people who want help to facilitate their events, immediately broadening your ability to attract new clients.

Beyond the prestige of earning the coveted CPF credential, the assessment process itself is immensely valuable. Every candidate receives tailored feedback from peers and assessors – an especially powerful resource for those who often work alone. Many also forge lasting relationships with fellow IAF members through the assessment, connections that fuel both their professional growth and commercial success.

To become a CPF, you need to:

• be an IAF member
• have facilitated at least 7 workshops in the past 3 years
• demonstrate how you practice the IAF Core Competencies.

The term ‘workshop’ means any group session you facilitated to help the group achieve a defined purpose and deliverable. It should not be training, coaching or a meeting where you have an interest in the outcome.

There are 2 stages to becoming a CPF.

Stage 1 Application

You complete a written application with a summary of the workshops you have facilitated and how you use the competencies.

Our assessors review your application to determine whether you have provided sufficient evidence of using the competencies in your work.  At this time assessments are only conducted in English.

• If you pass stage 1, you do a stage 2 assessment.
• If deferred, you will receive written feedback and can apply again.

Download IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator application form.

Stage 2 Assessment

Stage 2 assessments are generally held online throughout the year. See CPF assessment dates and deadlines. 

In this stage, you:

• work with an assessor to role-play how you engage with clients
• participate in two interviews with assessors
• facilitate a real-time workshop to demonstrate how you do it.

Our assessors use these interactions and your application to determine whether you have met the standards to become a CPF. Assessments are conducted in English.

The certification is given for 4 years. To maintain it, you must remain an IAF member and recertify every 4 years.

Have your skills expanded beyond direct facilitation to include activities such as mentoring, teaching, or publishing that are advancing the field?

The IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator Master (CPF M) is for highly experienced facilitators who also are engaging more broadly with advancing the field, such as through IAF board or committee involvement, conference organisation, presentations, writing/publishing, teaching, or mentoring.

To apply to become a CPF M, you need to:

• have been a CPF for a minimum of eight years
• have recertified at least once as a CPF
• have facilitated at least six workshops in the past six years, in diverse settings
• show evidence of professional development in the field of facilitation
• show evidence of contributions made to advancing the field of facilitation

To maintain your CPF M status, you must remain an IAF member and re-certify every six years.

*The term ‘workshop” means a group session that you facilitated to help the group achieve a defined purpose. It does not include training, coaching or a leading a meeting where you had an interest in the outcome.

Download the CPF Master application package.

The IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator Emeritus (CPF E) is granted to an IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator Master (CPF M) who has retired or is about to retire from active facilitating, and who has made significant contributions to advancing the field of facilitation (e.g., through publishing, teaching, mentoring) over the course of their career.

To apply for CPF E status, you need to:

• Be a CPF M
• Complete an application form

CPF E is awarded for life. There is no need to recertify.

Download the Emeritus application form here. 

To recertify as a CPF, you need to:

• have facilitated 7 workshops within the past 4 years
• write a reflective account of how you use the IAF Core Competencies
• outline your recent professional development activities.

An assessor will review your application to determine whether you still meet the standards for being a CPF.

Download Application to recertify as a CPF.

This prestigious status is awarded to CPFs who have significantly contributed to the field of facilitation and inspired others through their work.

To recertify as a CPF Master for the first time, you need to:

• have been a CPF for at least eight (8) years
• have facilitated six (6) workshops in the past six (6) years in at least three (3) industries or using three (3) facilitation methods
• write a reflective account of how you use the IAF Core Competencies
• outline your recent professional development activities
• provide evidence of your contribution to the field of facilitation.

Two assessors will review your application and interview you to determine whether you meet the standards for IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator Master.

Download Application to recertify as a CPF Master.

The certification is awarded for six (6) years and you must remain an IAF member to keep it.

If you are a CPF Master, you need to recertify every six (6) years.

To recertify as a CPF Master, you need to:

• have facilitated six (6) workshops in the past six (6) years in at least three (3) industries or using three (3) facilitation methods
• write a reflective account of your growth as a facilitator since your last recertification.

An assessor will review your application to determine whether you meet the standards for IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator Master.

Download Application to recertify as a CPF Master.

The certification is awarded for six (6) years and you must remain an IAF member to keep it.