CFE CREDITS
Participants in the CFE Program need 3,500 credits to receive the CFE designation. Credits for the CFE Program are broken out into three main categories: Education, Participation and Experience. Requirement for each credit category are broken out as follows:
- 2,500 Education credits;
- 500 Participation credits;
- 500 Experience credits.
CFE Program credits can be earned in different ways.
- Experience: These credits are assigned based on an applicant’s work experience in franchising.
- Education: These credits are assigned through the completion of live and online education. Live education includes in-person events like the CFA National Convention and special CFE accredited seminars; online education includes online courses such as Profit Soup, Profit Mastery and Franklin Covey.
- Participation: These credits are assigned through participation at live events. Participation credits can also be received through attending CFA webinars both live and on-demand.
PARTICIPATION CREDITS
Candidates should list those events approved for Participation credits which they have attended within one year of date of enrollment.
EXPERIENCE CREDITS
Experience credits are granted at the time of application and may be updated as the candidate continues in the program.
MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
All CFE candidates must complete the online Final Exam and the FRAN-GUARD™ program as part of the required 2500 education credits. A maximum of 1500 education credits from online courses and webinars is permitted. Candidates must earn the remaining required education credits by attending onsite programs.
APPLYING FOR CFE CREDIT
CFE credits will be granted to a CFE candidate for ICFE approved courses or seminars up to one year prior to the time that the CFE candidate enrolled in the CFE program. CFE applicants who request CFE credits for courses or seminars that were taken prior to the time the course was approved by the ICFE Board will not be approved. CFE credits will only be granted for courses or seminars taken if they were approved at the time the individual took the course or seminar. A CFE candidate may request CFE credit for courses or seminars by ICFE-approved Course Providers that are offered as part of a company training program by the Course Provider. In such cases, if the request is approved, the CFE candidate must pay an additional $200 fee for each course that is approved for CFE credits. Candidates can request an update on their credit at www.franchise.org/cfe. Any discrepancies, additions or deletions should be reported to the ICFE office. Final approval and granting of the CFE designation is made by the Institute’s Board following a review of each candidate’s application and course work. Candidates must complete all requirements by November 20 of the year preceding the year in which they expect to receive their CFE designation. Once a candidate completes all requirements he/she will be notified that they may commence using the CFE designation and will be included as a graduate of the following year’s convention, e.g. complete credits in 2021 – will be part of class of 2022. Official CFE pins and certificates will be presented at the CFA Annual Convention.