The letters CPFA stand for Certified Public Finance
Administrator. But what is the real meaning? Attaining the designation
of Certified Public Finance Administrator means that an individual is committed
to education and experience in his/her chosen profession. This designation
is awarded by the Association of Public Treasurers of the United States
and Canada (APT US & C). In order to be eligible for this prestigious
designation, an individual must be the elected or appointed treasurer,
deputy or assistant treasurer, employee in/or dealing with the office of
treasurer or principal officer in the governmental entity who is charged
with the performance or supervision of one or more of the following responsibilities:
investments, debt or treasury activities.
The applicant must have been an active member of
the APT US & C for at least twenty-four months before applying for
the designation. The applicant must also accumulate at least 100 points
from a combination of education and experience. A minimum of 40 points
must be earned from education or experience with a maximum of 60 points
in either category.
Points for work experience must have been earned
within the past 15 years and can be earned for experience as a municipal
treasurer as defined above and for administrative supervisory/managerial
experience prior to treasury work. A maximum of 40 points is allowed for
work experience. Experience points can also be earned for attendance at
the APT US & C and/or State Association annual conference, serving on a committee for the APT US & C
or the State Association, or serving as a director, parliamentarian, or
officer of either of these two associations. Maximum points allowed for
each of these categories can be found in the CPFA application. The application
is available at this web site.
Education points can be earned from a college degree,
college or university courses related to treasury management, completion
of a State Association Sponsored Treasurers Institute, education programs
pre-approved by APT US & C and approved treasury-related education
by non-APT US & C
statewide organizations. Maximum points allowed in each of these categories
can also be found in the CPFA application.
Applications must be submitted by June 1st of each
year. Recipients of the CPFA designation are honored at a special luncheon
during the annual APT US & C conference. Certification expires after
five years but once an individual has attained the designation, maintenance
of the certification only requires 50 points in a combination of education
and experience over the five-year period.
Achievement of the CPFA designation reinforces the
primary purpose of APT US & C - to elevate the level of knowledge of
public finance and enrich the performance within the treasury management
profession.
Any questions concerning the CPFA application or
the CPFA maintenance application can be addressed to Blinda Baker, Clerk/Treasurer
of the City of East Tawas, Michigan who is the current chair of the APT
US & C CPFA Certification Committee.
She can be reached by phone at (989) 362-6161, by fax at (989) 362-6736, by mail at P.O. Box 672
East Tawas, MI 48730-0672
or by e-mail at baker.etch@chartermi.net.
During the August 2003 APT Annual Conference, the CMFA Committee recommended that the CMFA credential be changed to CPFA - Certified Public Finance Administrator. The membership agreed with the change, making the new name effectively immediately.
The Committee felt that the new title would more accurately reflect the individuals who are awarded the credential. The certification process and the value of the credential remain the same.
The cost to have your plaque upgraded is $75.00, which includes shipping. All orders must include the original date of certification and all recertification dates if applicable. For more information please call (301) 495-5560 or email info@aptusc.org. A sample of the new plaque can be viewed above.
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