IAF CPF Overview

In response to the needs of IAF members and their clients, IAF established the Professional Facilitator Certification Program.  The Professional Facilitator Certification Program provides successful candidates with the professional credential IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF), as signified by a Certificate.   This credential is the leading indicator that the Facilitator has demonstrated each of the IAF Core Facilitator Competencies.

The IAF is the only internationally recognized, non-profit, industry association for Facilitators and the CPF is the only internationally recognized, non-commercial, professional credential for Facilitators. You can only receive the CPF designation from the IAF. As of June 2007, the IAF has certified CPFs in 35 countries.

The Core Facilitator Competencies

Hiring a CPF ensures that the Facilitator has demonstrated the IAF Core Facilitator Competencies.

• Create Collaborative Client Relationships – The Facilitator prepares properly to meet client needs.

• Plan Appropriate Group Processes – The Facilitator designs and selects the right processes and tools that deliver the agreed to outcome while supporting a diverse group of participants, characteristics, and thinking styles to reach consensus.

• Create and Sustain a Participatory Environment – The Facilitator is able to manage communication, creativity, conflict, and encourage participation.

• Guide Group to Appropriate and Useful Outcomes – The Facilitator is able to execute the designed processes, guide the group, stay on track, and achieve the desired outcome.

• Build and Maintain Professional Knowledge – The Facilitator continues to be part of the profession and continues to learn new concepts and ideas.

• Model Positive Professional Attitude – The Facilitator is able to remain neutral, act with integrity, and be self-aware.

What Does this Mean to the Client?

I encourage all clients to hire only IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitators to ensure useful solutions, fewer mistakes and changes down the road and more complete consensus based information.  You can be assured that the IAF CPF:

 

• Has properly prepared by:
  
  
  • Interviewing the client.
  • Identifying client needs.
  • Structuring a process to meet those needs.
  • Identifying the tools and processes needed to make the workshop a success.

• Knows what is required to guide the Participants through the workshop by:
  
  
  • Knowing which tools and processes to use and when.
  • Having a variety of tools to use.
  • Staying content neutral.
  • Believing in the possibilities of the Participants.

Recommendations

MGR Consulting strongly recommends that all Facilitators join the IAF and support the continued growth of Facilitation as a profession, and we strongly encourage all Facilitators to ensure that they have the best training, practice to gain experience, become certified, and continue learning.

For additional information on how to become an IAF CPF, see Facilitator Certification | The Process.

For more information on Facilitator Training, see FoCuSeD™ Classes. Our classes teach specific "how to", it provides detailed facilitation and process tools, and, as an IAF CPF Assessor, Gary covers the IAF Core Facilitator Competencies and what students need to do to achieve them.