Become a Certified Professional Facilitator
The IAF Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF) is IAF's premier certification for experienced facilitators, recognized around the world.
Official CPF detailsBook a call with IAF CertificationWhy it matters
For more than 30 years, the IAF has set the global standard for professional facilitation. The CPF recognizes facilitators who can facilitate effectively in a wide range of contexts.
Global recognition
Formal professional certification, recognized globally, that shows you consistently demonstrate a high level of competence across all the IAF Core Competencies.
Assessed in real practice
A live, practice based assessment of how you work with groups, judged by IAF Certified Assessors.
Found by clients
A certificate and digital badge, and a profile in IAF's Find a Facilitator directory.
Give back
CPFs can become mentors in the IAF Mentoring Programme.
The CPF is ideal if
- Facilitation is a central part of your professional role
- You work with groups in complex or varied settings
- You want formal professional certification recognized globally
- You are ready for an in depth assessment of your facilitation practice
The six IAF Core Competencies
- ACreate collaborative client relationships
- BPlan appropriate group processes
- CCreate and sustain a participatory environment
- DGuide the group toward useful outcomes
- EBuild and maintain professional knowledge
- FModel a positive professional attitude
The process, step by step
A summary of IAF's official process. The official page has the full detail.
Join the IAF
You must be a current IAF member.
Become an Endorsed Facilitator
The EF comes first: summarize five workshops that show how you apply the Core Competencies, reviewed by IAF Certified Assessors.
Express your interest
There is no separate application form. Email the certification team and pick an assessment event.
Apply by the event date
Assessment events run in person or online through the year. Each has its own apply by date.
The assessment
A review of your written application and EF experience, a role play client engagement, two interviews, and a 30 minute live facilitation demonstration.
Certified for four years
Stay an IAF member and reapply at the end of the four year period to keep the credential.
Upcoming Asia and Oceania assessments
Assessments also run in other regions. See every assessment date.
Fees and renewal
IAF lists the CPF assessment fee as USD 2,000. Read the certification fee policy for the current schedule.
The CPF is awarded for four years. Read about recertification.
Not yet an Endorsed Facilitator? Start with the EF.
Prepare with Facilitation In Practice
Facilitation In Practice card deck
Built on the IAF Core Competencies, this deck turns the competencies into questions you can use to reflect on your practice, on your own or with other facilitators. It was created by IAF Oceania with Cat Hase of Imagine If, and it is a practical way to prepare for your CPF assessment.
GBP 40, including sales taxes where applicable.
Get the deck- 54 question cards across the 6 Core Competencies and 18 sub competencies
- Three ways into each one: Reflect, Notice and Stretch
- 10 Remix cards and a playbook of 10 activities
- A digital deck: print at home, use it online, or print it professionally
How IAF Oceania can help
Connect with CPFs
Connect with CPFs in our community. Several members of our committee hold the CPF.
Meet our committeePractice with others
Our events and community workshops are a chance to practice and reflect with other facilitators.
See our eventsFind a mentor
IAF runs a Mentoring Programme for facilitators, and CPFs can serve as mentors in it.
IAF Mentoring Programme