Academy of Professional Practice (APFSP)
A Voluntary Certification Program

Objectives

• To raise and improve the professional standards of funeral service practice by giving special recognition to those practitioners who complete certain qualifying activities.
   
• To identify and recognize those practitioners who have voluntarily entered a program of professional growth and development.
   
• To encourage practitioners to make continuing education a life-long process in their own self-interest, the interest of the people they serve and the community in which they serve.
   

History, Purpose, Goals
The Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice was founded in 1976 to provide recognition to licensed funeral service practitioners for their commitment to maintaining and improving themselves and their profession through life-long learning (continuing education). The purpose of continuing education in funeral service was described in the 1976 founding documents of the Academy as “the improvement of services rendered and the enrichment of funeral service careers” for members. The Academy is a voluntary certification organization through which the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) may be earned, and thereafter, used by the recipient as public acknowledgment of his/her commitment to life-long learning for personal development, professional improvement, and improved service to the community.

The Academy believes that personal as well as professional development together, combine to help insure a better funeral service professional. Hence, certification credits are allowed for involvement in both types of programs (i.e., those directly related to funeral service as well as those directly related to improving the professional as an individual).

Members inform the Academy office of activities in which they will be, or have been, involved. The Academy office evaluates these activities and, where appropriate, allows credit, in Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Credit is awarded in one of three categories: Academic, Professional Funeral Service, and Civic. These are described in detail later on. Members are also allowed the opportunity to earn retroactive credit for activities in which they were involved from the date of licensure to the date of joining the Academy. The Career Review category is also described in detail. No time limit is imposed on the member in which all credits must be earned and members proceed at their own pace. Once 180 hours of activities (18.0 CEUs) in these categories have been achieved, the member is eligible for certification, and the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) may be awarded. Once certified, the CFSP member must remain active by attending at least 20 hours (2.0 CEUs) of events each year in order to maintain certification.

Following is more detailed information concerning the Academy and its policies. If you are a licensed funeral service practitioner and are interested in joining the Academy, please contact the Academy office at the address found on this page for an application form and up to date dues information.

Eligibility

• Each applicant must be currently licensed by a state licensing authority to practice funeral service.
   
• The formal application and payment of prescribed fees must be accepted by the Academy.
   

Use of Professional Certification Designation
Successful candidates for certification in the Academy of Professional Service Practice may use the designation CFSP (Certified Funeral Service Practioner) with their names on their business letterheads, business cards, and elsewhere as appropriate.

Certification is for individuals only and may not be used to imply that a firm is certified.

Designation Credit Evaluation
Credit toward professional certification shall be granted in terms of CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS.
One CEU consists of ten (10) contact hours of participation in an approved continuing education experience. A contact hour shall consist of fifty (50) minutes of academic instruction or its rated equivalent.

Achieving Professional Certification
In order to receive certification as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), the member must earn 18.0 CEUs distributed among four categories, not exceeding the maximum allowable credits for any one category. No time limit is imposed on the earning of these credits and the member is not required to earn credits in every category, so long as the requisite total of 18.0 CEUs is earned. However, until professional certification has been achieved, the member is not considered certified and may not use the CFSP designation. Contact the Academy for full descriptions of qualifying categories.
 

APFSP News and Notes

Note our New Address!
Please be sure to double-check before mailing renewal checks or other correspondence to the Academy. Our new address is:

P.O. Box 1160
Buchanan, GA 30113

Phone: (770) 646-8988
Fax: (770) 646-9490
Toll-Free: (866) 431-CFSP (2377)
Email: phutcheson@apfsp.com
 

Renew Quickly Online
For your convenience in paying your renewal, we accept MasterCard, VISA, Discover and American Express or transfers directly from your bank account using PayPal. Call us at (866) 431-CFSP, or visit apfsp.org and log in to pay online.

Has Your Address Changed?
Don't forget to notify us of any changes in your address, phone number, fax number or email address. For your convenience, please call or email your changes to our office at phutcheson@apfsp.com

Have You Seen Someone Using the CFSP Designation Who Shouldn't?
The Academy Board of Trustees considers the unauthorized use of the CFSP designation by nonmembers and non-CFSPs a serious matter. The current list of CFSPs is published at apfsp.org. If you discover someone has used the CFSP designation, but he or she do not appear on the published list, would you please let us know so we can address the situation immediately?

In order to continue to use the CFSP designation, a member must either be a Lifetime member of the Academy or pay his or her renewal each year and meet the continuing education requirements.

Confused About Your Login Credentials to the Academy Site?
It's Easy, Really!
We automatically default your login ID to the email address we have on file unless you have not provided it to us in the past. Your password is your Academy ID number (with dashes). If you have trouble at first, please try any previous emails you may have shared with us in case our records reflect your home or business email address only.

The fastest way to request a password reset or credentials request is to use the link on our website called "Academy members, need help logging in?" right under the login box.

Once you log in, you have complete control and can change it to an email address you prefer by updating your contact information.