AAFCS Instructions for PDU Pre-Approval Application
Documentation verifying content and time breakdown of all PDU activities must be attached to the application.

To request prior approval for professional development units (PDUs) for an activity, the PDU Pre-Approval Application must be completed. However, it is not necessary to submit a separate application for each day of a multiple day activity. In order to ensure approval of an activity to its beginning date, the application must be submitted after the six-week deadline, there is no assurance that notification of approval will be received by the applicant before the starting date of the activity. PDU applications submitted after the starting date of the activity will not be reviewed, but the activity may be listed on the individual Certification Reporting Form in May of each year.

Documentation of all PDU activities verifying content, time breakdown and/or date of publication MUST be attached (such as an agenda or program), but these materials cannot be submitted in lieu of the completed PDU application. Verifying documents include, but are not limited to, professional meeting agendas, brochures, articles, title pages, publications and other printed materials documenting content and time of activity.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate that an activity meets the guidelines for approved professional development activities.

The application may be submitted by the sponsoring organization of an activity, a representative from a group attending the activity or an individual attending the activity.  Upon reviewing the application, the Office of Certification will assign the appropriate number of PDUs and issue a Certificate of Completion.  This Certificate should be signed, photocopied, and distributed to CFCSs who participate in the activity.

All activities submitted for pre-approval should enhance the individual's professional knowledge in the subject matter of family and consumer sciences or develop skills which complement performance as a family and consumer sciences professional. These include: management principles, negotiation skills, personnel evaluation, media relations, stress management, teaching methods, ethics, computer-aided design, marketing, ethnography, accounting, psychology, and media relations. Activities that provide only personal enrichment and governance activities such as participation on boards or committees will not be approved.

The guidelines below will assist you in having the activity pre-approved in a timely manner.

ACTIVITY BEGINNING DATE: The first or only day of an activity.

ENDING DATE: The final day of a multi-day activity.

NUMBER OF PDUs REQUESTED: List the actual contact hours in which participant(s) engage in this activity - exclusive of breaks, meals, registration, and networking. One PDU per contact hour may be awarded for attendance.  However, one-half PDU should be deducted for presentations with a meal function.  One-half PDU is the only fractional number of PDUs awarded. Refer to Maintaining Certification, available from the Office of Certification at the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, for documentation of all certification policies.

CONTACT INFORMATION: The contact is the individual who is completing the application.

ACTIVITY INFORMATION:
Sponsor - Provide the name of the organization sponsoring the activity.
Activity Title - List the title of the activity as it should appear on the permanent record of this activity.
Activity Location - List the street address, city, state, and zip code where the activity will take place.
Target Audience - PDU activities must be designed for peer professional audiences.
Objectives - Briefly state the objectives
Description - Describe the activity.
Explain the relationship - Describe how the activity meets the guidelines for approved professional development activities.
Presenters - Provide the names and professional titles of all presenters, if applicable.

CONTACT THE OFFICE OF CERTIFICATION FOR SELF-STUDY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.  SELF-STUDIES MUST BE PRE-APPROVED.

Office of Certification
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences,400 N. Columbus Street, Suite 202, Alexandria, VA 22314, Phone: 703-706-4600 Fax: 703-706-4663 Email: certification@aafcs.org