Certification Questions
Q: Why do I need to record my AAFCS ID number
on my PDU Reporting form?
A: Your AAFCS ID number is used to locate your record
in the database. This number helps us to properly record your
PDUs and other updates to your record.
Q: When do I submit my 75 PDUs?
A: You may submit your PDUs anytime during
your three-year cycle.
Q: How will I know my PDUs have been accepted?
A: PDUs reported should be reflected in your online PDU
summary within 2 weeks of submission.
Q: Will I receive notification if my approved PDUs are
below 75?
A: Yes. You will receive correspondence, at the end of
your certification cycle, notifying you that additional PDUs
are needed. You may access an online PDU summary at any time.
Q: Will PDU transcripts & copies of PDU reporting
forms continue to be provided?
A: The Office of Certification will no longer provide
PDU transcripts and copies of hardcopy PDU reports submitted.
Online PDU reporting creates a summary that can be printed.
Q: Do I pay the Maintenance Fee even if I don't report
any professional development units (PDUs)?
A: Yes. Payment of the Annual Maintenance Fee is a requirement
of all program participants.
Q: May I send my Maintenance Fee payment and PDU reporting
form separately?
A: Yes. Both must be postmarked by the submission deadline.
Q: If I don't send in my PDU report by October 1st, must
I pay the Late Fee?
A: If your cycle ends this year and the required 75 PDUs
have not been previously reported, then YES both the PDU report
and the maintenance fee payment must be postmarked by October
1st to avoid the late fee. Payment and PDU report may be submitted
after October 1st, but they will incur the $25 late fee.
If your cycle does not end this year, only the maintenance
fee payment is due by October 1st to avoid the late fee. You
PDU report may be submitted at any time in your cycle when
you can report the 75 PDUs.
If you are in the "Retired" category for your CFCS credential
(meeting all eligibility criteria and having officially requested
the change of your CFCS status to "Retired") there is not
a PDU reporting requirement, only the maintenance fee payment
is due by October 1st to avoid the late fee.
Q: On this PDU reporting form, may I list PDUs that I
earned previously, but forgot to report?
A: No, you are required to report once during a cycle,
please submit the total 75 PDUs at one time.
Q: Is it possible to just send in PDUs as they are earned?
A: PDUs are reported once during a cycle if using the hardcopy
form. Online reporting is allowed incrementally at any point
during the cycle.
Q: Can PDUs be "carried over" from cycle to
cycle?
A: No. PDUs must be recorded in the cycle in which they
are earned.
Q: If I have opted for "Retired" status with my CFCS certification, am I required to report PDUs for certification maintenance?
A: Those who meet the eligibility criteria for "retired professionals" as defined by AAFCS and have requested a change to "Retired" category for their CFCS credential are not required to report PDUs.
Q: Is it possible for me to be retired from employment but not be in the "retired" category for my CFCS certification?
A: Yes. To obtain "retired" status for CFCS certification, you must meet the Association's eligibility requirements for retired professionals (an active member for at least 10 years, 60 or more years of age, meeting retirement guidelines at place of employment, and no longer gainfully employed) and have requested the change to "retired" certification status. You could be retired from employment but not have "retired" certification status if you meet meet some but not all eligibility requirements or if you have not requested a change in certification status.
Q: What happens if I have "retired" certification status but later decide to again become employed?
A: You would notify the AAFCS Certification Office to request that your certification category be changed because you no longer meet the eligibility requirements for "retired" certification status. At that point you would no longer include the "Retired" designation in your CFCS notation, and you would once again be required to meet the PDU reporting requirements.
Q: If I report that I am retired or unemployed in the
employment information section on the PDU Reporting Form,
will I be "penalized"?
A: No. This information is used to assess and review
the types of activities reported by CFCS' in the various
professional practices within the field of family and consumer
sciences.
Q: Why have some of my reported PDUs been denied or
not recorded?
A: If incomplete activity information is provided on the
PDU Reporting Form, the activity cannot be accepted for review,
therefore PDUs cannot be assigned and recorded. If the activity
is not eligible for PDU credit, the PDUs are denied. If the
Office of Certification requested, in writing, that you provide
documentation of a specific activity, and the documentation
is not provided, the activity cannot be accepted for review,
so PDUs cannot be assigned and recorded.
If, after reviewing your PDU reports, you are unable to determine
why there is a difference between your PDU calculations and
those of the Office of Certification, please contact us. We
will be happy to review and discuss your records with you.
THE APPEALS PROCESS
Q: How do I request an appeal of the revocation of my
certification?
A: You must complete a Certification Appeal Inquiry Form
and submit it to the Office of Certification. This form is
generally included with your notice of revocation.
Q: When will my appeal be reviewed?
A: Your appeal will be reviewed when it is received in
the Office of Certification or, if need be, at the next Council
for Certification meeting.
Q: When will I receive a response as to the Council's
decision?
A: You will receive a response within 90 days of receipt
of your appeal.
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