Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1119502
When the Certified Fence Con- tractor (CFC) program launched last November as part of the Fence Con- tractor Business School at AFA Uni- versity, it met with enthusiasm and energy by those who saw it as an op- portunity to demonstrate their excep- tional level of professionalism in the fence and gate industry. That level of enthusiasm remains high as the program produces a steady stream of applicants. Testing at FENCETECH 2019 was robust, with nearly 30 candidates poring over a series of six written ex- aminations on the business topics of marketing, advertising and sales; es- timating and bidding; insurance and legal issues; accounting basics and corporate structure; OSHA compli- ance and safety management; and UL 325 and ASTM F2200. There are two ways to earn the CFC designation, and which method is best largely depends on the experi- ence level of the contractor. Testing is offered at the conclu- sion of Fence Contractor Business School, which is a week-long course of instruction that covers the six busi- ness topics for which written exam- inations are offered to CFC candidates (one can attend the Fence Contractor Business School for the education; the CFC testing at the end of the school is optional). Individuals with less than 10 years of experience in the fence contracting business are required to attend Fence Contractor Business School in order to qualify for the CFC designation. Individuals with less than two years of experience are ineligible for the certification, but may attend the school, and sit for the examinations, but would not be awarded the CFC designation until after they had met the requisite experience requirement of two years. Individuals with 10 or more years of experience in the fence contrac- tor field may, but are not required, to attend Fence Contractor Business School. These industry veterans have the option of self-studying for the written examinations. Testing is offered each year at the end of Fence Contractor Busi- ness School at AFA University and at FENCETECH. AFA chapters are beginning to inquire about the opportunities for their organizations to conduct testing events which would significantly ex- pand accessibility to the program for fence contractors across the country. The Certified Fence Contractor is AFA's first credentialing opportunity since the introduction of the Certified Fence Professional (CFP) in 1987, under the then-named International Fence Industry Association. In the more than three decades that have passed since the delivery of the CFP credential to the industry, there has been a significant develop- ment in the trades as it relates to con- sumer and public recognition. The certification of individuals within the trades has become the stan- dard by which the public perceives, or acknowledges, professionals. We have seen this most prom- inently among automotive service technicians, plumbers and electri- cians, to name three. Most people under the age of 40 might have a difficult time imagin- ing a time when car owners needing repairs on their vehicles most wor- ried about finding a qualified, honest "mechanic" who could fix their auto- mobile without cheating them. Other service and repair industries struggled with the same public images in which a consumer had only word of mouth opinions as a means of finding a repu- table repair service. Certification, particularly, has become the standard by which trades professionals are viewed by the pub- lic. Accreditation is also an important credential for businesses. And, just as a means of explanation: certification is typically earned by individuals; accreditation is earned by businesses, organizations and institutions. The general public relies on cre- dentials when seeking services in which they have little first hand ex- perience. This certainly applies to most homeowners seeking a backyard fence, but it also is applicable to many business owners and property manag- ers seeking to increase security via a fence or automated vehicular gate. With this in mind, the Ameri- can Fence Association established a strategic plan that included an am- bitious credentialing arm. The CFC program was viewed as the hub of all that would follow, because it estab- lished there would be knowledgeable Guest editorial AFA's Certified Fence Contractor program is the beginning of a major launch of professional credentialing BY TODD THOMAS DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AMERICAN FENCE ASSOCIATION continued on page 16 AMERISTARFENCE.COM 888-333-3422 TRANSPORT II GATES Budget Friendly | 30 Minute Install No Equipment Needed CANTILEVER NEW AND IMPROVED