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The Value of CFCS Credentials

Don Bower, CFCS2010 GACTE Annual Conference

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Accreditation ofUniversity FCS

Programs

ProfessionalAssessments &

Certifications

Pre-ProfessionalAssessments &

Certifications(Pre-PAC)

Accreditation ofUniversity FCS

Programs

ProfessionalAssessments &

Certifications

Pre-ProfessionalAssessments &

Certifications(Pre-PAC)

• Assure the public

• Foster excellence in the profession

• Promote professional growth

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TheThe Certification Program is Certification Program is designed to:designed to:

• Individual mastery of FCS knowledge as verified by a bachelor’s degree

• Successful completion of the National FCS Exam

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Certification is based on:Certification is based on:

• Pass the exam

• Subscribe to the AAFCS Code of Ethics

• Provide a college transcript

• Submit the CFCS application and fee

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Certification eligibility:Certification eligibility:

• CFCS Composite

• CFCS – Human Development & Family Studies

• CFCS – Hospitality, Nutrition, & Food Science

• CFCS – Personal and Family Finance Educator (coming)

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Four types of certification:Four types of certification:

• Complete the application form (online)

• Receive authorization form from AAFCS

• Make appointment to take exam at SMT center

• Take exam and pay fee ($150)

• Special exam administrations

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Examination process:Examination process:

• AAFCS Examination Study Guide; available for download from www.aafcs.org

• Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences

• Various textbooks

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Examination preparation:Examination preparation:

• Integration of Foundations • Family Studies and Human Services • Human Development Education and Services • Nutrition, Wellness and Food Sciences • Food, Lodging, Hospitality • Consumer and Resource Management • Textiles and Apparel • Environmental Design

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FCS Standards on the exam:FCS Standards on the exam:

• Exam has 150 multiple-choice questions

• Multiple versions of the exam for each certification type

• Passing score is 240/300

• Retakes available

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Examination scoring:Examination scoring:

One benefit of leasing a car rather than buying is:

(A) lower monthly payments.

(B) lower insurance costs.

(C) not having to pay for routine maintenance costs.

(D) traveling unlimited miles each year without penalty.

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Sample item:Sample item:

• Promotes professional growth

• Provides recognition to individuals

• Increases employability

• Fosters excellence in the profession

• Markets the profession

• Assists employers

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Some benefits of certification:Some benefits of certification:

• Certification renewal every 3 years

• Earn and report 75 PDU’s

• Pay annual maintenance fee ($50)

• CFCS-Retired

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Maintaining certification:Maintaining certification:

• Academic courses

• Continuing education

• Educational travel

• Professional conference presentations

• Professional leadership

• Journal articles

• …and many more!15

Earning PDU’s:Earning PDU’s:

Yes!

• The AAFCS Pre-Professional Assessment and Certification (Pre-PAC) Process

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Certification for students?Certification for students?

• Documents exiting student skills

• Satisfies Perkins funding requirements

• Articulates to post-secondary

• Provides industry-recognized certification

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Benefits of Pre-PAC participation:Benefits of Pre-PAC participation:

• Broad Field Family and Broad Field Family and Consumer Sciences Consumer Sciences

• Culinary Arts Culinary Arts • Early Childhood Early Childhood

Education Education • Education Education

Fundamentals Fundamentals • Family and Community Family and Community

ServicesServices

• Fashion, Textiles, and Fashion, Textiles, and Apparel Apparel

• Interior Design Fundamentals Interior Design Fundamentals • Nutrition, Food, and Wellness Nutrition, Food, and Wellness • Personal and Family Personal and Family

Finance Finance • Food Science Fundamentals• Housing and Furnishings

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Pre-PAC assessment/ Pre-PAC assessment/ certification areas:certification areas:

• On-line assessmentOn-line assessment

• 70-item, multiple choice assessment70-item, multiple choice assessment

• Random selection of items from test bankRandom selection of items from test bank

• Rigorous cognitive difficulty Rigorous cognitive difficulty – Level 1 (Knowledge/Comprehension) – 40%Level 1 (Knowledge/Comprehension) – 40%– Level 2 (Application/Analysis) – 30%Level 2 (Application/Analysis) – 30%– Level 3 (Synthesis/Evaluation) – 30%Level 3 (Synthesis/Evaluation) – 30%

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A closer look:A closer look:

1.1. Submit “Test Site Approval Agreement”Submit “Test Site Approval Agreement”

2.2. Purchase assessmentsPurchase assessments

3.3. Register test candidates and assign Register test candidates and assign assessmentsassessments

4.4. Administer the assessments in a Administer the assessments in a proctored environmentproctored environment

5.5. Access data resultsAccess data results

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Getting involved in Pre-PACGetting involved in Pre-PAC

Pre-PAC Founding ConsortiumPre-PAC Founding Consortium

MONTANA

WYOMING

IDAHO

WASHINGTON

OREGON

NEVADA

UTAH

CALIFORNIA

ARIZONA

NORTH DAKOTA

SOUTH DAKOTA

NEBRASKA

COLORADO

NEW MEXICO

TEXAS

OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

ARKANSAS

LOUISIANA

MISSOURI

IOWA

MINNESOTA

WISCONSIN

ILLINOISINDIANA

KENTUCKY

TENNESSEE

MISSALABAMA

GEORGIA

FLORIDA

SOUTHCAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

VIRGINIA

WV

OHIO

MICHIGAN NEW YORK

PENN

MARYLAND

DELAWARE

NEWJERSEY

CONNRI

MASS

MAINE

VT

NH

ALASKA

HAWAII

State Participating in the Consortium

Pending or not participating in the Consortium

The FCS certification resource!