The IAF Professional Development Pathway
For more than 30 years, the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) has set the global standard for professional facilitation. Our certification and endorsement programs formally recognise facilitators who demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and values defined in the IAF Core Competencies.
The IAF professional development pathway is designed to support continuous learning and professional growth.
It includes four credentials:
- Endorsed™ Facilitator (EF)
- Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF)
- Certified™ Professional Facilitator Master (CPF M)
Certified™ Professional Facilitator Emeritus (CPF E) (For facilitators retiring from active practice)
IAF Endorsed™ Facilitator (EF)
The Endorsed™ Facilitator (EF) is the foundational step in the IAF professional development pathway
The EF is ideal for facilitators who are:
- Actively facilitating in their role
- Building confidence and credibility in their practice
- Ready to articulate how they apply the IAF Core Competencies in real‑world settings
Your application is grounded in practice, not theory alone, and focuses on how you actually facilitate.
Click through the toggles below to learn more about the application and assessment process, what you gain, and more.
The application experience
To become an IAF Endorsed™ Facilitator (EF), you must be a current IAF member.
- Written application: Summarise five (5) workshops that demonstrate how you apply the IAF Core Competencies in your practice.
- Practice-based assessment: Your facilitation experience is assessed through the quality, depth, and intentionality of your practice, not simply the number of years you have facilitated.
- Peer review: Your application is reviewed by IAF Certified™ Assessors, ensuring a fair, professional, and standards‑based assessment process.
Assessments are conducted in English and Mandarin. If you are interested in a Mandarin assessment, please contact the certification team.
What you gain
Earning the The IAF Endorsed™ Facilitator (EF) credential gives you:
- A formal certificate and digital badge you can share with employers, clients, and networks
- Eligibility to apply for the Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF) credential within a two‑year window, should you choose to continue along the professional development pathway
The EF credential is awarded for four (4) years. To maintain your endorsement, you must remain an IAF member and reapply at the end of the four‑year period.
Fees
- EF application fee: USD $500
- Discounted fee for mentoring program participants: USD $400 (if you participated in the IAF Mentoring Program
If you were granted your EF credential between April 15 2024 and April 16 2026 your fee may be waived. Contact the certification staff for more information.
Ready to take the next step?
To start your Endorsed™ Facilitator (EF) application, please download the form below, and submit it to certification@iaf-world.org.
IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF)
The Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF) is IAF’s professional premier certification for experienced facilitators.
It recognises facilitators who consistently demonstrate a high level of competence across all IAF Core Competencies and who can facilitate effectively in a wide range of contexts.
The CPF is ideal if:
- facilitation is a central part of your professional role
- you work with groups in complex or varied settings
- you want formal professional certification recognised globally
- you are ready for in-depth assessment of your facilitation practice
Click through the toggles below to learn more about the application and assessment process, what you gain, and more.
The application experience
To become an IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF), you must be a current IAF member, and must hold the Endorsed™ Facilitator credential.
Please note: There is no separate application form required before applying for the CPF assessment. To express your interest, please email the certification team directly.
The CPF assessment is a live, practice‑based assessment designed to evaluate your facilitation capability in real time. Assessments are available in person or virtual format (see the list of upcoming assessment events here.)
You are assessed by IAF Certified™ Assessors and the assessment includes:
- Review of your written application and EF experience: Assessors review your written submission and the facilitation experience you previously documented as part of your Endorsed™ Facilitator credential.
- Role‑play client engagement: A simulated client conversation to demonstrate how you contract, clarify needs, and design for facilitation.
- Two interviews: Structured conversations exploring your facilitation experience, decision‑making, and use of the IAF Core Competencies.
- 30‑minute live facilitation demonstration: A facilitated session observed and assessed against the IAF Core Competencies.
Assessments can be conducted in English or Mandarin.
What you gain
Upon successful completion of the CPF assessment, you will gain:
- The IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF) credential
- A formal certificate and digital badge to share with clients, employers, and networks
- A professional profile listed in IAF’s Find a Facilitator directory
- The ability to become a mentor in the IAF Mentoring Programme
- Global professional recognition aligned with IAF standards
The CPF credential is awarded for four (4) years. To maintain your endorsement, you must remain an IAF member and reapply at the end of the four‑year period.
Fees
CPF assessment fee: USD $2000
Ready to take the next step?
To apply for your Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF) assessment, please contact the certification team.
IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator Master (CPF Master)
Have your skills expanded beyond direct facilitation to include activities such as mentoring, teaching, or publishing that are advancing the field?
The IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator Master (CPF M) is for highly experienced facilitators who also are engaging more broadly with advancing the field, such as through IAF board or committee involvement, conference organisation, presentations, writing/publishing, teaching, or mentoring.
To apply to become a CPF M, you need to:
- have been a CPF for a minimum of eight years
- have recertified at least once as a CPF
- have facilitated at least six workshops in the past six years, in diverse settings
- show evidence of professional development in the field of facilitation
- show evidence of contributions made to advancing the field of facilitation
To maintain your CPF M status, you must remain an IAF member and re-certify every six years.
*The term ‘workshop” means a group session that you facilitated to help the group achieve a defined purpose. It does not include training, coaching or a leading a meeting where you had an interest in the outcome.
IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator Emeritus (CPF Emeritus)
The IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator Emeritus (CPF E) is granted to an IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator or CPF Master (CPF M) who has retired or is about to retire from active facilitating, and who has made significant contributions to advancing the field of facilitation (e.g., through publishing, teaching, mentoring) over the course of their career. A CPF Emeritus is no longer actively working as a professional facilitator, but may continue to advance the field of facilitation, such as through publishing, mentoring, or conference presenting.
To apply for CPF E status, you need to:
- Meet the skills and experience required for the CPF Master certification
- Be retired or retiring from active facilitation practice
- Complete an application form
CPF E is awarded for as long as you remain an IAF member. There is no need to recertify.
The CPF E application includes two parts. Please download and complete both.
Have a question? Reach out to the certification team at certification@iaf-world.org.