Certified Facility Manager (CFM): 5-Day Professional Training Course

Course Overview

This comprehensive Certified Facility Manager Training provides essential knowledge and skills for professional facility management excellence. This intensive 5-day program covers facility management fundamentals, operations and maintenance, sustainability and energy management, project management, leadership, emergency preparedness, and CFM exam preparation aligned with IFMA (International Facility Management Association) Body of Knowledge.

Who Should Attend This CFM Course?

• Facility Managers seeking professional certification

• Building Managers advancing their careers

• Operations Managers in facility management

• Maintenance Supervisors transitioning to management

• Property Managers expanding expertise

• Corporate Real Estate Managers

• Project Managers in facility projects

• Engineering Managers in facilities

• Aspiring Facility Management Professionals

Course Objectives

Participants will master facility management principles, operations and maintenance best practices, sustainability strategies, space planning and management, financial management, human resources leadership, technology integration, emergency preparedness, and CFM exam competencies across all IFMA knowledge domains.

Day 1: Facility Management Fundamentals and Operations

Morning Session: Introduction to Facility Management

Topics Covered:

• Facility management definition and evolution

• IFMA competency model and Body of Knowledge

• FM career paths and professional development

• Core competencies: operations, finance, people, projects

• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) perspective

• Strategic vs. tactical facility management

• Role of FM in organizational success

• Industry standards: ISO 41001, EN 15221

• CFM certification requirements and exam overview

FM Scope and Responsibilities:

• Workplace management and space planning

• Building operations and maintenance

• Sustainability and environmental stewardship

• Health, safety, and security

• Real estate and property management

• Strategic planning and forecasting

Afternoon Session: Operations and Maintenance Management

Topics Covered:

• Building systems knowledge: HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire protection

• Preventive maintenance program development

• Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)

• Work order management and prioritization

• Predictive and condition-based maintenance

• Contractor and vendor management

• Service Level Agreements (SLA) development

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for O&M

• Maintenance budget planning and control

• Asset lifecycle management

Maintenance Strategies:

• Reactive vs. proactive maintenance

• Reliability-centered maintenance (RCM)

• Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)

• Outsourcing vs. in-house decisions

• Quality control and assurance

Workshop:
Developing preventive maintenance plan for commercial building systems.

Day 2: Sustainability, Energy Management, and Real Estate

Morning Session: Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship

Topics Covered:

• Sustainable facility management principles

• Triple bottom line: people, planet, profit

• Green building standards: LEED, BREEAM, WELL

• Energy management and conservation strategies

• Carbon footprint reduction initiatives

• Water conservation and management

• Waste management and recycling programs

• Indoor environmental quality (IEQ)

• Sustainable procurement practices

• Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in FM

Energy Management:

• Energy audits and benchmarking

• ENERGY STAR certification and ratings

• Building automation systems (BAS)

• Renewable energy integration

• Utility management and cost control

• Measurement and verification (M&V)

Afternoon Session: Real Estate and Space Management

Topics Covered:

• Strategic real estate portfolio management

• Lease vs. own analysis

• Space planning and allocation methodologies

• Workplace strategy: hoteling, hot-desking, activity-based working

• Move management and churn reduction

• Occupancy analysis and optimization

• Stack and block planning

• Computer-Aided Facility Management (CAFM)

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

• Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) management

Space Standards:

• Developing space allocation policies

• Industry benchmarks: square feet per person

• Utilization studies and metrics

• Growth planning and flexibility

• Universal design principles

Case Study:
Space optimization project for corporate headquarters consolidation.

Day 3: Financial Management and Project Management

Morning Session: Financial Management for Facilities

Topics Covered:

• Facility budget development and management

• Capital vs. operational expenditures (CAPEX vs. OPEX)

• Cost allocation methodologies: chargebacks, rentable square feet

• Financial planning and forecasting

• Cost-benefit analysis and business case development

• Return on Investment (ROI) calculations

• Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA)

• Benchmarking and performance metrics

• Financial reporting and dashboards

• Variance analysis and corrective actions

Procurement and Contracts:

• Competitive bidding and RFP processes

• Contract types: fixed price, cost-plus, time and materials

• Contract negotiation strategies

• Performance-based contracting

• Risk allocation and insurance requirements

Afternoon Session: Project Management in Facilities

Topics Covered:

• Facility project lifecycle and phases

• Project initiation and business case

• Scope definition and requirements gathering

• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

• Project scheduling: Gantt charts, critical path method

• Resource allocation and leveling

• Budget management and cost control

• Quality management and inspections

• Risk management and mitigation

• Stakeholder communication and management

• Project closeout and lessons learned

• PM software tools: MS Project, Primavera

Capital Projects:

• Renovation and retrofit projects

• Building expansion management

• Tenant improvement coordination

• Commissioning and handover

Exercise:
Developing project plan for facility renovation including schedule, budget, and stakeholder communication.

Day 4: Human Resources, Leadership, and Technology

Morning Session: Human Resources and Leadership

Topics Covered:

• Leadership vs. management in facility operations

• Team building and motivation strategies

• Performance management and evaluation

• Recruitment and talent acquisition

• Training and development programs

• Succession planning for facility teams

• Change management in FM organizations

• Conflict resolution techniques

• Diversity and inclusion initiatives

• Labor relations and union considerations

• Organizational development and culture

Communication Skills:

• Stakeholder engagement strategies

• Presentation skills for executives

• Negotiation techniques

• Influencing without authority

• Cross-functional collaboration

Afternoon Session: Technology in Facility Management

Topics Covered:

• Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS)

• Building Management Systems (BMS) and automation

• IoT and smart building technologies

• Computer-Aided Facility Management (CAFM)

• Mobile applications for facility operations

• Cloud-based FM platforms

• Data analytics and business intelligence

• Cybersecurity for facility systems

• BIM (Building Information Modeling) in FM

• Digital twins for facility optimization

• Emerging technologies: AI, AR/VR in FM

Technology Selection:

• Needs assessment and requirements

• Vendor evaluation and selection

• Implementation planning

• Change management for technology adoption

• ROI measurement for technology investments

Demo:
Exploring IWMS platform features and capabilities for facility management.

Day 5: Emergency Preparedness, Risk Management, and CFM Exam Prep

Morning Session: Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity

Topics Covered:

• Emergency management planning and preparedness

• Risk assessment and vulnerability analysis

• Business Continuity Plan (BCP) development

• Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) for facilities

• Emergency response procedures and protocols

• Crisis communication strategies

• Evacuation planning and drills

• Incident Command System (ICS) basics

• Natural disasters: earthquake, flood, hurricane preparedness

• Security threats and active shooter response

• Pandemic planning and infectious disease management

• Testing, training, and plan maintenance

Risk Management:

• Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework

• Insurance requirements and coverage

• Health and safety compliance: OSHA regulations

• Environmental compliance and reporting

• Fire safety and life safety systems

• Indoor air quality management

• Accessibility compliance: ADA, fair housing

Afternoon Session: CFM Exam Preparation

IFMA Core Competencies Review:

1. Operations and Maintenance:

• Building systems and preventive maintenance

• Asset management and capital planning

• Quality assurance programs

2. Sustainability:

• Environmental management systems

• Energy and resource conservation

• Green building practices

3. Facility Finance and Business:

• Budget development and management

• Financial analysis and reporting

• Procurement and contracts

4. Human and Environmental Factors:

• Workplace management and ergonomics

• Health, safety, and security

• Indoor environmental quality

5. Leadership and Strategy:

• Strategic facility planning

• Change management

• Performance measurement

6. Real Estate and Property Management:

• Portfolio management

• Lease administration

• Property operations

7. Project Management:

• Project planning and execution

• Construction and renovation management

• Commissioning processes

8. Technology:

• IWMS and automation systems

• Data management and analytics

9. Communication:

• Stakeholder engagement

• Presentation and reporting

10. Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity:

• Risk management and mitigation

• Crisis response planning

Exam Strategies:

• Question format and structure

• Time management techniques

• Elimination strategies

• Study resources and materials

• Practice questions and mock exams

• Application process and requirements

Final Assessment and Certification Guidance

Comprehensive Review:

• Practice exam with 100+ CFM-style questions

• Group discussion on challenging topics

• Case study analysis integrating multiple competencies

• Scenario-based problem-solving

Assessment Activities:

• Written examination covering all IFMA competency areas

• Case study presentation: integrated facility management challenge

• Project plan development exercise

• Budget analysis and financial modeling

• Emergency response scenario evaluation

• Certificate of Course Completion

Post-Course Support:

• CFM exam application guidance

• Study plan and resource recommendations

• Online study group coordination

• Practice exam access

• Continuing education opportunities

Course Benefits and Learning Outcomes

Participants will understand facility management principles, manage operations effectively, implement sustainability programs, plan and execute projects, lead facility teams, apply financial management, leverage technology, ensure emergency preparedness, and prepare thoroughly for CFM certification exam.

Training Methodology

Instructor-led sessions with case studies from diverse industries, hands-on exercises, financial modeling workshops, project planning activities, technology demonstrations, group discussions, mock exam practice, and peer learning.

Course Materials

Comprehensive CFM study guide, IFMA Body of Knowledge reference, practice exam questions, financial calculation templates, project management tools, sustainability checklists, emergency planning templates, and course completion certificate.

CFM Exam Information

Eligibility Requirements:

• Option 1: Bachelor’s degree + 2 years FM experience

• Option 2: High school diploma + 5 years FM experience

• Exam: 150 multiple-choice questions, 3.5 hours

• Passing score: scaled score of 200/300

Prerequisites

Recommended: 2+ years facility management experience, bachelor’s degree preferred, basic knowledge of building systems, financial acumen, and commitment to professional certification.

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