Recertification and CE Self-Reporting FAQs

Q: What types of educational programs can I participate in for continuing education hours?

A:Examples include workshops, conferences, seminars, college courses, trade/food shows, journal clubs, in-services, online courses, teleconferences, webinars, and books. Programs must be a combined total of at least 30 minutes long to be eligible for CE. Tours of plants/facilities are limited to one CE hour. Programs must be related to the fields of Nutrition, Food Service, Personnel and Communications, Sanitation and Safety, and Business Operations. Once CE hours have been earned for a specific program, that program cannot be resubmitted for credit again, regardless of whether it is a new certification period. Credit can only be earned once for any given program. Refer to the CBDM Guide to Maintaining Your CDM, CFPP Credential for more information.

Q: What “proof of attendance" do I need to submit?

A: Proof of attendance is usually a copy of the certificate of completion that was awarded at the educational event that you attended and includes the program title, your name, date and hours earned, or verification from the program provider on official letterhead with their signature. For more information on other required documentation, refer to the chart in the CBDM Guide to Maintaining Your CDM, CFPP Credential. The documentation for each reported program must be electronically uploaded via the My Certification page of your record. If you do not upload the documentation when submitting a program, you will not be able to submit the program.

Q: Why does the status say submitted for some of my activities?

A: All CE programs submitted and required documentation uploaded electronically via the My Certification page will show “submitted” status unless the education is a Prior Approved program for which your certificate of completion shows a CBDM provider number and was reported as a Prior Approved program type.

Q: How many hours can I report for ServSafe?

A: It depends on the length of the course as verified in a notarized letter from the instructor on company letterhead or the course agenda that shows time for each topic/section of the course. CE credit is not allowed for breaks, lunches, or the exam times Report the CE hours and upload required documentation via the My Certification page. Required documentation varies by program type. Examples of required documentation include the course outline or agenda with date, location and objectives; certificate of completion from the course (not exam); and a brief paragraph describing why the program was a valuable learning experience and how it impacts your current or future professional practice.

Q: If I purchased ANFP online CE products, will my CE be entered automatically once I complete the online course or online CE magazine articles?

A: Yes! You do not need to do anything else to submit those hours once you have completed the course or article, quizzes within them, and program evaluation. These programs are audit proof when submitted as a Prior Approved program.

Q: Can I get CE credit for a program previously attended and reported?

A: Once CE hours have been earned for a specific program, the program cannot be resubmitted for credit again, regardless of whether it is in a new certification period. Credit can only be earned once for any given program. If a program is taught multiple times/dates, it can be reported only once.

Q: If I earn extra CE hours in my current three-year recertification period, can I transfer them to the next three-year recertification period?

A: No. All CE hours must be earned and reported in the current three-year recertification period and are not transferable to future recertification periods. Extra hours will not carry over to the next recertification period.

Q: Can I report Trade/Food Shows for CE hours?

A: A maximum of five CE hours can be earned from viewing exhibits at trade/food shows during a three-year recertification period. CE Hours are awarded on the basis of time. Trade/food show hours are spent viewing trade/food show exhibits, as well as food demonstrations, bakeoffs, ice carving, and food presentations. The CE hours must be reported and required documentation uploaded via the My Certification page. Required documentation includes proof of attendance, program brochure with list of exhibitors and amount of time allocated to the trade/food show, and a brief description of how the program was a valuable learning experience and how it will impact your current or future professional practice.

Q: Can I earn CE hours for college coursework?

A: Yes. Each semester/credit hour is worth 18 CE hours. The CE must be reported and required documentation must be uploaded via the My Certification page. A maximum of 36 CE hours can be reported for college coursework in a three-year recertification period. Required documentation includes course description, transcript showing course title, and a brief summary of what was learned and how it enhances your competency as a CDM, CFPP.

Q: What types of programs are considered “Sanitation and Safety”?

A: Programs that address safe food handling and storage, infection control, time and temperature regulations, HACCP principles, foodborne pathogens, food allergies, HIV/AIDS, ServSafe training programs, hygiene, disaster preparedness, pandemic disease, and active shooter training are eligible for Sanitation and Safety CE. The CE hours must be reported and required documentation uploaded via the My Certification page.

Q: What types of programs qualify for a Professional Ethics program?

A: Beginning June 1, 2019, one of the required 45 CE hours must pertain to Professional Ethics. Professional Ethics encompasses standards, values, and guiding principles related to personal and business behaviors of professionals. Related topics include business/code of conduct, confidentiality, conflict of interest, diversity and inclusion, HIPAA/privacy and patient rights/dignity. The CE hours must be reported and required documentation uploaded via the My Certification page.

Q: What happens if I report more than the nine CE hours required for Sanitation and Safety and the one CE hour required for Professional Ethics?

A: Any reported Sanitation and Safety CE hours that exceed the nine CE hours requirement or Professional Ethics CE hours that exceeds the one CE hour requirement will automatically convert to General CE hours.

Q: If I had more than five Sanitation CE hours before the increase to nine hours, will those extra Sanitation hours that converted to General CE hours be put back into my Sanitation CE requirement?

A: Yes. Any Sanitation CE hours reported above the five hours that were required prior to June 1, 2017, will be automatically applied to the nine-hour Sanitation and Safety CE hour requirement, as long as it is within the same three-year recertification period.

Q: Do in-service programs qualify for CE hours?

A: Attending an in-service program at your facility related to Nutrition, Foodservice, Personnel and Communications, and/or Sanitation and Safety is an eligible CE activity. Required documentation includes the program agenda with content and learning objectives, topics, date and time frames as well as a copy of the sign-in sheet or verification of attendance from your employer with topic, date and time frames. Business portions of meetings, training employees, facility policies and procedures, or new employee orientations do NOT qualify for CE hours. Additional documentation includes a brief description of why the program was a valuable learning experience and how it will impact your current or future professional practice.

Q: If I make a mistake while entering CE hours, can I edit it?

A: At this time, you cannot edit your CE record in My Certification. Please contact CBDM at info@CBDMonline.org or 800.323.1908 for assistance with the requested changes.

Q: May I submit a Subsequent Approval Form?

A: You may no longer submit Subsequent Approval Forms. All CE and required documentation must be submitted electronically via the My Certification page of your record. Physical, e-mailed, or faxed documents sent to CBDM will not be accepted or returned.

Q: What happens if I don’t meet the requirements for CE hours and the annual certification maintenance fee?

A: If you do not meet the CE requirements by the end of each three-year recertification period, you will be placed into the CE Audit process. Also, if you do not maintain your credential by paying the annual certification maintenance fees, you will no longer be certified. If eligible, you will need to reinstate your credential. You will only be eligible to earn CE once you have completed the reinstatement process. No CE can be earned for education programs completed or reported during your inactive period. If you are not eligible for reinstatement, you will be required to retest to be eligible to regain the credential. To do so, you must meet a current pathway of eligibility, submit an application with fees for review and approval, and receive a passing score on the exam.

The CBDM made a policy change in January 2019 requiring CDM, CFPPs to meet all CE requirements (45 total continuing education hours, including 9 Sanitation/Safety CE hours and 1 Professional Ethics CE hour) by May 31 of the last year of their three-year recertification period. Individuals not meeting this requirement, would have their CDM, CFPP credential terminated. This policy was to be implemented as of May 31, 2020.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented challenges that we find our professional dealing with, the CBDM has made the decision to postpone implementation of this policy. Therefore, current recertification policies will remain in place.

What does this mean for me? For individuals whose three-year recertification period ends this year, i.e., May 31, 2020, your certification will not be terminated for not meeting the CE hour requirements. You will automatically be placed in the CE Audit process. Notification of your selection for CE Audit will be emailed to you at the email address on file in your record. To avoid missing critical communications about required actions and deadlines, make sure your contact information in your record is accurate and current. Failure to meet all recertification and CE Audit requirements will result in your certification being terminated.

Watch your emails for updates to CBDM polices or other matters regarding the CDM, CFPP Certification Program. You may also contact CBDM at info@CBDMonline.org or 800.323.1908, select option 1 (Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CST).

Q: How do I know if I am short CE hours?

A: CBDM strongly recommends that you keep track of your CE hours for your current CE recertification period by checking your CE report online. Simply log in to your profile online at www.CBDMonline.org and select “My Certification.” You will see CE activity that you reported and documentation that you electronically uploaded. If you have any questions, please e-mail info@CBDMonline.org or call 800.323.1908.

Q: Will the CBDM remind me if I am short on CE hours?

A: Yes. E-mail reminders are sent in February and March to CDM, CFPPs (at the e-mail address on file in their record) who have less than the required total CE hours by the last year of their three-year recertification period. The CBDM strongly recommends that all individuals keep track of their CE hours for the current CE recertification period by checking their CE report online in the My Certification page of their record. To ensure communications are received from ANFP and CBDM, individuals are responsible for ensuring that contact information in their ANFP record is current and accurate. ANFP and CBDM are not responsible for missed communications due to incorrect e-mail or mailing addresses in a record, or for e-mail messages not accessed from a Spam folder.

Q: Should I keep required documentation for the reported CE hours?

A: CDM, CFPPs should retain copies of CE records and the documentation as submitted via the My Certification page.

Q: How do I report my CE hours if I do not have a computer?

A: CDM, CFPPs are responsible for reporting CE and uploading the required supporting documentation via My Certification. There are other viable solutions such as using mobile devices, tablets, or public computers that may be available at a local library. Physical, emailed, or faxed documents sent to CBDM will not be accepted or returned.