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how difficult is it to obtain all 9 certifications for facility maintenance
#facility maintenance.
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8 answers
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Thomas’s Answer
Only as hard as you make it. Follow you're guidance counselors recommendations, taking and completing the coursework will take approximately two years based on a normal class schedule. Hope this helps you.
Updated
Andre’s Answer
Not hard at all
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Andre’s Answer
Not complicated
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Andre’s Answer
Have HSE Certification
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Paul K’s Answer
9 certs? where are you getting that from? IFMA, the International Facility Management Association has 3 different cert programs. SFP, FMP and the mack daddy CFM. They contain 11 skill categories; The SFP & FMP are smaller subsets of all 11 needed to obtain a CFM. 1) Operations and Maintenance, 2) Project Management, 3) Finance and Business, 4) Leadership and Strategy, 5) Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability, 6) Communications, 7) Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity, 8) Human Factors, 9) Quality, 10) Real Estate and Property Management and 11) Technology. BOMI has lessor sets of skill sets that still lead to a certification. IFMA is not just knowledge based , you have to have a certain amount of year doing Facilities Management, especially to earn a CFM. I would go to each of these websites for more investigation into what FM involves. I work with a colleague who has all three of IFMA's certs and is the Plano Texas Area President of the local Area chapter of IFMA. I would check out www.BOMI.org and also www.IFMA.org. The Federal Govt has their own program thru GSA which is really good as well. All in all the one skill you will need in all of this is that RESPECT is earned. Not just granted or given because of ones position. You must give respect and also earn it. You earn it by learning and being able to make good decisions and being teachable, learning from others.... gaining skills and doing. I have little to no respect for Engineers who design things but never go to the job site to see what they designed being built or constructed. Most "designs" get field modified by tried and true respected very experienced project managers or field electricians or mechanical/ carpentry Technicians. My best to you. In FM you get just about every other job class and aspect of Life. No two days are exactly the same. Like today and the past few weeks, I've been dealing with more "how do we come back to work safely during Covid 19 and what PPE will we use, how do we solcially distance and the like more than How do I run this Data Center. Good luck to you FM is duly VERY rewarding. I go home most nights being able to say "I did X Y or Z today. and it was a good thing.
Great answer. My experience with design engineers is the same.
Blake Gebhart
Updated
Coty’s Answer
Very hard. Not every one is for the same job. If you wanting to get into apartment maintenance. the best step would be to start as a maintenance assistant or helper and work your way up. If you wanted to get into more commercial maintenance try to get on as a tech one. if you want an industrial maintenance your best bet would be to get either a limited maintenance electrician license or a limited electrician license depending on which state you live in. Both of those are apprenticeship. I wish I actually would have got a limited maintenance electrician license. if you find a company that you can start out as a maintenance assistance or a tech one as you advance up they would probably give you all the training for the certificates that you would need.
Good advice
Blake Gebhart
Updated
Baruti’s Answer
I am a weighbridge operator. I have 8 years experience in the mining industry sector. Im looking for a Job. I have also some skills experience in A+Computer (Technician) N+ and Front and Loader and Electrical Construction Assistant with Forklift operator
Blake Gebhart
Sr. Project Manager Facilities of design and construction oversight
1
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Blake’s Answer
There are many different certifications so I would be interested in which 9 certificates you are referring to. The IFMA CFM certificate covers the full gambit of topics on Facility Management but there are many other organizations that provide similar credentials. Other credentials that are frequently listed on job applications are Universal EPA, OSHA 40-Hour Hazwoper, OSHA 30-Hour General Safety, and the list goes on. The different certifications are not overly difficult to obtain if you are good at study and exam preparation.
While the certifications are a must in today's environment nothing can replace the training recieved in the field. Having started my career in the commercial construction field I prided myself in my observance of quality and code adherence. When I switched to the maintenance side of the industry I discovered that code is a minimum requirement and facility installations that meet code are not always easily maintainable. One of the many lessons I have learned is that you need a strong set of specifications that goes above code when designing or modifying facilities.
I began my career as an apprentice in the Electrical field and I can recommend this or any other skilled trade as a good beginning. Apprenticeships allow you to gain experience as you study for your certification. If you plan on going to college a bachelor's degree in technical, real estate, or financial are usually requested but multiple years of experience is also a requirement.
Good luck in you future endeavors
While the certifications are a must in today's environment nothing can replace the training recieved in the field. Having started my career in the commercial construction field I prided myself in my observance of quality and code adherence. When I switched to the maintenance side of the industry I discovered that code is a minimum requirement and facility installations that meet code are not always easily maintainable. One of the many lessons I have learned is that you need a strong set of specifications that goes above code when designing or modifying facilities.
I began my career as an apprentice in the Electrical field and I can recommend this or any other skilled trade as a good beginning. Apprenticeships allow you to gain experience as you study for your certification. If you plan on going to college a bachelor's degree in technical, real estate, or financial are usually requested but multiple years of experience is also a requirement.
Good luck in you future endeavors