First candidates for GFOA certification.

• Author: Bastianelli, Douglas
• Position: Government Finance Officer Assn

In the spring of 1997, the Government Finance Officers Association launched its Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) program by offering the first examination in the program's five-examination cycle. A total of 223 candidates pursuing continued growth in the profession sat for the Governmental Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting examination, which was offered on April 25 in seven cities across the country and on May 30, immediately preceding the GFOA's annual conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The profile of the first group of candidates attests to the truly national scope of this unique program. Finance professionals from every state requested information about the program after it was first announced to the membership in mid-January. Applications for the program came from 39 states and one territory, with the greatest participation occurring in New England and California.

The 175 multiple-choice question examination, a rigorous test of knowledge, challenged the candidates in a wide variety of topics in accounting, auditing and financial reporting. The exam was designed by a dedicated group of members and GFOA staff. A job analysis was conducted with a group of practicing government finance officers in order to define the examination blueprint - the content areas and weighting of those areas. Additional members and staff reviewed the examination for accuracy and clarity. Finally, a committee reviewed the raw scores for any statistical or other performance flaws in order to ensure that the final outcome was fair and consistent.

One hundred fifty-one candidates successfully met the challenge of the first certification examination. Those who were not successful are still very much a part of the certification program and can choose to retake the examination in accounting, auditing, and financial reporting in the near future or at a later date, after taking the examination in one more of the other subject areas. An examination in accounting, auditing, and financial reporting will be offered at least once per year as part of the CPFO testing cycle.

An important benefit of the GFOA's certification program is the self-study and professional growth component. For each examination, a core list of references is assembled that includes both GFOA and non-GFOA publications and resources. Not only can these resources assist in providing valuable study materials to help a member pass the examination, they also provide an excellent overall...