Originally posted by elsa:
...For sometime now I have been interested in becoming a CPF-I know you have to test. But that is all I know. Can you all enlighten me?
Mostly I want to know what the advantages are other than a title. Since I am just an employee is it really worth it? How difficult is this test and how do you study for it?...
Elsa:
As you've probably noticed by the way your questions have been whisked to the floor by indirectly-related commentary, certification is a hot-button issue with some framers, both pro & con.
We've been through all of this before. Check the archives for some good dialog & debate.
Anyone actively framing is eligible to take the CPF exam, but it's easier & less costly if you are a PPFA member or employed by one.
Get the "Study Guide" and study everything recommended. You'll have to buy or borrow the books. If you are a PPFA member, several local chapters have a free lending library. If not, PPFA's Bookstore has all of the reference materials.
The exam is not an easy one. It's a three hour multiple choice exam with a failure rate of about 40%, for first-time candidates. Those who come back for another try, after realizing the value of studying, do much better.
Do not assume that years of framing experience would help you pass the CPF exam. It is heavy in the areas of preservation, materials & methods. Veteran framers -- especially those who are self-taught or mentored by an old-school framer -- generally do not have exposure to much of the knowledge required to pass the exam. New information doesn't come from the back room; it comes via industry-wide sources such as books and educational classes.
If all of the veteran framers who took the CPF exam would take PPFA's advice seriously, and study diligently, the success rate for first-time candidates would be much better.
Whether becoming a CPF is "worth it" is up to you. If you're interested in consumer recognition, certifications don't count for much. I think that's because most consumers think of framing as four pieces of wood and a wall hook; they don't realize the value of technology & expertise in the presentation & preservation of their art & objects.
If you are interested in becoming a better framer, there is no better way to achieve that purpose than to study for the CPF & MCPF exams. The Study Guides actually tell you where all of the best information may be found -- you don't have to read every book under the sun, and still wonder if you've missed something.
The advantage of all certification programs is that they provide a detailed roadmap to learning the best about framing. And it's not a short trip to Knowledgeville. On the contrary, the more we learn, the more we realize we don't know.
To put it another way, getting answers to our questions only brings up more questions. There's no end to the learning process, which is why the CPF Recertification & MCPF Maintenance requirements exist.
The idea of keeping your framing knowledge and credentials secret seems, as Ron said, absurd. Knowledge is useful. Those who resent or feel intimidated by the knowledge of others only wallow in their ignorance. What's good about that?
Philosophically speaking, I say we should achieve all we can, and associate with people who acknowledge and respect our achievements.