E
El Framo
Guest
(A) How hard is it?
and
(B) Which of the PPFA recommended books should I invest in?
and
(B) Which of the PPFA recommended books should I invest in?
Just took it a couple weeks ago, and it was HARD!! I purchased all the books recommended by the PPFA, and studied them for the 3-4 weeks leading up to the exam. A lot of the information did seem to overlap, and in some cases contradict, but they are all excellent sources of information. I would definitely suggest getting them all, even just to have for reference.
Good luck!
Good luck!
(A) It has a failure rate of about 40% for first-time exam takers. Those who take it a second or third time (after actually studying what was recommended all along) do much better.
It's an easy exam if you study feverishly for about a year, and learn everything in the Study Guide's references.
But if you're a framer with years of experience, who thinks he already knows enough to pass the test, then it will be probably be a very hard exam. That's because most veteran framers who have not studied don't know enough about what the exam covers.
(B) You should invest in all of the books, and learn their contents cover-to-cover before taking the exam. Then keep the books to start your own reference library.
There are no shortcuts for earning the CPF designation.
If you enjoy the learning process, then earning your CPF will be just the beginning of your framing education. There's the recertification course requirement every four years, also the GCF exam, and now the MCPF exam.
Jerry Ervin
PFG, Picture Framing God
Hey El, The exam will be in Concord in August, it will be at a hotel close to Concord Mills. Just about an hour and maybe a half drive from you. I think I will be there. Maybe they can give us a verbal test. Being that we are from North Carolina.
Jerry
Jerry
E
El Framo
Guest
I am now frightened. I was planning on taking the test in Concord, but I think I'll study up and wait until next time.
I know I've used this analogy before, so forgive me if you remember that.
The CPF exam is like a written driving test. I've been driving for 36 years. I'm a very good driver. But I'm not certain I could pass the written test without reviewing the manual. My daughter took the written test a week ago, fresh out of driver's ed (and with no actual driving experience) and did just fine.
Study the materials. The test is too expensive and demanding to rely on experience alone to pass it.
The CPF exam is like a written driving test. I've been driving for 36 years. I'm a very good driver. But I'm not certain I could pass the written test without reviewing the manual. My daughter took the written test a week ago, fresh out of driver's ed (and with no actual driving experience) and did just fine.
Study the materials. The test is too expensive and demanding to rely on experience alone to pass it.
Don't worry about missing this years local test... you can always take the test at your local Sylvan test site.
Bob Shirk MCPF
CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
1. Get the CPF study guide.
2. Get all of the recomended books.
3. Do NOT study all of the books cover to cover. The CPF study guide recomends certain sections and chapters of the various books. Some information in some books is no longer considered state of the art(no pun intended).
4. When you take the test read the questions, read it all, make sure you understand what is being asked. If the answers are multiple choice read all of the answers. Most people who have studied and fail a test do so because they do not read the entire question.
If you have time to read the study material you can pass the test.
Study hard. Good luck....
2. Get all of the recomended books.
3. Do NOT study all of the books cover to cover. The CPF study guide recomends certain sections and chapters of the various books. Some information in some books is no longer considered state of the art(no pun intended).
4. When you take the test read the questions, read it all, make sure you understand what is being asked. If the answers are multiple choice read all of the answers. Most people who have studied and fail a test do so because they do not read the entire question.
If you have time to read the study material you can pass the test.
Study hard. Good luck....