Becoming a Certified Floral Designer (CFD®) or Accredited Member of AIFD

Steps to Membership
Education Pathways: A More In-depth Look
PFDE Hands-on Design Evaluation: A More In-depth Look
Frequently Asked Questions

Steps to Membership:

To enroll as a candidate in AIFD's Professional Floral Design Evaluation (PFDE) program, a designer must first successfully complete one of five education-based pathways aimed at assuring the designer has a fundamental grasp of the elements and principles of the art of floral design, as well as design techniques and concepts.

STEP 1: Complete just ONE of the following PFDE Education Pathways

1. Minimum of 3+ Years in Floral Industry (Must complete Work Verification Form)
2. Attend courses at AIFD approved Education Partner
3. Certificate of Degree from AIFD approved College/University
4. State Certification Credentials
5. AIFD Online/Hands-on Workshops

STEP 2: Enroll as a PFDE Candidate ($150)
Download and print the Candidate Enrollment Form, complete and mail, email or fax to AIFD Headquarters with necessary proof of pathway completion and payment. Candidates will receive a copy of The AIFD Guide to Floral Design: Terms, Techniques, and Traditions (1st edition). This text should be studied to review for Part 1 of the PFDE: The online test.

STEP 3: Review for the PFDE (no cost)
AIFD highly suggests that regardless of the pathway chosen, you take the time to review the following documents to help prepare yourself for both the online test and hands-on evaluation portions of the PFDE:

Self-Evaluation Analysis
PFDE Online Written Test Objectives
PFDE Hands-on Evaluation Objectives

STEP 4: Participate in PFDE (Approx. $1,700 plus cost of flight and hotel)
All Candidates will be sent an Application to Participate at least three months in advance of an upcoming PFDE. This Application to Participate needs to be returned with a deposit toward the PFDE by the given deadlines.

Part One of the PFDE: an online test based on the AIFD Guide to Floral Design: Terms, Techniques, and Traditions (1st edition). The test is approximately 55 questions and you are given 45 minutes to complete it. Candidates must receive a mark of 80% or better in order to be eligible to participate in the PFDE hands-on design session. The Candidate will have two attempts to reach this required score without additional fees being required.

Part Two of the PFDE: During the design evaluation phase of the PFDE sessions, participants are required to demonstrate their design artistry by creating five (5) designs in specific categories, which will be announced to them during an initial briefing and process orientation that will take place immediately prior to the actual designing. You can find more details regarding the PFDE hands-on design evaluation here.

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Education Pathways: A More In-depth Look

Pathway One
The work experience education pathway for a floral designer to qualify for enrollment into AIFD's Professional Floral Design Evaluation system with the goal of earning a Certified Floral Designer (CFD) designation and ultimately membership in AIFD, was created for professionals who have three or more years design experience. Complete the Work Verification Form to show that you have at least three years minimum in the floral industry. This form is attached to the Candidate Enrollment Form. Your Work Verification form will be audited and AIFD committees will follow up to validate them with your past employers.

Pathway Two
Complete specific courses offered by AIFD Education Partners that meet learning objectives as established by AIFD. Contact the Education Partner you are interested in attending for more information.

Pathway Three
Complete an undergraduate degree or studies in a recognized floriculture or horticulture program offered through a higher education institution hosting an AIFD Student Chapter.

Pathway Four
Complete specific design education programs offered through a state floral association certification program that meet learning objectives established by AIFD. Contact the state floral association that you are interested in completing for more information.

Pathway Five
Complete five online courses and the required hands-on workshops offered by AIFD. Three of the five courses will be strictly online courses which must be completed before the last two courses. The last two courses will be a combination of online learning and hands-on workshops that you must appear for on-site. To learn more about each class and register, please click here.

AIFD offers five online video learning programs. It is recommended that the first three classes be taken in order:

1. Introduction to Floral Design
2. Elements and Principles of Design, and
3. Design Techniques and Applications.

After completing the first three classes, PFDE candidates may then enroll in the final two classes (Personal Flowers: To Wear or Carry and Arrangements: Everyday & Sympathy). Each of these dynamic learning experiences features a two-part learning experience:

1. The online video lesson, and
2. A hands-on, in-person, 8-hour class (sites and dates to be determined).

The cost to enroll in each video class is $79 for AIFD members and AIFD Friends and $99 for others. The hands-on workshops are 16 hours (Two four-hour sessions per day -- Day 1: Arrangements, Day 2: Personal Flowers); fee includes all flowers and materials. (Pricing will vary according to workshop.)

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PFDE Hands-on Design Evaluation: A More In-depth Look

PFDE Schedule of Activities (approximate)

Design Categories

PFDE participants will design in five categories. Specific categories will vary from year-to-year, but general categories will remain the same. AIFD's Evaluation Chairperson will announce the selected categories during the initial briefing session. There will be one design in each of the following:

Flowers & Tools

All flowers, foliage, containers and supplies needed to complete the required designs will be provided by AIFD. Each participant will receive an identical supply of flowers, foliage, containers and supplies.

Candidates must furnish their own tools and will be allowed to bring only the following tools into the design room:

• Extension Cord (must be at least 15' long)
• A Floral Knife
• A Glue Pan or Glue Gun and Appropriate Glue
• A Pruner
• A Ribbon Shear
• A Wire Cutter

There shall be no sharing or bartering of product/materials allowed.

Design Evaluation

Click here to download a sample of the score sheet used during the PFDE. Seven members of the AIFD National Evaluation Committee will evaluate each PFDE session participant's work. The high and low scores of the evaluators will be dropped before a final score is rendered on any design.

Designs shall be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Category Interpretation
• Scale (Proportion)
• Balance (Physical and Visual)
• Line (Movement and Rhythm)
• Color (Balance, Harmony and Rhythm)
• Creativity
• Unity (Harmony & Texture)
• Focal Emphasis
• Depth
• Mechanics (Professional Application)

Scoring

Each of the above Design Evaluation criteria will be scored using the following point scale:

Achieving Success

Becoming a Certified Floral Designer (CFD®)

This professional skills assessment is the cumulative total of the participant's scores. If the participant receives a cumulative evaluation mark of 16 points or better with no one design scoring less than 2.75 average then they have been successfully evaluated as a Certified Floral Designer and earned the coveted "CFD" as an addendum to his or her name.

Becoming an AIFD Member

A Candidate may gain both a CFD designation and an invitation to join AIFD from the same PFDE session, if proper scores are attained.

If the cumulative score from this successful CFD participant is 20 points or better with no one design scoring below 3.75, then this participant demonstrates an advanced floral artistry talent. This successful participant will then have their name submitted to the AIFD Membership Committee suggesting they be asked to become an AIFD member. They will be asked to provide three letters of reference from the floral industry (at least two of which shall be from AIFD members) and complete a short biographic form. He or she will be formally inducted during grand ceremonies at the next AIFD National Symposium.

Notification of PFDE Results

Those participating in a PFDE in conjunction with a Symposium will receive their results approximately one month following the PFDE.

Maintaining Your Accreditation (No fee)

To maintain the status of a CFD and AIFD, individuals must meet certain continuing education requirements every three years. Every three years for 21 years, he or she must earn 25 Continuing Education units and must submit proof of the same. The Continuing Education requirements can be easily accumulated by attending a Symposium or by attending a plethora of other floral industry design education programs. Continuing Education units can also be earned through demonstrated leadership and participation in floral industry organizations including AIFD. AIFD members must obtain 5 out of their 25 Continuing Education units in the area of service and leadership. Click here to learn more about how to earn your 25 Continuing Education units.

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Still Have Questions?

AIFD has compiled a list of the most Frequently Asked Questions regarding its Accreditation process, and you can access them here. You may also contact AIFD Headquarters at 410-752-3318 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, or e-mail aifd@assnhqtrs.com.

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Each year, immediately prior to its National Symposium, the American Institute of Floral Designers will conduct a Professional Floral Design Evaluation (PFDE) session for floral designers seeking to gain membership into the Institute and to earn their "Certified Floral Designer (CFD)" status.

American Institute of Floral Designers
720 Light Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | Tel: (410) 752-3318
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