Certified Fence Contractor

Eligibility Requirements

CFC eligibility requires one of the following combinations of education and fence industry experience: 

• 3 years of experience with a 4 year Bachelor’s degree* 
• 4 years of experience with an Associate’s degree* 
• 5 years of experience with a high school diploma or GED* 
• 10 years of experience with none of the above 

*If you have fewer than ten years of experience in the fence industry, regardless of education level completed, you must attend the American Fence Association’s Fence Contractor Business School.

You must also provide three letters of recommendation that attest to your qualifications, personal integrity, and general reputation for professionalism. The letters may be written by individuals within or outside the fence industry, but cannot be immediate family members, unless the applicant is an employee in a family business, in which case, only one letter from a family member is permitted. Coworkers, generally, are not eligible to submit a letter of recommendation. However, letters from customers are eligible. 

Topics Covered

• Marketing, Advertising, and Sales 
• Estimating and Bidding 
• Insurance and Legal Issues 
• Accounting and Corporate Structure 
• OSHA Compliance and Safety Management 
• UL 325 and ASTM F2200 

Study materials are sent electronically following application approval.

Testing

There are two phases to CFC testing – two pre-qualifying fence installation exams and six business exams.

There are two pre-qualifying exams that cover core fence installation topics and specific fence disciplines. These two exams cover information that you will generally know as an active fence contractor. You must take these two pre-qualifying exams before sitting for your business exams. Once your application is approved, you will receive an emailed link to the two pre-qualifying exams, which you may take at any time.

The six business exams are only offered in-person at ACI testing events. Each exam corresponds to one of the sections of the study guide and each exam is approximately 50 questions. You will have four hours to take all six exams. It is not an open-book test. All test questions are developed directly from the program study materials; no other resources are used.

If you do not pass one or more of the business exams, you will only need to retake those specific exams you did not pass.

For more information on the testing process, please click here.

Once you have submitted all application materials, passed the exams and received your official notification that you have earned your CFC designation, you are entitled to advertise yourself as a Certified Fence Contractor. Once certified, you may use the designation, its acronym and its logo on your business cards, sales proposals, and other materials normally used in the sales and marketing process.

The designation belongs to you, and it is not owned by your business or employer. Should you leave your current company, your certification will go with you. If you do change jobs or otherwise change your contact information, please contact ACI to update your records.

Recertification

The Certified Fence Contractor designation is valid for three years from issuance of the credential.

Renewal Requirements

Earn 15 hours of fence and/or business-related continuing education in the three year period prior to renewal 

 Continuing education will be reported as part of the renewal application and must include the following: 

• Date(s) of session 
• Session title 
• Instructor name 
• Name of organization providing training 
• Proof of attendance with hours earned included (payment receipt not accepted; must be certificate of attendance/participation or, if unavailable, letter from course instructor confirming applicant’s attendance and hours earned) 

Criteria for continuing education programming is subject to change per the AFA Credentialing Committee. 

If the renewal requirements are not met, you must reapply for the CFC program and retake the certification exam to reactivate your CFC credential.  Once certification is earned again, your certification issue date will change accordingly. 

FAQs