The Certified Gate Automation Designer (CGAD) credential is the most comprehensive gate designer certification available to our industry. This certification recognizes those in the industry who have an exceptional level of expertise in designing and layout of automated gate systems.
• April 30, 2024 - Blaine, WA
• February 25, 2025 - Salt Lake City, UT
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Sign UpA. Candidates are not required to have installation experience for the CGAD program. If you have one year of experience in the automated gate systems industry at any position, you are eligible for the CGAD program. If you do not have one year of experience, you may also attend the American Fence Association’s Gate Automation Designer School and the experience requirement will be waived.
Q. What kind of continuing education credits are valid for my CGAD recertification?A. Any courses that relate to automated gates or access control topics are eligible.
CGAD eligibility requires a minimum of one year of gate automation experience OR have attended AFA’s Gate Automation Designer School. You may still sit for the exam before you have one year of experience; if you pass the exam, your certification will be held until the experience requirement is met.
Study materials are sent electronically following application approval.
The CGAD exam includes 100 questions and must be completed in two hours. It is not an open book test. All test questions are developed directly from the program study materials; no other resources are used. All ACI exams are in-person only.
For more information on the testing process, please click here.
Once you have passed the exam and received your official notification that you have earned your CGAD designation, you are entitled to advertise yourself as a Certified Gate Automation Designer. 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.
The Certified Gate Automation Designer designation is valid for three years from issuance of the credential.
Renewal Requirements
Earn 12 hours of gate automation/access control-focused 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:
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 CGAD program and retake the certification exam to reactivate your CGAD credential. Once certification is earned again, your certification issue date will change accordingly.
A. Candidates are not required to have installation experience for the CGAD program. If you have one year of experience in the automated gate systems industry at any position, you are eligible for the CGAD program. If you do not have one year of experience, you may also attend the American Fence Association’s Gate Automation Designer School and the experience requirement will be waived.
Q. What kind of continuing education credits are valid for my CGAD recertification?A. Any courses that relate to automated gates or access control topics are eligible.
