Approved Education Provider Program Guide

The purpose of the AFA Approved Provider Education Program is to recognize Industry Partners (AFA members who provide products, services or training for the fencing industry) who conduct continuing education and training on topics related to fence (installation, materials, standards, etc.), gate operators/access control (installation, design, standards, etc.), or business (sales, leadership, operations, efficiencies, etc.). Through the AFA Approved Provider Education Program, Industry Partners gain an additional level of acknowledgment for their education and training offerings while providing practitioners opportunities to earn continuing education for certification renewal.

AFA Approved Providers are expected to:

• Provide course descriptions and clearly stated, measurable learning objectives.
• Provide qualified, professional, and knowledgeable course instructors.
• Provide training that meets or exceeds current federal, state, and local industry standards.
• Offer continuing education units (CEUs) to course participants.
• Provide informative and professional marketing materials, as well as course handouts.
• Provide professional logistics (e.g., course times communicated 2-3 months in advance).

AFA Approved Providers will receive a number of benefits. AFA Approved Providers will:

• Be recognized by fencing professionals and other Industry Providers as having quality fencing and access control education courses.
• Be permitted to use the Approved Provider program logo and statement for marketing materials, in the form and manner from time to time approved by AFA, solely to advertise that it is an AFA-approved provider.
• Be recognized on the AFA website, used by more than 1,400 member companies worldwide.

Benefits to practitioners include:

• One central location for multiple continuing education opportunities, making it easy to find hours for recertification applications.
• A reduced reporting burden for renewal.

AFA encourages Industry Partners, who are members of AFA, to apply to be recognized as an AFA Approved Provider if they provide educational training on topics related to fence (installation, materials, standards, etc.), gate operators/access control (installation, design, standards, etc.), or business (sales, leadership, operations, efficiencies, etc.).

Application Submission

To apply for approval, applicants should:

1. Read the AFA Approved Provider Education Program Guide.
2. Complete the application in its entirety, including all supporting documentation.
3. Submit signed license agreement.
4. Submit all applicable fees.

Applications and payment may be submitted online.

Apply Online

Review Process

Applications and supporting documentation are reviewed by AFA staff and will not be shared with any outside party. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Application Destination

Upon approval, applicants will receive a confirmation letter and a link for submitting eligible courses. Declined applications will be eligible for a refund equal to the amount of the submitted licensing and program tier fees minus a $50 application processing fee. 

AFA will evaluate all incoming applications on the Approved Education Provider Program requirements. These include:

• Provide course descriptions and clearly stated, measurable learning objectives.
• Provide qualified, professional and knowledgeable course instructors.
• Provide training that meets or exceeds current federal, state and local industry standards.
• Offer continuing education units (CEUs) to course participants.
• Provide informative and professional marketing materials, as well as course handouts.
• Provide professional logistics (e.g., course times communicated 2-3 months in advance).

Applications that do not meet the above criteria will be denied.

Commitment to Confidentiality

Confidential information received through the AFA Approved Provider Education Program will handled in accordance with AFA’s Privacy Policy.

You can be assured that any corporate data provided in confidence to AFA will be kept confidential.

AFA Approved Providers will provide a list of verified attendees to AFA that will include:

• Attendee contact information (name, company, email, phone).
• Name of course completed.
• CEUs earned.

Submission of a verified attendance list to AFA from the Approved Education Provider counts as proof of completion, and no other documentation from practitioners is needed for approved courses.

AFA Approved Providers are required to pay an annual licensing fee of $395 (waived for the first year in the program). Renewal of the annual license is due each year. The program runs on a 12-month anniversary basis (e.g., if you apply on April 15, 2024, you will be a designated Approved Provider until April 15, 2025).

Once licensed, Approved Providers may apply for approval of additional training courses.

AFA requires all applicants to submit supporting documentation that describes the proposed educational offering(s). The following documentation is required:

1. Course dates and times.
2. Course description.
3. Instructor Qualifications.
4. Learning objectives/evaluation.
5. Course format.
6. Credits earned.
7. Certificate (if applicable.)

Course Description

Course descriptions should be directed toward the intended audience and clearly state the benefits of attending.

Instructor Qualifications

AFA reviews instructor qualifications when considering applications. All instructors should be qualified and knowledgeable in the fencing and access control and/or business industries, as well as the current federal, state, and local industry standards.

Learning Objectives

Proposed course(s) should have clear, measurable learning objectives that are advertised to not only AFA, but to attendees.

Course Format

Eligible course formats include:

• Live courses (face-to-face, live webinars, instructor-led online delivery).
• College or university courses that meet course requirements.
• Self-study (non-live, self-paced programs – e.g., LMS courses, etc.).
  • Self-study programs must include an interactive component such as quizzes, post-tests, or other learning assessment exercises.

The following are not eligible to earn continuing education credits:

• Exhibit hall hours.
• Networking receptions.
• Breaks between sessions/courses.
• General software courses that are not related to the industry (e.g., Microsoft Excel training, etc.).

Certificate

Approved Providers are encouraged to provide course attendees with certificates or statements verifying attendance. The following information should be included: attendee name, course title, course completion date, and number of CEUs.

The certificate or other documentation should reflect that the course has been approved for continuing education by AFA.

Determination of continuing education credit eligibility does not imply AFA’s endorsement or assessment of education quality.

AFA reviews the number of proposed CEUs for each training course to determine the appropriate Approved Provider Tier. One hour of education is equal to 1 CEU. This does not include overlapping lectures, breaks, lunches, dinners, evaluation time, etc.

Training that includes a fractional part of an hour less than 45 minutes will be awarded in increments of 15 minutes (e.g. 3.5 hours of training is awarded 3.5 CEUs).

CEUs are evaluated based on the number of hours awarded to participants, no matter the number of participants or the frequency of the course. (e.g. An applicant offering a 6-hour course to 60 people, 4 times per year should apply for 6 CEUs).

All continuing education credits are valid for AFA certification renewal applications for a period of three years following the earned date.

Each approved course is valid for the program year. Approved status expires upon the passing of the program year (e.g., if you apply on April 15, 2023, you will be a designated Approved Provider until April 15, 2024). Organizations may renew their course approval by submitting a new application with appropriate fees.

Every AFA Approved Provider will receive an AFA Approved Education Provider logo and statement to be used on marketing materials for approved training courses. Logo and program statement usage is optional but encouraged.

AFA will monitor Approved Providers on an ongoing basis to ensure course value and effectiveness.

All Approved Providers must agree to submit to a possible audit of course materials and other program information.