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The RFMP Candidate

The designation is open to anyone in the retail facility maintenance field but is targeted to individuals with at least 3 years' experience in the following:

• Maintaining retail facilities
• Troubleshooting retail maintenance issues
• Managing repair and service vendors in terms of scope, quality, cost and timeliness of service

When you earn the RFMP designation, you will be recognized for this distinguished achievement with:

• RFMP Certificate to display in your office
• Use of the RFMP logo for your business cards and biographical information
• Recognition in the PRSM magazine, PRSM e-Newsletter (ShopTalk) and at the PRSM National Conference
  

Why Develop a Certification Program?

The Right Time

In the not-too-distant past, retail facility management was often a reactive function handled by whatever department had extra headcount or time. In today's world, budgets are shrinking, competition is increasing, and professional facilities management is needed to maneuver through these challenges. Without professional management, unplanned repairs lead to uncontrollable expenses. Professional maintenance keeps stores open and operating for customer sales, and brings budgets and expenses into alignment. So, whether it's about maintaining a safe and comfortable environment, controlling capital expenditures or reducing operating expenses, it all leads back to the bottom line.

The Right Association
Thirteen years ago, the focus of professional real estate associations didn't address the challenges facing retail facility managers. The facility maintenance groups focused on office environments and the retail associations addressed sales-related aspects like merchandising. Thus, the Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association (PRSM) was formed over a decade ago to answer the specific needs of retail facility professionals.

Since then, several other organizations have tried to create a certification program that measured job-specific knowledge and spotlighted the profession. None were successful because their focus was retail-specific but not retail facilities-specific. PRSM's only focus is retail facility maintenance, and there is no association more qualified to identify relevant skills and develop standards of excellence.

The Right Program
The challenges of today's economy have forced retail facility maintenance out from the shadow of other retail disciplines and established it as a profession in its own right. With this transition comes the responsibility to establish uniform performance standards and best practices. The RFMP designation answers this need by: 

• Recognizing competent retail facility maintenance professionals.
  The RFMP designation objectively validates knowledge when interviewing or recruiting.
  
  
• Promoting uniform standards of excellence within the industry.
  The 8 assessment categories are a made-to-order template for company training programs. 
  
  
• Promoting the retail facilities maintenance profession.
  Professional certification programs like the RFMP designation transcend company policies and create industry-wide standards.
  

The Right Relationships
In 2006, PRSM partnered with KRYTERION, Inc., experts in test development and delivery, to create a professional certification program. During the development phase, KRYTERION provided objective development standards and statistical analysis. Since program launch, they host the test management website and deliver a convenient network of testing facilities. The result of this partnership is the RFMP designation - a practical representation of PRSM's mission statement to promote professional standards within the industry.

Instead of a certificate-type training program, the RFMP emphasizes the relationship between knowledge and experience. Practical knowledge is essential, and PRSM offers exceptional education opportunities at each conference. However, retail facility management can't be summed up in a manual - it's about strategic problem-solving where no two situations or days are alike. Geographic location, lease terms, operating budgets and equipment types add complexity that can't be addressed with knowledge alone. Critical thinking skills are essential when deciding the best course of action for a particular situation. In other words, experience - the other half of the relationship -- is equally important to success.

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The Cost

If your company has a team of individuals seeking the designation, PRSM recently established a group rate schedule.

Exam retakes are available at a reduced rate; however, candidates must wait at least ninety (90) days following the last exam date before re-testing. Additionally, exam retakes are limited to one time within any 12-month period. The cost to retake the exam is $125 for PRSM members and $175 for non-PRSM members.

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Getting Started

We have developed several resources to help you get started toward your designation goal. If you're ready to be recognized for the professional work you do everyday or develop a clear training path for your team, click here to review resource materials and easy-to-understand instructions.  Wherever you are in your career, why not get started on the road to professional distinction?  Earn your RFMP designation today.

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