Frequently Asked Questions
How did INIFAC get started? What is the purpose of INIFAC? How do I become a Certified Master Facilitator? What are the costs? How do the Certified Master Facilitator and Provisional Certified Master Facilitator designations
differ from the Certified Professional Facilitator designation sponsored by the IAF? What is INIFAC's relationship with the IAF? Who does the assessing? Is there compensation for assessing? How do I become an assessor?
How did INIFAC get started?
- The International Institute for Facilitation (INIFAC) was created in 2003 when five facilitators came together to develop a certification program at the masters level that would achieve several objectives:
- Define a set of facilitator competencies and sub-competencies, with input from facilitators and clients, that define the knowledge and skills needed to achieve outstanding facilitated sessions.
- Establish the highest degree of rigor and consistency available by implementing defined scoring guidelines for each competency and sub-competency.
- Promote the highest standard available for facilitator quality by requiring an 80% or higher assessment score in each competency.
- Following a review of existing competency models, the initiating team developed a draft of competencies and sub-competencies specifically designed to define the knowledge and skills needed to achieve outstanding facilitated sessions.
- To gain additional input on competencies, the initiating team commissioned a research project that included a survey of over 450 facilitators and clients. The survey requested participants to 1) respond to the definition of an outstanding facilitated session, 2) identify the facilitator skills needed to achieve an outstanding facilitated session, and 3) rate the importance of 57 skills in achieving an outstanding facilitated session.
- Using the input gathered, the initiating team redrafted the competencies by dropping some, adding others and modifying many. The result is the "Master Facilitator Competencies" with six competencies and 30 sub-competencies.
- From this initial start, four of the five members of the initiating team went on to become Board members for the International Institute for Facilitation.
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What is the purpose of INIFAC?
- The mission of the International Institute for Facilitation is to maintain and promote a program of certification for facilitators at the masters level.
- To achieve this mission, INIFAC is undertaking the following initiatives:
- Introduce the Certified Master Facilitator and Provisional Master Facilitator designations.
- Introduce the Video Assessment program.
- Launch the INIFAC website.
- Build the assessor team.
- Implement certification for training programs that teach the Master Facilitator Competencies.
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How do I become a Certified Master Facilitator?
- To become a Certified Master Facilitator requires that you submit four items for review and assessment.
- You must document a minimum of 30 facilitated sessions over the three-year period prior to application. (Certified Professional Facilitators received credit for 15 sessions.)
- You must submit reference letters from a minimum of five clients.
- You must provide a written submission that responds to questions about your knowledge and experience across each of the 30 sub-competencies that make up the Master Facilitator Competencies.
- You must submit a written facilitator guide and a videotape of you facilitating a session based on a topic and specific participant role plays provided by INIFAC.
- Two INIFAC-certified assessors will assess and review your certification package. See the details under Certification for more information about how to become a Certified Master Facilitator.
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What are the costs?
- The fee for becoming a Certified Master Facilitator or a Provisional Associate Master Facilitator is $900.
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How do the Certified Master Facilitator and Provisional Certified Master Facilitator designations differ from the Certified Professional Facilitator designation sponsored by the IAF?
- The Certified Professional Facilitator designation sponsored by the IAF was created to assess for and provide assurance of "a broad
spectrum of skills and knowledge required to successfully facilitate a variety of basic sessions and display the basic set of skills,
knowledge, and behaviors that facilitators must have in order to be successful facilitating in a wide variety of environments." (from the IAF Certification Description)
- The Certified Master Facilitator designation has been created by INIFAC to provide a rigorous process for assessing mastery of both basic and advanced skills, and to ensure a depth of knowledge and facilitation experience.
- We have highlighted below some specific similarities and differences among the programs.
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Certified Master Facilitator |
Provisional Master Facilitator |
Certified Professional Facilitator |
D
E
P
T
H |
Written Submission |
Respond to 30 specific questions about knowledge and experiences related to the sub-competencies |
Respond to 30 specific questions about knowledge and experiences related to the sub-competencies |
Respond to 7 questions and describe 1 session |
Experience |
30 sessions(CPFs receive a 15 session credit) |
30 sessions(CPFs receive a 10 session credit) |
7 sessions |
R
I
G
O
R |
Scoring of sub-competencies |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Numeric Scoring Guidelines |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
M
A
S
T
E
R
Y |
Required Score for Certification |
80% or higher in each of the 6 Competencies |
80% or higher in 5 of the 6 Competencies with at least a 60% rating in the sixth competency |
Evidence of the competency is sufficient for passing |
P
R
O
C
E
S
S |
Application |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Client Feedback |
5 letters |
5 letters |
7 letters |
Demonstration of Skills |
Submit videotape and facilitation guide of a simulated facilitated session using specific parameters and role plays |
Submit videotape and facilitation guide of a simulated facilitated session using specific parameters and role plays |
Travel to a certification event and facilitate a "live" simulated facilitated session |
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What is INIFAC's relationship with the IAF?
- Following the initial design of the certification, the initiating team of facilitators worked closely with IAF leaders to
ensure open and regular communication concerning the direction of the Master Facilitator Certification program.
- In support of a continued, ongoing relationship with the IAF, the Board of INIFAC has designated one at-large Board position
that the IAF can appoint to serve as a liaison between the two organizations.
- The IAF has formed a relationship with INIFAC to pilot this certification program in order to review its merits as a possible compliment to the existing CPF program.
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Who does the assessing?
- A facilitator who has achieved the Certified Master Facilitator designation performs the initial assessment of each candidate's
certification package. Following the initial assessment, a reviewer, who must be a Certified Master Facilitator, reviews the initial
assessment, confers with the assessor on any significant scoring differences, and finalizes the scoring and rating.
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Is there compensation for assessing?
- The assessor role requires four to eight hours to perform an assessment. An assessor receives $350 per assessment.
- The reviewer role requires two to three hours to perform a review. A reviewer receives $150 per review.
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How do I become an assessor?
- An assessor candidate must first become a Certified Master Facilitator. Once you have achieved this designation, contact the INIFAC
office and express in writing your intention and rationale for becoming an assessor. A review panel will meet to review your application, and
determine if further information is needed, and decide if your application will be accepted and you will receive assessor training.
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