Bring FM Fundamentals to Life with Virtual Instructor-Led Training
Looking for a more engaging way to build your facility management knowledge? The Essentials of Facility Management® + Virtual Instructor-Led Courses bring foundational FM concepts to life through live instruction, real-world discussion, and interaction with peers.
Whether you’re new to facility management or you already work closely with facility teams, these live virtual sessions provide an opportunity to deepen your understanding, ask questions, and connect what you’re learning to the profession.
More Than an FM Course—A Shared Foundation
1. Train in 7 core competencies of FM
These online, self-paced courses will build your knowledge in 7 of the core competencies that comprise the CFM exam subject matter.
IFMA's Real Estate Course
Gain a comprehensive understanding of real estate principles and practices and their pivotal role in achieving your core business strategy. This program empowers participants to:
- Develop and execute a robust real estate strategy that aligns seamlessly with your core business objectives, encompassing crucial aspects such as property assessment, acquisition, disposal, and efficient space management.
- Master project management principles essential for overseeing new construction ventures and other significant projects with utmost efficiency and success.
IFMA's Sustainability Course
After completing this course, participants will be able to discuss the following concepts as they relate to sustainability and FM:
- Energy management
- Water management
- Materials and consumable management
- Waste management
- Workplace and site management
IFMA's Facility Information Management & Technology Management Course
- Learn how to effectively utilize modern tools and techniques to benefit both workplaces and their occupants.
- Gain the knowledge to securely and efficiently collect data, enabling informed decision-making that aligns with core business objectives.
- Conduct thorough assessments of technology needs and stay ahead by anticipating the impact of emerging technologies.
- Understand the thought process behind determining whether to retain, update, enhance, or replace technology.
IFMA's Communications Course
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Develop the skills to be an effective liaison between external and internal stakeholders.
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Learn how to:
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Leverage modern tools and techniques for today’s workplaces and occupants.
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Create and deliver the right message for the intended result.
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Develop an FM communication plan.
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Identify and share relevant information to the appropriate audience.
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IFMA's Risk Management Course
- Prepare to support your organization’s risk management strategies for building a resilience and avoiding business interruptions.
- Understand the vulnerabilities of an organization’s structures and infrastructure and balance the critical nature of the demand organization’s mission and functions against the possible occurrence and impact of a risk event.
- Create and deliver the right message for the intended result.
- Develop an FM communication plan.
- Identify and share relevant information to the appropriate audience.
IFMA's Occupancy & Human Factors Course
Enhance your capacity to enhance organizational and individual occupant performance, while guiding the FM team in establishing and executing the essential practices for achieving success.
Participants will gain the ability to:
- Foster an atmosphere where motivation, productivity, and retention thrive.
- Harmonize safety and security with innovation.
- Master the art of negotiating service level agreements.
IFMA's Performance & Quality Course
Discover and apply the essence of capturing fitness for its intended purpose, embracing a mindset of continuous improvement, and satisfying the needs of stakeholders.
Participants will gain the ability to:
- Identify and meet the requirements and expectations of stakeholders for the facility and its related services.
- Comprehend and articulate the components of a comprehensive quality management system for FM.
- Evaluate the performance of the FM organization to drive ongoing enhancements.
Why 7 courses? This program requires you to have a foundation of FM knowledge. That foundation includes knowledge of the 4 most critical competencies:
Finance & Business
Project Management
Operations & Maintenance
Leadership & Strategy
3. Learn how to successfully approach exam questions
Enrollment in the CFM Knowledge Workshop entitles you to:
- One (1) CFM Exam Prep Workshop (two virtual, instructor-led sessions)
- Review the overall methodology of the CFM exam and practice applying critical thinking skills to your FM knowledge, using sample questions in a simulated competency-based exam.
- After enrolling in the CFM Knowledge Workshop, our Training Support Team will sign you up for the CFM Exam Prep Workshop date of your choosing.
- Review the overall methodology of the CFM exam and practice applying critical thinking skills to your FM knowledge, using sample questions in a simulated competency-based exam.
- One (1) CFM Practice Exam
- See sample questions
- Get the experience of taking a computer-based exam.
CFM Exam Prep Workshop Schedule: 2 Sessions
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CFM Exam Prep Workshop11 am to 1 pm CT-USMeets on these dates in 2025:2/11, 2/13
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CFM Exam Prep Workshop
6 pm to 8 pm CT-USMeets on these dates in 2025:1/7, 1/9 and 3/11, 3/13
More Than an FM Course—A Shared Experience
2. Take 27 hours of live training (spread over 6 months)
All 7 of the core competency courses listed above have corresponding 90-minute weekly workshops: Live Zoom sessions to review coursework and discuss questions with a qualified IFMA instructor and your peers.
See the August 2024 - January 2025 workshop schedule:
Over five weeks, participants join twice-weekly, 90-minute virtual sessions led by an IFMA Qualified Instructor.
The sessions align with the 10 modules in Essentials of FM and are designed to help learners move from understanding FM concepts to applying them in real-world situations. The result is a stronger shared understanding of the profession and a better ability to communicate, collaborate, and contribute.
Your Essentials of FM + Virtual Schedule
2. Take 27 hours of live training (spread over 6 months)
All 7 of the core competency courses listed above have corresponding 90-minute weekly workshops: Live Zoom sessions to review coursework and discuss questions with a qualified IFMA instructor and your peers.
See the August 2024 - January 2025 workshop schedule:
October-November 2026
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 PM ET
90-minute sessions
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Week 113 October 202615 October 2026
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Week 220 October 202622 October 2026
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Week 3
27 October 2026
29 October 2026
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Week 43 November 20265 November 2026
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Week 5
10 November 2026
12 November 2026
2. Take 27 hours of live training (spread over 6 months)
All 7 of the core competency courses listed above have corresponding 90-minute weekly workshops: Live Zoom sessions to review coursework and discuss questions with a qualified IFMA instructor and your peers.
See the August 2024 - January 2025 workshop schedule:
January-February 2027
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 PM ET
90-minute sessions
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Week 112 January 202714 January 2027
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Week 219 January 202721 January 2027
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Week 3
26 January 2027
28 January 2027
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Week 42 February 20274 February 2027
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Week 5
9 February 2027
11 February 2027
Already enrolled in Essentials of FM?
This program is available as an add-on, giving you the opportunity to enhance your learning experience.
Not an IFMA member yet?
No problem. Add an IFMA membership to your cart and save!
Frequently asked questions
Can I enroll if I've already purchased a core competency course?
Absolutely. Please email corporateconnections@ifma.org so our Training Support Team can enroll you into the course and accommodate for your previous purchase.
What language is the CFM Knowledge Workshop offered in?
The online, self-paced courses and the live instructor-led classes are all in English.
How do I know I'm ready to take the CFM Knowledge Workshop?
Those who sign up for the CFM Knowledge Workshop should have a reasonable knowledge of the foundational competencies of FM as in the Facility Management Professional ™ (FMP®) credential.
The CFM exam eligibility requirements are separate and specific to the CFM exam application:
- 3 or more years of FM experience with a bachelors or masters degree in FM
- 5 or more years with any education
If it's going to be a few years before you're eligible to take the CFM exam, consider solidifying your foundation of FM knowledge with the FMP credential while you wait to become eligible to take the exam.
Our Credentials team is happy to assist your questions regarding CFM exam eligibility: Email credentials@ifma.org
How do I know I'm ready to take the CFM exam?
Taking the CFM Knowledge Workshop is a reliable and comprehensive preparation tool.
All CFM exam applicants must meet eligibility requirements to take the CFM exam:
- 3 or more years of FM experience with a bachelors or masters degree in FM
- 5 or more years with any education
Learn more about the exam at ifma.org.
Questions about your eligibility? Email our Credentials team at credentials@ifma.org.
Does this bundle include my CFM exam application fee?
No, it does not. Your CFM exam application fee is separate from this bundle of workshops.
Learn more about the fee and how to apply →

