CMFI INTRODUCTION QUALIFICATIONS EXAM ELIGIBILITY APPLICATION PROCEDURES EXAMINATION
Fee's
The fee for filing the application and any re-application is $95.00, payable at the time of filing. The fee for taking the CMFI Examination is $350.00. If a retest is required, the fee shall be waived for a period of one (1) year or to the next Annual Training Seminar, whichever is greater.
The fee for the five (5) year recertification is $95.00, payable at the time of filing. If CMFI member submits required paperwork and fee during their suspension period, an additional late fee ($100.00) must be paid to cover the cost of certified letter and administration costs. All fees are non-refundable and must be received in advance or at the time of the item to which they relate. The applicant will be responsible for all bank fees associated with an insufficient check. All fees are payable in US funds.
Mandatory 5 Year Re-Certification (Contact HQ for Application)
CMFI Certification is awarded for a period of five (5) years, renewable on July 31st of the Certification Year. A CMFI Recertification Application shall be obtained from IAMI Headquarters, the IAMI website, or at the Annual Training Conference. Failure to recertify will result in the CMFI being required to retake and pass the CMFI Examination and pay appropriate testing fees.
Recertification shall require the CMFI to demonstrate that they have met the following requirements:
They are an IAMI member in good standing.
They are still employed in the marine industry or investigate marine fires.
They are a CMI in good standing
They have attended at least one (1) IAMI annual training seminar.
At least seventy (70) points must come from attending training as a student
- IAMI annual training seminar counts as twenty-four (24) points
- Other IAMI training, regional/virtual training counts as one (1) point equals one (1) hour.
- Outside or agency/company/marine/insurance/or surveying-related training counts as one (1) point equals one (1) hour.
Must provide a training certificate with hours listed.
The other thirty (30) points may come from a combination of the following:
Instructing IAMI training, to include annual training seminar, regional training seminar, IAMI virtual training course, or instructing an IAMI Core CMFI training program for an outside organization, (must be approved by the IAMI Executive Committee), one (1) hour equals two (2) points, (Maximum of fifteen (15) points.)
Other instruction in marine training, one (1) hour equals one (1) point, (Maximum of fifteen (15) points.), (must provide proof of instruction, flyer, certificate, or a request).
Marine fire investigations (must provide a report cover sheet or job request), one (1) point per occurrence, maximum of fifteen (15) points.
Providing testimony to include: depositions, pre-trial hearings, and court testimony regarding a marine fire-related case (must provide a summary of the case, report cover sheet, or job request, and a copy of a subpoena). Five (5) per occasion, maximum of fifteen (15) points.
Providing an original article, that is published in the IAMI magazine and/or outside publications, five (5) points per article maximum of fifteen (15) points.
Updating or providing a new chapter to the CMFI Manual, five (5) points maximum of fifteen (15) points.
Updating or providing a new IAMI PowerPoint Presentation, five (5) points per occasion, maximum of 15 points.
***HOURS ACCUMULATED FOR CMI TRAINING HOURS WILL DUPLICATE FOR CMFI TRAINING HOURS***
Revocation/Suspension of Certification
Failure to maintain current membership will immediately suspend a CMFI‟s status until past dues are paid in full. A lapse of membership over two years will require reapplication to the CMFI Program as stated previously under Section III.
The revocation/suspension of a certification is a very serious matter not only to the CMI, but also to IAMI, its members, and its reputation. Investigations related to revocation and suspension issues shall be conducted by the CMI Committee and shall be of a private and confidential nature.
Although it may not be required, the investigation process shall be conducted with the principles of due process in mind. Witnesses may be interviewed, documents requested, and a hearing conducted. The CMFI affected shall have the right to present testimonial and documentary evidence on their own behalf. The CMFI is under a duty to cooperate in the process, and failure to do so shall be immediate grounds for revocation.
The Committee will attempt to complete its investigation in as timely a manner as permitted by the facts and circumstances of the investigation. The investigation process may be conducted in person, by telephone, email, letters, fax, or any combination of them. The findings and recommendations of the CMI Committee shall be submitted in a report within thirty (30) days after the completion of the investigation to the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors may accept or reject, in whole or in part, the findings and recommendations of the Committee or request further investigation or clarification.
The Board of Directors shall notify the CMFI by first-class mail within thirty (30) days of its receipt of the Committee’s report the status of their certification.
The grounds for revocation or suspension include, but are not limited to: the attempt to or commission of fraud or dishonesty; improper conduct or conduct injurious to IAMI; lewd or lascivious conduct; conviction of any crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or misrepresentation; material misrepresentation committed in the application process; and, defaming or otherwise injuring the reputation of another IAMI member, except as may be permitted by law such as being an adversarial expert witness and being asked to comment on the work of another member.
Revocation shall also result in immediate expulsion as a member of IAMI. A member who has had their certification revoked shall be ineligible for certification again.
Suspension of a certification may include a requirement that the CMI take curative measures for the complained conduct, such as taking classes in ethics, making restitution, issuing an apology, seeking rehabilitative assistance, and the like.
Complying with these measures within the stated time period will be required before the suspension is lifted and the certification re-instated.
The Appeal Process
In the event a member thinks their CMFI Certification has been improperly revoked or suspended, they must specify in writing their reasons and supporting evidence within sixty days of notification of the final resolution of the certification review process. If a telephonic or in-person hearing is requested, it should be specified in the writing. The writing must be sent to IAMI Headquarters by first-class mail with return receipt requested.
The Board of Directors or its designee(s) shall oversee the appeals process. If requested, the appeal may include a telephonic or in-person hearing that will be conducted in private. If no hearing is requested, the member will be required to provide whatever other information is requested to assist in determining the appeal.
The appeal shall be heard and resolved, and notice provided within sixty (60) days of receipt of the notice of appeal. Final determination as to the revocation or suspension status is at the sole discretion of the IAMI Board of Directors, or its designee.
Confidentiality
All matters pertaining to an applicant seeking certification and post-certification matters shall be confidential in nature. IAMI shall in good faith and in the exercise of functions shall use its best efforts to ensure confidentiality. Since information may be emailed, faxed or otherwise available to uninterested parties, IAMI cannot guarantee, nor does it guarantee, that confidentiality can be preserved.