CAFM Candidate Network

For those who have completed - or are currently working toward - your CAFM, I'd love to hear from you!
What advice, tips, encouragement, or "wish I'd known" suggestions would you share with someone who's either thinking about enrolling or has just started the program?

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April Smith
Education Coordinator
NAFA Fleet Management Association
Edison, NJ
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Great conversation to get started April, I hope some of my fellow CAFM study group members chime in. Also it seems like NAFA has been listening to some of our frustrations with the program material because I just saw that you guys released a fillable PDF version of the study guide. I have heard a lot of people talk about Brain scape flash cards, do you think NAFA could release an official flash card deck? A lot of people have had great success with flash cards.  

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Drew Morrow
Director of Support Services
Pro EMS
Cambridge Ma.
dmorrow@proems.com
978-815-8854
------------------------------

Great points Drew,

I think one of the things I'd like to get info on is when the program changes; for instance, when I'd taken all of my tests previously, if you failed there was a 30-day cool-down between retests... at some point this spring/summer the rules changed so it is only a 1-day cool down. 

I also love the office-hours sessions--though they rarely fit into my schedule; but the ones I've attended are well worth the time.

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Brenton Messner
Fleet Services Supervisor
City of Las Vegas, NV
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-15-2025 07:32
From: Drew Morrow
Subject: CAFM Study Tips

Great conversation to get started April, I hope some of my fellow CAFM study group members chime in. Also it seems like NAFA has been listening to some of our frustrations with the program material because I just saw that you guys released a fillable PDF version of the study guide. I have heard a lot of people talk about Brain scape flash cards, do you think NAFA could release an official flash card deck? A lot of people have had great success with flash cards.  

------------------------------
Drew Morrow
Director of Support Services
Pro EMS
Cambridge Ma.
dmorrow@proems.com
978-815-8854
------------------------------

Hi Brenton, While you may not get the same engagement in a recorded session, you are always welcome to sign up for the Office Hours to have access to the recording. I hear what you are saying about getting notified of changes. Maybe we can use this forum for better communication.

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April Smith
Education Coordinator
NAFA Fleet Management Association
Edison, NJ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-18-2025 13:14
From: Brenton Messner
Subject: CAFM Study Tips

Great points Drew,

I think one of the things I'd like to get info on is when the program changes; for instance, when I'd taken all of my tests previously, if you failed there was a 30-day cool-down between retests... at some point this spring/summer the rules changed so it is only a 1-day cool down. 

I also love the office-hours sessions--though they rarely fit into my schedule; but the ones I've attended are well worth the time.

------------------------------
Brenton Messner
Fleet Services Supervisor
City of Las Vegas, NV
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 08-15-2025 07:32
From: Drew Morrow
Subject: CAFM Study Tips

Great conversation to get started April, I hope some of my fellow CAFM study group members chime in. Also it seems like NAFA has been listening to some of our frustrations with the program material because I just saw that you guys released a fillable PDF version of the study guide. I have heard a lot of people talk about Brain scape flash cards, do you think NAFA could release an official flash card deck? A lot of people have had great success with flash cards.  

------------------------------
Drew Morrow
Director of Support Services
Pro EMS
Cambridge Ma.
dmorrow@proems.com
978-815-8854

Hi Drew, I love that you have started a study group! What an excellent way to keep each other motivated and accountable as well as share your knowledge. We have discussed the idea of flashcards, it is possible we could have some in the future for recall, but the application of knowledge questions will still require understanding the concepts and how they apply situationally. 

------------------------------
April Smith
Education Coordinator
NAFA Fleet Management Association
Edison, NJ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-15-2025 07:32
From: Drew Morrow
Subject: CAFM Study Tips

Great conversation to get started April, I hope some of my fellow CAFM study group members chime in. Also it seems like NAFA has been listening to some of our frustrations with the program material because I just saw that you guys released a fillable PDF version of the study guide. I have heard a lot of people talk about Brain scape flash cards, do you think NAFA could release an official flash card deck? A lot of people have had great success with flash cards.  

------------------------------
Drew Morrow
Director of Support Services
Pro EMS
Cambridge Ma.
dmorrow@proems.com
978-815-8854
------------------------------

Hi April,

I would tell current candidates or already enrolled candidates to:

1. Plan Your Study Schedule Like a Project

Treat CAFM like a long-term project with milestones for each module.
- Break study sessions into 30–60 minute blocks instead of cramming.
- Set a completion date for each module and stick to them.

2. Use the Study Guides & Flashcards

- The NAFA-provided Reference Guides and Program Outline & Study Guides are your main roadmaps - stick to them and avoid wasting time on unrelated sources.
- Flashcards help reinforce definitions and key concepts, especially for finance, risk management, and fuel management.

3. Understand the questions

• Many exam questions are situational.

4. Leverage Your Experience

 -Your fleet management background will help with scenario questions.
- Review the material and think about how it applies to your fleet's budgeting, maintenance, replacement planning, and compliance.

5. Take Practice Tests

- Practice exams give you a feel for question style and time management.
- Review every missed question and go back to that section in the guide.

6. Pace Yourself 

- Don't try to rush through multiple modules at once.
- Take short breaks during study sessions to keep your brain fresh.

7. Don't Delay Your Exam After Studying

- Take the module exam soon after finishing review - waiting too long will cause you to forget details.

8. Commitment

- Whether it's for career advancement or personal achievement, remember stay motivated.
- The CAFM is a commitment - but it's also a career-long investment.

------------------------------
Tracy Craig, CAFM, FMP, DML
Fleet Services Coordinator
City of Round Rock, TX
Round Rock, TX
------------------------------

Thank you Tracy, these are great suggestions. I especially like that you encourage candidates to look at it like a project and plan it out. I see many times that people get overwhelmed with the volume of work and lose motivation. 

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April Smith
Education Coordinator
NAFA Fleet Management Association
Edison, NJ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-15-2025 09:47
From: Tracy Craig, CAFM, FMP, DML
Subject: CAFM Study Tips

Hi April,

I would tell current candidates or already enrolled candidates to:

1. Plan Your Study Schedule Like a Project

Treat CAFM like a long-term project with milestones for each module.
- Break study sessions into 30–60 minute blocks instead of cramming.
- Set a completion date for each module and stick to them.

2. Use the Study Guides & Flashcards

- The NAFA-provided Reference Guides and Program Outline & Study Guides are your main roadmaps - stick to them and avoid wasting time on unrelated sources.
- Flashcards help reinforce definitions and key concepts, especially for finance, risk management, and fuel management.

3. Understand the questions

• Many exam questions are situational.

4. Leverage Your Experience

 -Your fleet management background will help with scenario questions.
- Review the material and think about how it applies to your fleet's budgeting, maintenance, replacement planning, and compliance.

5. Take Practice Tests

- Practice exams give you a feel for question style and time management.
- Review every missed question and go back to that section in the guide.

6. Pace Yourself 

- Don't try to rush through multiple modules at once.
- Take short breaks during study sessions to keep your brain fresh.

7. Don't Delay Your Exam After Studying

- Take the module exam soon after finishing review - waiting too long will cause you to forget details.

8. Commitment

- Whether it's for career advancement or personal achievement, remember stay motivated.
- The CAFM is a commitment - but it's also a career-long investment.

------------------------------
Tracy Craig, CAFM, FMP, DML
Fleet Services Coordinator
City of Round Rock, TX
Round Rock, TX
------------------------------

I prefer physical books/manuals over digital versions so when I went through the CAFM program, I printed all the materials for each section and placed them in binders.  As I read through the materials I highlighted all the things I felt were important for me to know or learn about my fleet, but realized that what I thought was important was not necessarily what the instructors focused on.  I used a different color highlighter to identify what the instructors felt was important and focused on these items when studying.  I would go back later and focus on the areas I found to be important for my fleet taking into consideration what the instructors provided.

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Wayne Westerholm CAFM
DOT Compliance Specialist
Black Gold Transport
North Pole, AK
wwwesterholm@gmail.com
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Good morning, Team: 

Tracey definitely hit all great points!!

When ever i take test whether it be ASE, EVT, CAFM or even college exams, i always try my best to stay well prepared. 

One of my best things I do that work for me is........ FLASH CARDS. 

Specifically when it comes to CAFM's, ill take 6 weeks to study: 

•  Read the review questions, practice tests and study guides.
• Anything i don't know i will right down (in question form or directly as stated) with the associated page number, then even before i open to book to read it front to back, i will go to the page numbers and wrote the answers on the back.
• For the first two weeks, I'll will keep those with me everywhere I go; i.e. kids sports, any appointment, meetings when ever I have 5 minutes.
• For the following two weeks, i will straight dive into the book nothing but. 
• For the final two weeks, i will do a hybrid of book and flash cards. during the week ill usually set up an hour a night ill do thirty minutes of book and thirty minutes of flash cards. 

This historically has worked for me. 

Also, the week of any test, i will:

• Up my water intake (helps with brain function)
• Eat a lot of fresh fruits
• Get plenty of rest

That's about it for me. 

I love reading what everyone else is doing, great insight.

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Michael Vecchione
Assistant Fleet Manager
Pinellas County, FL Sheriff's Office
Largo, FL
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