Thank you for sharing this Thomas. I am sure there are many others who share your fear of failing an exam. I heard one of the faculty members say just fail one and you will get it out of your system. Jokes aside, please see this community board as a place you can reach out for help. The CAFM faculty are amazingly generous with their knowledge and time and the other CAFMs and CAFM candidates can be a great resource. You may find that there is someone looking for an accountability or study partner that would be a good fit for your schedule. @Brenton Messner, CAFM had some great advice.
Original Message:
Sent: 05-27-2026 09:51
From: Thomas Poveromo
Subject: What tip would you share with someone in the CAFM program?
Good Morning Brenton,
Great post. Very inspiring. I have struggled greatly since I began studying in October. SO much to learn with the fear of not passing an exam. It's been many years since I've had to study and prepare for exams and it's been challenging.
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Thomas Poveromo
Fleet Procurement Specialist
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Original Message:
Sent: 05-27-2026 08:26
From: Brenton Messner
Subject: What tip would you share with someone in the CAFM program?
That is definitely a good quote and very much the truth. I'd take it a little deeper though, study to pass the exam, then return and study to master understanding the materials. Passing the exams is important, but once you have the exam completed, take one last pass of the materials and really understand--it truly helps at work!
Second tip, take your time, but be diligent about completing the goal. You have 3 years, focus to get one exam done per quarter (or more if time allows). Schedule study time, schedule test time, and make sure your head is in the right space when you go test; testing tired, hungry, or when in a time crunch typically works against you.
Third and final tip, share what you study. I've found that you really get a grasp on a subject when you discuss the information presented and get other people's point of view. We all learn differently, we all pick up on different things being more important, and we all struggle, why not work together and share the strengths and be humble enough to admit your weaknesses.
CAFM isn't just a certification, it is a foundation to continue expanding knowledge and experience. It has a culture of support and camaraderie built through the shared difficulties each CAFM candidate went through. We all understand how difficult it can be, we also understand how great it feels when completed--and once completed we get the honor of continuing the culture of education, support, and camaraderie with our peers.
If you've made it this far, awesome! You'll do great things and get your CAFM completed soon. Let's walk together at I&E '27.
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Brenton Messner, CAFM
Fleet Services Supervisor
City of Las Vegas, NV
bmessner@lasvegasnevada.gov
Original Message:
Sent: 05-26-2026 09:38
From: April Smith
Subject: What tip would you share with someone in the CAFM program?
I love this quote from Curt Mullins, CAFM, Fire Fleet Operations Superintendent, Round Rock Fire Department,"My CAFM tip is to spend the time listening to the boot camps, spend time going through the digital, or written material, and study. It really does need undivided attention, there is so much information to take in, but well worth the time and effort"
What tip would you share with someone in the CAFM program?
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April Smith
Manager, Education (Certification)
NAFA Fleet Management Association
Edison, NJ
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