Self Assessment Handbook

The Professional Competence route is designed for individuals with considerable experience and knowledge gained in the FM workplace and/or training and other relevant academic achievement. Candidates eligible for this route are likely to have at least five years’ experience in FM at a Managerial level. This route encompasses a wide range of experienced FM’s with varying needs and requirements.

The Self Assessment Handbook (SAH) is based on the BIFM competences and is an initial screening tool designed to assess Senior Managers knowledge and experience of facilities management and determine if they are at the appropriate level (first degree standard) to progress onto the second stage of the Qualification (the Experience component).

A Self Assessment Handbook is used at:

the entry point to the Professional Competence route to the BIFM Qualification
the entry point to the portfolio stage of the Examination and Higher Education routes to Qualification

The completed Handbook, current CV and job description are submitted for assessment and, if successful (meets criteria) the candidate would then be invited to register onto the BIFM Qualification.

After completing the SAH, managers can receive a personal profile of their knowledge and experience against the BIFM competences. This includes feedback on whether the assessment meets the entry criteria for the BIFM Qualification and guidance on how to proceed. For details of fees charged for this service, please click here.

Following a successful initial assessment, the procedure for the Qualification requires you to complete a portfolio, which consists of six submissions of evidence; each based around one of the management groupings. This is where a candidate demonstrates that they have the appropriate knowledge level (first degree standard) and supporting personalised evidence from their work place against the full range of competences. It is possible to include any details of previous relevant qualifications, training, and secondments etc that have been successfully undertaken.

On completion of all six submissions, the final stage will be for the candidate to attend an interview with the Qualification Panel to discuss their Portfolio. Following a favourable recommendation from the panel, a candidate would then be awarded the BIFM Qualification and be able to use the Post-Nominal BIFM (Qual) after their name.

The Self Assessment Handbook is available free of charge and can be obtained:

BIFM Non-members - please register (right hand side of the screen) and go to the SAH Request section of the form. Please note that the documents below can only accessed by BIFM members.

BIFM Members - please log-in and then download the documents below.

Alternatively please contact the Professional Standards & Education Co-ordinator on 0845 058 1355 or by contacting pseco-ordinator@bifm.org.uk.