Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to sit for the CPO^® examination, a candidate must meet the following eligibility requirements. BCPO^® is required to audit a certain percentage of all applications. In the event of an audit, the candidate must be prepared to provide supporting documentation for these requirements.

1. Qualified candidates must have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
2. As a part of the application process, candidates must agree to adhere to the Code of Ethics for Certified Professional Organizers.
3. Candidates must be prepared to document a total of 1,500 hours of paid work experience in the last three (3) years. This paid work experience may include but is not limited to on-site organizing, coaching, consulting, training, virtual organizing, interactive workshops and speaking engagements, which, through client collaboration, transfers, teaches or demonstrates organizing skills.

Up to 250 substitute hours of the required 1,500 can be earned via college degrees, continuing education courses or professional development activities in the organizing field. Substitute hours may also be earned via organizing related writing and speaking engagements, or relevant paid work experience prior to becoming an organizer and accrued in the three years prior to the application date, as detailed below.

Candidates may claim a maximum of 250 hours of credit towards the required 1,500 hours of paid work experience from one or more of the following substitute categories:

A. Formal Education
(non-cumulative, 100 hours credit maximum)

• AA Degree, 50 hours credit
• Bachelor's Degree, 75 hours credit
• Advanced Degree, 100 hours credit

B. Organizing-Related Professional Activities
(within the last 3 years)

• Paid speaking engagements, actual hours, maximum of 10 hours credit
• Mentor/Mentee/Apprenticeship, actual hours, maximum of 10 hours credit
• Publishing books, 20 per book, maximum of 40 hours credit
• Authoring articles (minimum 500 words per article), 10 per published article, maximum of 30 hours credit
• Professional Association Membership, maximum of 10 hours credit
• Trainer/Teacher, maximum of 10 hours credit
• Serving on an Organizing Entity's Board of Directors, maximum of 10 hours credit
• Volunteer Work as an Organizer, maximum of 10 hours credit

C. Continuing Education Courses relating to Organizing
(within the last 3 years)

For each course, the candidate may claim the actual hours attended, to a cumulative total of 250 hours. Sixty minutes of coursework is equal to one credit hour regardless of any number of continuing education credits (CEUs) another institution may have awarded for completion of the course. (See page X for more detailed information on CEU eligibility.)

D. Relevant Paid Work Experience Prior to Becoming an Organizer

25 hours credit per full-time year (maximum 3 years or 75 hours credit.) Experience must include the same criteria for teaching, transfer, or demonstration of organizing skills as described in the 1500 hours requirement.

E. Military Service

10 hours credit per year (maximum of 5 years or 50 hours credit) for military service.

Recertification

After initial certification, recertification is required every three (3) years. To recertify, a CPO^® must assert to continuing practice as a professional organizer, pay the Annual Maintenance Fees(AMF), and either (a) earn 45 eligible continuing education units (CEUs) during the 3-year recertification period or (b) retake and pass the CPO^® examination.

If a CPO^® chooses to recertify by examination and fails, certification is immediately revoked. Provided the candidate meets the current eligibility requirements for initial certification, he or she would be eligible to submit a new application to take the current examination as a new candidate future examinations.

The annual maintenance fee is currently $70 per year. Each CPO^® will automatically receive an invoice prior to his or her anniversary date each year.

Recertification FAQs