Preparing for the CHFM Exam: A Resource List
The Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM) exam features questions organized into five broad domains: compliance; planning, design, and construction; maintenance and operations; finance; and administration. ASHE is working to develop a list of resources useful to those preparing for the exam, and the list below is an initial version. ASHE will continue to develop this list as members provide feedback and suggestions for improvement.
While the following resources may be helpful in preparing for the exam, though this is not a complete list and this reading material does not cover exam questions directly. ASHE does not have access to the questions on the exam, which is offered through the AHA Certification Center. This list is intended to be a starting point for those interested in studying for the CHFM exam, as well as a list of general reading for all health care facility professionals.
If you are not sure which materials you should focus on, consider starting by reading the detailed domains in the CHFM Candidate Handbook and Application or by taking the CHFM Self-Assessment Exam to find your strengths and weaknesses. If you are not yet an ASHE member, consider joining to gain access to the members-only resources and discounts listed below.
Questions? Contact asheeducation@aha.org.
Exam preparation/readiness review
- CHFM Exam Review Course (ASHE members get a $100 discount)
- CHFM Exam Review e-Learning Course (ASHE members get a $150 discount)
- CHFM Self-Assessment Examination (ASHE members get AHA PMG member discount of $85)
- CHFM Flash Cards
- CHFM Candidate Handbook and Application
Compliance
Reading materials:
- NFPA 101 Handbook, 2012 Edition
- NFPA 99 Handbook, 2012 Edition
- FGI Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities
- Medical Gas Cylinder and Bulk Tank Storage (Monograph; free download for ASHE members)
Education programs:
- Application of NFPA 99 in Health Care Facilities e-learning course (ASHE members get $100 discount)
- Managing Life Safety (2012 edition) e-learning course (ASHE members get $50 discount)
- Managing Accreditation in the Physical Environment (available as a hosted program)
On Demand recordings (available only to ASHE members):
- Test Your Code Knowledge: An Interactive Q&A Discussion of Regulatory Codes (from 2015 PDC Summit)
- Test Your Code Knowledge: An Interactive Discussion of Regulatory Codes (from 2015 Annual Conference)
- Test Your Code Knowledge- An Interactive Q&A Discussion of Regulatory Codes (from 2016 Annual Conference)
Planning, Design, and Construction
Reading materials:
- Mechanical Systems for Health Care Facilities (ASHE members get $30 discount)
- Electrical Systems Handbook for Health Care Facilities (ASHE members get $30 discount)
- Health Facility Commissioning Handbook (ASHE members get $30 discount)
- Roofing: Basics and Beyond (Monograph; ASHE members get free download)
- Health Facility Design Information Checklist (Monograph; ASHE members get free download)
- Managing Hospital Electrical Shutdowns (Monograph; ASHE members get free download)
- Construction Management of Healthcare Projects (ASHE members get $25 discount)
Education programs:
- Managing the PDC Process (available as a hosted program)
On Demand recordings (available only to ASHE members):
- Lean Application for All Project Delivery Methods
- Improving Infection Prevention and Control Through Facility Design
- Reinventing the PDC Process to Reduce Costs
Maintenance and Operations
Reading materials:
- Maintenance Management for Health Care Facilities (ASHE members get $30 discount)
- Mechanical Systems for Health Care Facilities (ASHE members get $30 discount)
- Electrical Systems Handbook for Health Care Facilities (ASHE members get $30 discount)
- Health Facility Commissioning Handbook (ASHE members get $30 discount)
- Managing Hospital Electrical Shutdowns (Monograph; ASHE members get free download)
- Managing Hospital Emergency Power Systems (Monograph; ASHE members get free download)
On Demand recordings (available only to ASHE members):
- Fundamentals of Facility Management and Operations
- Power Generation for Health Care Facilities
- Managing Hospital Electrical Shutdowns
- Alternate Equipment Maintenance (AEM) Risk Assessments
- Execution and Return on Investment of Reliability Centered Maintenance
Finance
Reading materials:
On Demand recordings (available only to ASHE members):
- Finance 101 for Facility Managers
- Smart Money Now vs Dumb Money Later: Using Standards & Financial Planning to Reduce Unnecessary Lifetime Costs
- Capital Spending and Allocating Funds in a Health System
Administration
Reading materials:
On Demand recordings (available only to ASHE members):
- Maximizing the Potential of Multigenerational Teams
- Facility Operations in the Scheme of the Facility: Tools for the In-House Model
- Finding Optimal Staffing Levels to Support the Bottom Line
Additional resources for further reading:
- Good to Great -Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't
- The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right
- Transforming Health Care Leadership: A Systems Guide to Improve Patient Care, Decrease Costs, and Improve Population Health
What resources did you find most helpful?
Let ASHE know whether these resources were helpful, and suggest any additional resources that may be helpful to others preparing for the CHFM exam.
Submit feedback on resources on this list Suggest additions to this list