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Grandfather's clause

Kai Vanuffelen

Kai Vanuffelen

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Kai Vanuffelen Pictureframer
It has come to my attention, that framers who became a Certified Picture Framer before 1993 do not need to recertify as they are part of the so-called grandfather's clause. Subsequently a number of those who earned the CPF designation before 1993 do not intend to sit the MCPF Exam, as this will require them to recertify every four years and complete three PPFA approved CE classes.

This raises some questions:

Is the grandfather's clause fair in relation to the majority of CPF's who passed after 1993?

Does the grandfather's clause need scrapping, so that these pre 1993 CPF's keep up to date with new developments in the framing industry by making recertification necessary for all CPF's ?

Does the grandfather's clause need to be extended, so that those pre 1993 CPF's who passed the MCPF Exam do not need to recertify and/ or attend the three classes?

How many pre 1993 CPF's are there compared to the CPF's who passed after 1993?
 
Kai, I don't know if that date is accurate, but I do know it is a fact. It is fair because anyone who achieved the CPF prior to the change in requirements, fulfilled the requirement for the designation at they time they became CPF's. This is a common consequence of increasing requirements for certification in many professions. Over time, all CPF's will have experienced equal requirements, and since 20 years have gone by, we are rapidly approaching that point.

The MCPF is an entirely different designation with its own requirements. The details are on the website. If I remember correctly a CPF, regardless of status, must have re-certified to be eligible to take the MCPF exam. But check the website for the most accurate information.
 
When the CPF program started in 1986, there was no requirement for recertification in place. Call it an oversight, call it short-sighted, I don’t know why it was so. I was busy in 10[SUP]th[/SUP] grade geometry class so I wasn’t part of the decision.

The requirement for recertification was put place in 1993, so going forward it was required of all CPFs. It would not have been fair (and I have been told it would have been illegal) to put this requirement in place after the fact for everyone who had earned the designation prior. All previous CPFs were grandfathered in for this reason. To change that now would be just as unfair (and illegal) as it would have been twenty years ago.

Yes, any CPF wishing to take the MCPF exam is required to take a recertification course first. Then once the MCPF designation is earned then any grandfathered status is lost and the need to take one recertification course and three continuing education classes every four years is in effect.

Is this fair? As far as I’m concerned yes. Considering that the MCPF is the highest and most rigorous designation available to framers one day-long class and another three classes in the space of four years is not a burden. If you want to claim the title of framer at that caliber it’s something you should be doing regardless, and not taking the MCPF exam for fear of losing grandfathered status seems pretty silly and short-sighted.

I don’t know how many grandfathered CPFs are out there. Considering that it’s going back almost twenty years, a lot of them have retired, some have died, and some have moved on to other careers. Most of them who are still around I’m guessing are determined and dedicated enough that they will take a recertification class whether they absolutely have to or not, and won’t let that stand in the way of MCPF designation.
 
David Lantrip said:
... If you want to claim the title of framer at that caliber it’s something you should be doing regardless, and not taking the MCPF exam for fear of losing grandfathered status seems pretty silly and short-sighted.
Click to expand...

I agree that taking re-cert seminars keeps you up to speed. I've taken two in the past 12 years, even though I am a grandfathered CPF.

David Lantrip said:
... Most of them who are still around I’m guessing are determined and dedicated enough that they will take a recertification class whether they absolutely have to or not, and won’t let that stand in the way of MCPF designation.
Click to expand...

For me, I am perfectly content being a CPF and GCF (UK). :)

I am a firm believer and advocate of the two certification programs. I believe that there benefit to us is to the industry as a whole and not the individual credentials that follow ones name. Those who have taken either test have done so, to verify to themselves that they meet muster. And indirectly we all benefit, for as the playing field improves and our competition improves, we do also.

John
 
I was one of those grandfathered CPF's, getting mine in 1991. The benefits of getting my MCPF much outweighed staying stagnant atthe CPF level, not having to take the recert. Way back in 1991, a hotel room was rented for the CPF exam and the room had about 40 folks, just in the Philadelphia area. Now we might have one or two taking the test. Losing your grandfathered status is a pain, but I have learned more in the new system.
 
Numbers...

David Lantrip said:
...I don’t know how many grandfathered CPFs are out there. Considering that it’s going back almost twenty years....
Click to expand...

Dave,

I recall seeing a list posted at one time....it might have been on the old PPFA Hitchhikers threads..not sure. In any event, there might be a few of us still our here.

As I recall that first test in San Fancisco 1986 had at least 85-110 people in the room. Assuming that 65% passed, that would be 55 CPF's minimum. Seven years of testing should have produced let's estimate that at 200+ CPF's.

You are correct about time erroding these numbers. One of our earliest employees, became a CPF and no longer works in the industry. Alice Gibson, Decor Editor passed that first exam in SF and is no longer involved in the industry.

It would be interesting if Nick has access to current CPF and MCPF statistics...

John
 
When recertification became a requirement, PPFA wanted to require all previous CPFs to be included, but the legal counselors advised that it would invite lawsuits from CPFs who did not want to have the rules of their certification changed after-the-fact - breach of contract or something like that. Anyway, PPFA had no choice but to exempt the previous CPFs from the requirement.

it was never a matter of choice for PPFA. It was a matter of legal obligation.
 
I took the CPF exam in 1991 and was grandfathered. I recertified in order to take the MCPF in 2008.

It never entered my tiny mind, to not take the MCPF exam in order to remain grandfathered. I'm not sure that anyone would think that way!
 
Ormond Williams said:
I took the CPF exam in 1991 and was grandfathered. I recertified in order to take the MCPF in 2008.
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Yes, all MCPFs have taken the Recertification course, including all grandfathered CPFs, because the MCPF program requires it. Some grandfathered CPFs have complained that they should qualify for the MCPF without CPF Recertification, but no.
 
Kai Vanuffelen said:
It has come to my attention, that .......... a number of those who earned the CPF designation before 1993 do not intend to sit the MCPF Exam, as this will require them to recertify every four years and complete three PPFA approved CE classes.
Click to expand...

Well that's not the reason for this grandfathered CPF (in the FIRST group to take and pass the exam) has not taken the MCPF- though it was the reason that when I went to try and take it the first time it was offered, I was "disqualified" because I was not re-certified and was unaware of the recertification requirement.

My issue is time - for me, I have to either give up a day of teaching (and possibly miss a yacht payment) or just can't find the time during the WCAF/PPFA Convention. Then, the CEU classes I want to take are always taught at the same time as my classes.

So I either give up a yacht payment or become and maintain my MCPF.
 
David Lantrip said:
Rob, you can also get credit for teaching a CE level class. I believe your strip lining class is considered such, so there's one class down right there.
​
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Cool to know, Dave. Both the classes I taught at this year's convention were CEU credit classes!

- - - Updated - - -

Kai Vanuffelen said:
Can you try to give up teaching some of your classes in order to attend other people's classes Rob?
The MCPF Exam takes up one day of your life - somehow it must be worth it, if you really want to become an MCPF.
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Kai-

Give up teaching some of my classes? HA! Obviously you have not seen my yacht. :)

Perhaps I misunderstood the requirements of the MCPF exam. Doesn't one have to produce some framed examples for critique prior to the "hands on" aspect? For those of you who are MCPF's - how long did it take to produce those framed examples? Won't I need more than a day?
 
Rob,

Yes, you must frame four pieces in advance: paper, canvas, needlework/textile and object. Those are handed over the examiners for grading. While that's happening you do the practicum in which you have 90 minutes to frame one more item, drawn at random. The it's turned over for examination and scoring.

So, how long the framed-in-advance pieces take depends entirely on you. The on-site part, figure on three to four hours.

If you had taken my Intro to the MCPF Exam Class in Vegas you'd k ow all of this. But I suppose that yacht isn't going to pay for itself.
 
David Lantrip said:
Rob,

So, how long the framed-in-advance pieces take depends entirely on you.
Click to expand...
Rob,
If you do everything perfectly the first time, it might only take a couple of hours for each piece. If you are dissatisfied with any components and need to do them again and again to make them as close to perfect as you can, so you get as many scores of 100 as possible, it might take a day or three for each one!
 
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