Qualifications for Oregon Certified Professional Fiduciary

Oregon Certified Professional Fiduciary Certification is a voluntary program administered through the Center for Guardianship Certification. You must be a National Certified Guardian (NCG) to become an Oregon Certified Professional Fiduciary (OCPF). Taking both the national test and Oregon test for certification is permitted but you have to pass the national test before being recognized as an Oregon Certified Professional Fiduciary. Oregon Certified Professional Fiduciary Certification is not required under Oregon Law. It is not required for court appointment as a guardian, conservator or trustee. The applicant for the Oregon Certified Professional Fiduciary Certification must meet all of the following requirements, except as otherwise provided by state certification law: The applicant for National Certified Guardian must meet all of the following requirements, before taking the Oregon Certified Professional Fiduciary exam:

1. Must attest that he/she has not been convicted or plead guilty or no contest to a felony.
    
2. Must attest that he/she has not been found civilly or criminally liable for an action of fraud, moral turpitude, misrepresentation, material omission, misappropriation, theft, or conversion.
    
3. Must attest that he/she has not been relieved of responsibilities as a guardian or conservator by a court, employer, or client for actions involving fraud, misrepresentation, material omission, misappropriation, theft, or conversion.
    
4. Must attest that he/she has not been found liable in a subrogation action by insurance or bonding agent.
    
5. Must attest that he/she is bondable in accordance with state statutes.
    
6. Must attest that he/she has reviewed and understands the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS), the GCA of Oregon Standards of Practice, The NGA Standards of Practice, and NGA Code of Ethics.
    
7. All applicants shall meet one of the following three requirements:
   1. Have a BA/BS degree from an accredited educational institution with a minimum of 1 year experience practicing as a fiduciary* or court-appointed named trustee with 2 or more unrelated clients. (Documentation required – proof of college degree and copies of court appointments.)
      
      OR
      
      
   2. have an AA degree from an accredited educational institution with 3 years of relevant experience in the field of legal, health, social, or financial services including a minimum of 1 year experience practicing as a fiduciary* or court-appointed named trustee with 2 or more clients unrelated to you. (Documentation required – proof of a college degree, resume with employer/supervisor contact information covering 3 years of relevant experience and copies of court appointments.)
      
      OR
      
      
   3. have a minimum of an AA degree and have a minimum of 1 year experience as the person primarily responsible for fiduciary duties under the direction of an Oregon Certified Professional Fiduciary advisor. Advisor selection needs pre-approval from the GCA Board and Certification Committee before advising begins. (Documentation required – letter stating successful completion of one year of professional experience from an OCPF documenting your fiduciary duties including dates of supervision.)
       
   * ORS 125.005(2) “Fiduciary” means a guardian or conservator appointed under the provisions of this chapter or any other person appointed by a court to assume duties with respect to a protected person under the provisions of this chapter.
   
   
8. All applicants shall have 32 hours of documented education/training, in the two years prior to the application date, including: (Documentation required - CEU certificates, signed by continuing education entity.)
   1. with at least 3 documented hours in each of the following areas of legal, ethics, health/medical, social and financial services.
   2. 6 hour guardianship/conservatorship training sponsored by the Guardian/Conservator Association of Oregon, the National Guardianship Association or the Oregon Law Institute.
      
9. All other credits need to be provided by an accredited educational institution or accredited professional organization/association, including but not limited to: The Guardian/Conservator Association of Oregon, The National Guardianship Association, The Oregon State Bar, The Oregon Law Institute, The National Association of Social Workers, The Oregon Gerontological Association, The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, The Oregon Board of Registered Nursing, The Oregon Board of Psychology, The Oregon Department of Health and Human Services, The American Society of Aging, The National College of Probate Judges, The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, National Board of Certified Counselors.
    
10. Must be at least 21 years of age.