The following steps have been developed by the GCA Board of Directors and the GCA Certification Committee to help professionals navigate the process of becoming 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. Voluntary Oregon Certified Professional Certification is administered through the national organization, Center for Guardianship Certification. You must be a National Certified Guardian (NCG) to become a 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 a Oregon Certified Professional Fiduciary.
 

Suggested Steps for OCPF Certification:  

2. Review and understand the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS 125) and Oregon UTCR, the GCA of Oregon Standards of Practice, The NGA Standards of Practice, and NGA Code of Ethics. 

3. Attend a GCA question and answer session “So you want to be a guardian or conservator”. Session dates and applications are available at the GCA website.

4. Email GCA to indicate your interest in becoming an OCPF. This will help coordinate your efforts toward certification and the Certification Committees efforts to best serve professionals interested in the field.

5. (Optional) Complete a Advisor Request Form found on the GCA website to request an advisor to help you in your certification process. If you know an OCPF who is willing to serve as advisor to you, please contact the GCA to get approval. Not all OCPF will be able to serve in an advisor role. 

6. Accumulate and track guardian and conservator educational opportunities and trainings. OCPF requires 32 hours of documented education/training, in the last two years, with at least 3 hours in each of the following areas of:

• Legal
• Ethics
• health/medical
• social
• financial services.

  All 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. All education/training must be documented by CEU certificates, provided by the continuing education entity.  

7. Mandatory 6 hour guardianship/conservatorship training sponsored by the Guardian/Conservator Association of Oregon, the National Guardianship Association or the Oregon Law Institute.  Attendance at this training should be scheduled toward the end of your 32 hours of education/training.

8. Complete and submit application for OCPF certification to the Center for Guardianship Certification (CGC) at least 30 days prior to scheduled test date. You must be a National Certified Guardian to become a Oregon Certified Professional Fiduciary. Taking both the national test and Oregon test for certification is permitted but you have to pass the national test before being recognized as a Oregon Certified Professional Fiduciary. These tests do not need to be taken together.

    OCPF applications will be reviewed and approved by the Center for Guardianship Certification.   If the CGC has qualification questions, the application will be reviewed by the GCA Board of Directors and/or the GCA Certification Committee. The CGC will notify the applicants directly as to the status of their application.