New Year’s resolutions are a great opportunity to set professional goals. Are you looking to hone your facilities management skills, boost your career, or stand out in a competitive job market in 2026? Earning an industry certification can not only sharpen your FM expertise but also help you climb that company ladder or become a more attractive candidate.
If you’re ready to level up and pursue an FM-related certification this year, there are plenty of options to explore. (Notably, ProFMI made the “difficult decision” to end its ProFM certification in 2024.)
Covering everything from maintenance to sustainability, here are some certifications to consider for 2026:
International Facility Management Association (IFMA)
Known as the “world’s largest and most widely recognized association for facility management professionals,” IFMA offers a trio of internationally recognized credentials:
1. Facility Management Professional (FMP)
Understand the four fundamental modules of facilities management, which include finance and business, operations and maintenance, leadership and strategy, and project management.
2. Certified Facility Manager (CFM)
Know all 11 core competencies of facilities management, which are communication, finance and business, operations and maintenance, performance and quality, risk management, occupancy and human factors, project management, facility information management and technology management, sustainability, leadership and strategy, and real estate.
3. Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP)
Understand sustainability trends and concepts like the circular economy, the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG).
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
ASHRAE is “a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment.” In addition to a handful of other design- and performance-related credentials, the organization offers the two following certifications:
4. Operations and Performance Management Professional (OPMP)
Manage facility operations and maintenance to achieve performance goals such as indoor environmental quality, health, and safety.
5. Certified Decarbonization Professional (CPD)
Launched in 2024, this program learn how to assess, analyze, and develop effective and sustainable strategies to reduce or eliminate the life-cycle carbon footprint of buildings.
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
The USGBC administers the globally recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program for green buildings and offers related professional certifications:
Gain general knowledge of green building practices and how to support others working on LEED projects. This certification is ideal for those newer to sustainability and LEED.
7. LEED AP
Demonstrate advanced knowledge about green building, a specific LEED rating system, and the certification process. This certification is ideal for individuals who are actively working on green building and LEED projects.
BOMA/BOMI
After reuniting a couple years ago, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International and its educational arm, the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI), offer several certifications, including:
8. Facilities Management Certificate (FMC)
Gain a comprehensive understanding of how to manage, operate, and maintain cost-effective facilities that operate at peak performance levels.
9. Facilities Management Administrator (FMA)
Learn how to create a productive work environment and handle tenant issues like daily operations, maintenance, comfort, and safety.
Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE)
AFE, which calls itself “the leading technical education and credentialing resource for facilities management professionals,” has two popular certifications:
10. Certified Plant Maintenance Manager (CPMM)
Learn technical and management skills that lead to maintenance and reliability initiatives to reduce costs and increase operating efficiencies.
11. Certified Plant Engineer (CPE)
Understand how to accurately diagnose and resolve any maintenance or reliability issue within a facility.
International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)
IWBI is helping lead the way on healthy buildings with its WELL Building Standard (WELL) certification program, “a roadmap for creating and certifying spaces that advance human health and well-being.”
12. WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP)
Gain individual expertise in the WELL Building Standard to provide organizations with evidence-based strategies to meet the rising demand for health solutions.
Moving Forward
As you can see, there’s no shortage of industry certifications to consider in 2026—and this isn’t even an exhaustive list! If you’re looking to grow your FM expertise and give your career a boost, now’s a great time to explore your options, pursue a certification, and kick off your learning journey for a successful year ahead.