CFD Evaluation for Benz and SAIFD

Certified Floral Designer (CFD) Evaluation

The high standards of quality education required, and design excellence exemplified by AIFD’s Educational Partners and SAIFD Chapters, allows the Benz School at Texas A&M University to recommend recipients to AIFD for the nationally recognized credential of CFD.

The process established by the Benz School to verify that students/applicants are indeed prepared and deserving of this recommendation is as follows:

• Students/applicants must have finished one of the following;

1. Bachelor’s of Art degree with a floral emphasis,

2. Four (4) of the following courses:  Hort 203, Hort 451, Hort 452, Hort 453, or Hort 454

3. completed the Benz Two-Week class plus one of the Benz Advanced classes (Wedding Bouquets, Floral Jewelry, All About Foliage, Natural Mechanics, Design Techniques and Applications or Parties & Events),

4. Completion of the BSK curriculum.

• Students/applicants must complete a Benz CFD Evaluation Registration on or before December 2, 2024 at the following online address:

Students/applicants must pass (80% or better) both the written and design components of the Benz CFD Evaluation.

1.   The written evaluation will be given online (address and access credentials to be provided upon receipt of Benz CFD Evaluation registration). This written evaluation is based on the information from AIFD’s Guide to Floral Design (see separate recommended reading list).  Students/applicants must either own or have access to this textbook in order to successfully complete the written evaluation. Students will have two opportunities to score 80% or better on the written evaluation. The deadline for completing the written evaluation is December 20, 2024 at 9:00 pm.
2. The design evaluation (December 7, 2024 ) will consist of a surprise package of three designs with a 2 hour time limit from the following list, and will be scored using the Benz School Evaluation Score Sheet:
   1. Geometric Designs (round centerpiece, symmetrical triangle, asymmetrical triangle, crescent, horizontal centerpiece)
   2. Personal Flower Designs (corsage, headpiece, floral necklace)
   3. Vegetative Centerpiece Design
   4. Bridal Bouquets (hand-tied, foam holder)
   5. Parallel Design

Written Evaluation Recommended Reading

Students/applicants must either own or have access to AIFD’s Guide to Floral Design textbook in order to successfully complete the written Benz School CFD Evaluation and/or the AIFD PFDE written evaluation. Students/applicants should pay close attention to the following chapters to maximize their study priorities:

Topic	Chapter/Pages
Botany & Care and Handling	46-94
Elements & Principle of Design	96-148
Design Styles	183-191

Additionally, student/participants may benefit from reviewing the above mentioned topics in the following books or references:

Flowers:  Creative Design, Johnson, McKinley, Benz

Principles of Floral Design, Scace & DelPrince