CFD Practice Test

The American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) awards the Certified Floral Designer (CFD) credential to florists who want formal recognition of their design skill. This page lists the verified fees, deadlines and passing marks for the online test, which you take through an Education Partner, and for the hands-on PFDE. It also has free practice sets by topic and worked explanations of sample questions.

CFD Exam at a Glance

What changed for CFD in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Passing score (Online test) changed to 80% or better (previously 80% or higher).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Registration deadline (Education Partner route – fall exam) changed to December 31 (previously December 31, 2026).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Testing window (Education Partner route – fall exam) changed to Complete by January 15 (previously Complete by January 15, 2027).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Renewal changed to $244/yr ($194 early bird) (previously $244/yr ($194 early bird) + 25 CEUs every 3 years).^[3]
• Oct 25, 2026: Validity changed to 25 CEUs every 3 years (previously 3-year CEU cycle).^[1]

What the CFD is and how it works

According to American Institute of Floral Designers, “a cumulative evaluation mark of 16 points or better with no one design scoring less than 2.75 average”^[2]

The American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) awards the CFD designation. It shows that a florist's design work meets the institute's standard. AIFD describes these routes to it:

• Online test through an Education Partner. Your instructor sends a student list to AIFD: August 1 to December 1 for the fall exam, or March 1 to March 31 for the spring exam. Registration closes December 31 for fall and April 30 for spring. You must finish the exam by January 15 (fall) or May 15 (spring). The exam fee is $179, and you pass with 80% or better.
• Professional Floral Design Evaluation (PFDE). This is a 4 hour hands-on evaluation in which you create 5 designs. To earn the CFD you need a cumulative mark of 16 points or better, and no design can average below 2.75. It costs $1,750 for the PFDE only, or $2,250 if you add general registration for the National Symposium. Registration typically closes in early to mid-April.

To keep the CFD active, you pay an annual renewal fee of $244, or $194 if you pay by the early bird deadline. You also need 25 Continuing Education Units every 3 years. The facts we verified do not cover eligibility or retake rules. Check those, and the current year's dates, with AIFD at aifd.org or with your Education Partner before you register.

Worked examples: how to reason through CFD questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which of the following is a PRIMARY benefit of maintaining a client order history database?

1. It satisfies state licensing requirements
2. It enables personalized re-engagement marketing and reduces consultation time for repeat customers
3. It eliminates the need for contracts
4. It automatically reorders inventory

Answer: B. It enables personalized re-engagement marketing and reduces consultation time for repeat customers

Explanation:

B is correct. A record of what each client ordered, for which occasion and at what price lets a shop contact them before the next anniversary or holiday. It also means a consultation can start with their taste, colours and budget already known. That saves time and brings people back.

A is wrong because order records are a business tool, not a licensing condition. C is wrong because a history of past orders does not replace a written agreement for a new event. D is wrong because a customer database tracks people, not stock. Reordering is the job of an inventory system.

Rule to remember: customer data pays off through repeat business and faster service, not through compliance or automation.

Example 2

Question: Which flowers are most associated with spring seasonal arrangements in the US?

1. Poinsettias and hollies
2. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths
3. Chrysanthemums and marigolds
4. Dried grasses and wheat stalks

Answer: B. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths

Explanation:

B is correct. Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths grow from bulbs that bloom in spring. US wholesalers and shoppers treat them as the signature flowers of the season, especially around Easter.

A is wrong because poinsettias and holly are winter holiday material. C is wrong because chrysanthemums and marigolds peak in late summer and autumn and belong in fall displays. D is wrong because dried grasses and wheat stalks suggest the harvest and are used in autumn designs.

Rule to remember: match materials to the season the customer links them with. Bulb flowers mean spring, evergreens and red bracts mean winter, and warm-toned flowers and dried grains mean fall.

Example 3

Question: A florist charges $85 for an arrangement that costs $34 in materials. What is the markup percentage on cost?

1. 150%
2. 60%
3. 40%
4. 200%

Answer: A. 150%

Explanation:

A is correct. Markup on cost compares the profit with what you paid. Subtract the $34 cost from the $85 price, then divide the difference by the $34 cost. The result is 150%.

B, 60%, divides the same profit by the $85 selling price. That is gross margin, not markup. C, 40%, is the $34 cost as a share of the $85 price, which is the cost ratio. D, 200%, overstates the markup. To check, add 200% of $34 to $34: the result is well above $85.

Rule to remember: markup divides profit by cost, and margin divides profit by selling price. Read which base the question names before you calculate.

How to use these practice tests

First, choose your route, because it decides what kind of practice you need. For the online test, ask your Education Partner which term you are registered for. Then work back from the completion deadline (January 15 for fall, May 15 for spring).

Start with the design foundations: CFD Floral Design Principles, CFD Floral Materials and Tools and CFD Floral Care and Maintenance. Next, move to the occasion sets: Event and Wedding, Seasonal and Holiday and Sympathy and Funeral. Then do Business and Customer Service and Financial Management for pricing and markup. The broader management sets are useful extras, but AIFD has not confirmed them as exam areas.

• For every miss, write the rule behind the right answer, not just the letter.
• Retake a set after a few days and compare your score with the 80% mark.
• Treat your instructor's course material as the main source. Use these sets to find gaps.

For the PFDE, a quiz is no substitute for building designs. Practise full sessions of 5 designs inside 4 hours, and ask a working florist to critique each piece.

Sources & last verified

1. American Institute of Floral Designers — time limit, passing score, exam fee, validity (official source). “a four (4) hour hands-on design evaluation consisting of five (5) designs” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 22, 2026.
2. American Institute of Floral Designers — passing score (official source). “a cumulative evaluation mark of 16 points or better with no one design scoring less than 2.75 average” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 22, 2026.
3. American Institute of Floral Designers — exam fee, renewal (official source). “$1,750 to take the PFDE® only or $2,250 for PFDE® + General Registration to attend the National Symposium.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 22, 2026.
4. American Institute of Floral Designers — registration deadline (official source). “Registration for the PFDE session typically closes in early to mid-April.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.