CPL Application
Click here for CPL Application – PDF Format

Are you qualified to become a CPL questionnaire:
Click here for CPL Questionnaire – PDF Format

To become a CPL, a landman must:

1. Be an Active Member of AAPL;
2. Have been working as a landman for the past two years;
3. Have at least seven years of land experience; (or a minimum of five years with additional education);
4. Possess a four-year college degree or higher;
5. Make application and;
6. Be sponsored by at least three CPLs.
7. Attend the Oil & Gas Land
8. Pass the comprehensive exam.

CPLs must complete a total of 50 hours, including 2 ethics credits, of land, industry, or professional development education courses in each five year recertification period. CPL/ESAs must complete the same 50 hours, including 2 ethics credits, but 15 of those hours must be related to environmental education.
See your directory for a complete description of requirements for CPL, RPL, and RL programs. The application forms also contain information on the requirements for each designation.

CPL Exam
The CPL exam is a comprehensive examination dealing with the several areas of Landwork. Extensive landwork knowledge and experience will be required to pass the examination; however, it is not expected that a Landman be an expert in every area. It is recognized that specialization is sometimes the case in Landwork. Successful completion of the exam shall require that a grade of at least seventy (70) be secured on each section of the examination. The content of the examination will be approved by the AAPL Certification Committee.

Exam Retakes
Any applicant who has failed any portion(s) of the CPL examination shall have the opportunity to retake and pass a re-examination of the part(s) so failed within two years from the date of the exam. Notification of the results of the exam will be revealed only upon approval of the application. A candidate may request no more than two retakes of any part. Failure to pass any section in those two retakes will require the candidate to reapply for approval, pay the required fees and take the entire CPL examination.

Retakes may be scheduled at:
* AAPL HQ - Fort Worth
* Local Certification Chairman
* Any AAPL Review/Exam

Maintaining Certification
Each designation requires continuing education and application for recertification to maintain the designation. Failure to re-certify will result in loss of designation.

A. Requirements

1. Recertification credits
   a. CPLs must accrue 50 recertification credits within each five-year certification period, including 2 ethics credits.
   b. CPL/ESAs must accrue 50 recertification credits, with at least 15 of the credits as CPL/ESA credits, within the five-year certification period, including 2 ethics credits.
   e. All designations must earn the appropriate credits through participation in AAPL approved continuing education events, as described below.
2. Active Landwork - Continuing involvement in Landwork is required.
3. Ethical conduct
   Each CPL, and CPL/ESA must continue to adhere to the AAPL Code of Ethics as set forth in the AAPL Bylaws and as further defined by the AAPL’s Standards of Practice.

B. Application for Recertification
CPL (including CPL Specialist)
CPLs must apply for recertification and pay the recertification fee by the fifth anniversary of the CPL’s last certification date and every five years thereafter.

C. Exceptions to Requirements

Experience longevity
A CPL already exempted for longevity will be allowed to retain CPL status, if involved in Active Landwork by reapplying each five years and paying the appropriate fee, subject to the approval of the AAPL Certification Committee.
Note: This designation is now closed to all CPLs not already so designated.

CPL Recertification Application
Click here for CPL Recertification Application – PDF Format

CPL/ESA Recertification Application
Click here for CPL/ESA Recertification Application – PDF Format

Recertification
To obtain recertification the CPL Specialist must make application, pay the appropriate fee, and complete a form indicating the total number of credits resulting from full or partial attendance at AAPL or AAPL-accredited continuing education programs within the respective recertification period.

Each application for recertification made on the appropriate AAPL recertification form on or before the end of the certification period will be processed by the AAPL staff.

Record Maintenance
Each CPL and CPL Specialist shall be responsible for maintaining a record of recertification credits. AAPL will maintain a backup computer file of AAPL and AAPL-accredited programs attendance from affidavits received. AAPL will notify each CPL and CPL Specialist of the recorded recertification credits for the appropriate period preceding the date of recertification. This notification will serve only as a reminder and does not relieve the CPL or the CPL Specialist of the responsibility to maintain a record of recertification status.

Failure of Timely Recertification
Should certification lapse, the CPL or CPL Specialist will be allowed 90 days from the certification expiration date to seek reinstatement by furnishing the necessary evidence of satisfying the recertification requirements. Thereafter, compliance with the procedure for the appropriate certification, including passing the examination, will be required.

Grace Period
Under extenuating circumstances, the AAPL Certification Committee has the authority to grant additional time to seek recertification, upon applicant applying, in writing, for such additional time and providing necessary and reasonable evidence of good cause for such additional time.

Fees
All applicable certification, recertification and record maintenance fees will be established by the Executive Committee of AAPL by a majority vote of those present and may be changed as deemed appropriate by that same body.

Program Specifications
You are referred to the Certification Program Specifications contained in the annual Landman’s Directory for the full and official program requirements.

Each CPL and CPL Specialist must complete an AAPL approved affidavit of attendance for each program for which credit is requested. The affidavit will state the percentage of the total program attended by the applicant and will be forwarded to AAPL. Each CPL and CPL Specialist is responsible for seeing that this is accomplished at the time the program is presented or forwarded to AAPL within 30 days after the program.

Each CPL and CPL Specialist shall be responsible for maintaining a record of recertification credits. AAPL will maintain a backup computer file of AAPL and AAPL-accredited programs attendance from affidavits received. AAPL will notify each CPL and CPL Specialist of his recorded recertification credits for the appropriate period preceding the date of his recertification. This notification will serve only as a reminder and does not relieve the CPL or the CPL Specialist of the responsibility to maintain a record of recertification status.