Before we get into the practice of counting FPs, there are a few other background points you should also know:
Large user group
A large user group known as IFPUG (http://ifpug.org) is responsible for
carrying the FP torch. IFPUG is a non-profit, member-governed
organization, consisting of over 1,200 members in 30 countries around
the world. As the time of this writing version 4.2 of the IFPUG
specifications for counting FPs (referred to as the Counting Practices
Manual) has just been released.
ISO Standard
The "Unadjusted FP Count" of IFPUG v4.1 is now an ISO standard. In this
paper you'll learn some of the basics of performing an Unadjusted FP
Count.
De-facto standard
In addition to being an ISO standard, FPs are used as the de facto
standard for cost estimating applications like Cocomo II, Construx
Estimate, and other estimating packages.
Certified Function Point Specialist, or CFPS
A CFPS is a person who has passed the official IFPUG certification test.
The CFPS designation must be renewed every three years.
Counting Practices Manual, or CPM
The CPM is the official manual created and distributed by IFPUG. It
details the official counting rules used by CFPS practitioners. These
rules help to keep counts consistent from one CFPS to another. Version
4.1 of this manual is over 300 pages in length.
FP data repositories
Because many companies have been using FP information for quite some
time, there are several large repositories of project data, where
companies have combined FP counts along with other information, such as
tools used, man hours, and overall project cost. With accurate counts
and other accurate data, you don't have to feel so along when making
those all-important project estimates.