How to Maintain Your Certification
RIA Certificants must actively pursue ongoing professional development through educational coursework, attendance at industry related events, association involvement, presentations, mentoring and more. Those holding an RIA advanced certification adhere to a strict Code of Professional Conduct and provide quality assurance to the general public and industry-at-large.
Having completed the rigorous study, examination and formal project, candidates then receive their formal advanced certification and are known as “Certificants.” Upon receipt of their certification, they agree to:
- Comply with the RIA's Code of Ethical Conduct
- Comply with trademark infringement policies
- Maintain continuing education credits
- Submit payment of their certification renewal fee every three years.
Membership in RIA is not a requirement of certification.
When to Renew
RIA certifications are renewable every 3 years. Upon formal notification from RIA, certificants begin their 3-year certification cycle, which runs on the calendar year. Example: The 3-year certification cycle for a professional who becomes certified in October 2018 would run from July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2022.
Obtaining Continuing Education Credits to Renew
All RIA certificants are required to maintain a total of 48 continuing education contact hours within their three-year certification cycle. All CECs must be obtained within the three-year cycle to ensure the certificant is obtaining current and updated knowledge and information. The number of CECs required for renewal is contingent upon the number of RIA Advanced Designations held – CMP, WLS, FLS, ERS, CLS, CR.
All CEC activity must be documented. Acceptable forms of documentation may include: attendance certificates, paid receipts attached to a brochure or flyer describing the class, copy of ID badge along with class description, etc. CEC contact hours exceeding the CEC hour requirements within a 3-year cycle cannot be “carried over” into the next certification cycle. Certificants may combine education credit opportunities from any on the table below to achieve required contact hours.
Renewing Multiple RIA Advanced Designations
As an individual gains multiple pillar designations, the newly gained certification will automatically be placed on the same certification cycle as the currently held certification(s) for renewal.
Beginning in the June 30, 2019 renewal window, the renewal date of the CR determines the renewal date for all earned certifications moving forward. For dual certificants with no CR, the default renewal date will become that of the first attained certification. Moving forward, all new dual, triple or quadruple certifications will assume the certification renewal date of the first attained certification.
Renewal Fees
The fee required for renewal is contingent upon the number of RIA Advanced Designations held – CMP, WLS, FLS, ERS, CLS, CR.