CDFA Certification

You earned it — and it’s yours to keep.

Attaining your CDFA, Certificate in Design Firm Administration, reflects a genuine commitment to excellence across the full spectrum of firm operations: administration, finance, marketing, human resources, information technology, and project management. That credential doesn’t expire, and neither does the expertise behind it.

But your career didn’t stand still. Neither should your certification.

The professionals who pursued the CDFA didn’t stop growing — they stepped into larger roles, took on greater responsibility, and became the people their firms rely on to lead. If that sounds like you, there’s a natural next step: the CDFO, Certificate in Design Firm Operations.

The voluntary conversion from CDFA to CDFO adds one critical dimension to your credentials: Leadership. Because at this stage of your career, that’s what sets you apart. Formal recognition of your leadership capabilities sends a powerful signal — to your firm, your peers, and the broader industry. [Learn more about the CDFO →]

And the path continues.

Earning your CDFO also positions you for the most advanced credential in the program: the CDFO-FM, Certificate in Design Firm Financial Management. For those on the finance and operations side of the back office, the CDFO-FM represents the ultimate attestation of your expertise—a credential that speaks to mastery of both financial strategy and operational management at the highest level. [Explore the CDFO-FM →]