Certification Process: Frequently Asked Questions
CDFA/CDFO Certification Process: Frequently Asked Questions
The information below is intended to clarify common concerns. The information contained herein is subject to revision.
Time to Recertify?
The Facts:
- Certification wasn’t “easy” – don’t let it expire.
- Recertification is required each year to maintain your designation.
- It’s now even easier to renew online with your membership renewal.
The Rewards:
- Recertification demonstrates your commitment to the design profession and continued mastery of operations in the A|E|C industry.
- Many firms desire a CDFA/CDFO certification when making hiring decisions.
- And, as one SDA member stated, “…each time I recertify, I have that same sense of personal achievement and satisfaction that I received when I first became certified.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do I have to renew?
Certified members renew with their membership renewal. If you retire from the industry as an SDA Emeritus, you may keep your CDFA/CDFO designation with no continuing education requirement. Upon departure from the profession to work in another industry,
you may keep the designation only if you fulfill the continuing education requirement of 18 hours annually and pay the annual renewal fee.
Could you give me details on how recertification works?
To maintain the CDFA/CDFO designation, members must affirm completion of the required CEUs each year when renewing membership.
As a current certified member, when you complete your SDA membership renewal, check the corresponding box. The annual recertification cost is $50, submitted with your membership dues. By checking the box, you affirm that you have met the 18-hour continuing
education requirement for the previous calendar year.
Each year, the SDA Certification Committee audits 15% of recertifying individuals selected at random. An audit consists of a request by the SDA Certification Committee to submit a list of the courses taken, including the provider's name, dates attended,
number of course hours, and a certificates of attendance. Members may uploaded their information and certificate of attendance to the Professional Development tab of the Member Profile. Nonmembers submit a zip file of certificates.
Continuing education hours may be submitted for approval and tracking throughout the year by uploading proof of attendance to the Professional Development tab of your member profile on the SDA National website each time you complete a course. SDA recommends
that members update their continuing education transcripts regularly to facilitate the audit process. This audit may be conducted up to three years after the year to be audited. Retain all documentation for three years.
Do you have to meet a minimum number of continuing educations units for each focus area?
Yes. You must complete at least one continuing education unit (or one hour) in each focus area: Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Operations, Project Management, and Leadership.
Do product-related units meet the continuing education requirement?
Product-only educational opportunities, including "Lunch n' Learns," may be used for up to six CEUs annually. Providers must been the requirements listed below.
What types of programs meet the continuing education requirements?
Any educational programs certified by one of the A|E|C affiliate organizations (such as AIA, ACEC, AGC, SMPS, etc.) will be acceptable, as well as educational seminars and programs offered by any learning institution including LinkedIn, Stambaugh Ness,
Deltek, QuickBooks, or universities. Other professional organizations specializing in one of the focus areas are also acceptable (e.g., accounting societies such as the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy [NASBA], the American Institute
of Certified Public Accountants [AICPA], or the Institute of Management Accountants [IMA], or business societies such as the American Management Association ([AMA]. Additionally, vendors who are AIA CES providers and offer AIA-approved programs are
also acceptable. You must keep backup documentation such as sign-in sheets or certificates of attendance. Proof of payment and registration details will not be sufficient.
Pre-recorded webinars from providers listed above are accepted for credit, provided the following requirements are met:
- For SDA-provided webinars, the attendee passes a short quiz at the end (if available), or
- If no quiz is available and for other organizations, the attendee must write a two- to three-paragraph synopsis of the webinar's content, describing how they will utilize this new information, and post it to the member's Professional Development
tab on their profile in place of the certificate for review and approval. This paragraph must not simply rephrase the webinar description.
Continuing Education Units from Authorship. Units may be obtained from the authorship of a white paper/industry-related article following publication. One CEU hour is awarded for each publication. Recognition/application of credit expires
at the end of the calendar year and shall not exceed four credits per calendar year.
Continuing Education Units for Presenters. A 1.5 to 1.0 continuing education unit ration will be available to Presenters. The presentation shall be based on one of the six SDA focus areas. The sign-in/attendance sheet must be
submitted to obtain Presenter credit, and the individual must be identified as a Presenter. Recognition/application of credit expires at the end of the calendar year and shall not exceed four credits per year.
