Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC)® Policies

Certification and Membership are separate programs. 

• You have the option of adding on Membership for a discounted rate when registering for Certification.
• Additionally, Members receive a discount on Certification.

Renewing your Membership does not renew your Certification, and recertification does not include an annual Membership. 

• Recertification occurs every three (3) years.
• Membership renews annually.

Candidate and Designee access to CourseNetworking (thecn.com) automatically expires on the last day of the month that you are scheduled to complete your certification (1 year) or are scheduled to recertify (3 years).

To ensure uninterrupted access, make sure to schedule your exam, submit your Candidate Project, pay any fee, and/or upload your 60 CEUs before the expiration date.

• Certification example: If your certification year ends August 31, 2025, the assessment (both the Candidates Project and exam) is due by August 30, 2025.
• Recertification example: If you are scheduled to recertify on August 31, 2024, your recertification fee must be paid and 60 CEUs uploaded for review by August 30th. 

If your Certification timeframe expires, a $350 Exam Change Fee is due prior to account reactivation.

Recertifying Designees receive 90-, 60-, and 30-day email reminders directly from the CN when your recertification month is approaching. If your certification lapses more than one year, there is a $250 recertification fee due along with a new Candidate Project.

Candidates who withdraw from the program within 14 days of their registration date may receive a refund, minus a $1,000 administrative fee. No refunds will be provided, for any reason, after 15 days have expired. Candidates may choose to reschedule or make a substitution in the same calendar year (January 1st through December 31st) without being charged a fee. If a substitution is made in a subsequent calendar year, the $350 exam change fee applies.

If a Candidate chooses to withdraw, study guides must be returned unused or the cost of the study guide will be deducted from the refund along with the withdrawal fee. Allow 30 days for refund processing.

Nonrefundable fees include IDC exam and recertification fees and Membership fees; substitutions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Candidates enrolled in the 8-week Online Program may change to the 3-day Academy for free in weeks one (1) through four (4). After the fourth week, a Class Change Fee of $200 will be assessed.

IDC offers year-round testing. Candidates may take the knowledge exam or submit the Candidate Project at any time. If necessary, a Candidate may reschedule their knowledge-based examination at any time.

There is no fee to reschedule the examination more than 48 hours in advance of the test. Changes within 48 hours of your test is considered a late cancellation.

Candidates must contact the specific testing center to change their examination date.

Any changes not made within 48 hours of the knowledge exam appointment are considered a late cancellation and will require a $350 examination change fee. There are no exceptions to this late cancellation policy. Pay the exam change fee.

Candidates who fail the CDP® or CDE® examination and/or Candidate Project are eligible to retake the assessments. Candidates must wait 28 calendar days (approximately 4 weeks). Each Candidate can only take each portion of the assessment a maximum of three (3) times in one calendar year. A candidate is eligible for two exam or Candidate Project retests per calendar year. The knowledge exam retest fee is $617 per sitting. Pay the fee.

An administrative fee of $35 will be charged for all returned checks.

The Institute for Diversity Certification prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, gender, race, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. IDC's credentialing process is designed to be fair to all Candidates.