Certification Programs

To maintain a certification and keep the designation active, bankers must earn a designated number of applicable Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits every two years and pay the certification renewal fee annually. 

Yes, you can take courses from other entities. Regardless of the provider, CPE will be approved if the course is relevant to your certification and the required supporting documentation is provided. This includes training from state associations and other entities advertising their training as CCE, CE, CLE, etc.

The certification annual renewal fee is $150. Invoices are sent every January, and payment can be submitted in the online certification portfolio.  

Yes, the annual renewal fee applies for each certification a banker holds. For example, a banker with two certifications would pay a $300 annual renewal fee - $150 for each of the two certifications.  

CPE requirements vary by ICBA certification program: 

30 CPE credits are required every two years for the following certifications: 

• Audit  

• Compliance 

• Information Technology 

20 CPE credits are required every two years for the following certification: 

• BSA/AML 

15 CPE credits are required every two years for the following certifications: 

• Bank Security 

• Commercial Lending 

• Consumer Lending 

• Credit Analysis 

• Data Analytics & AI 

• Enterprise Risk Management 

• Marketing 

Bankers with more than one certification cannot use the same CPE credits toward multiple certifications. For example, a banker with an Audit certification and a Compliance certification will need 30 hours of CPE for each designation, for a total of 60 hours of CPE training every two years.  

However, a banker can split the CPE credits earned from one training between multiple certifications. For example, a banker with an Audit certification and a Compliance certification could attend an Audit Institute and allocate half of the CPE credits to their Audit certification and half to their Compliance certification. 

ICBA Education adheres to the NASBA Statement on Standards for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Programs.  

Fifty (50) minutes of participation in an instructed event is considered one (1) CPE credit for each program of learning. Note - time is deducted for scheduled lunch and breaks and is not included in the total instructional minutes. 

To calculate total CPE credit, determine the total number of instructional minutes and divide it by 50. 

At least 50% of the required CPE credits must be achieved at live in-person or livestreamed events, including live webinars where there is interaction between the attendee and/or the ability to interact with the speaker. ICBA Education seminars and institutes are examples of a live event. 

The remaining CPE credits (up to 50%) may be accumulated through online training or self-study courses relevant to your certification. 

Training can be completed with ICBA Education or through another entity, such as your state association. For any questions on third party training and whether it would qualify, please contact ICBA Education by email at certification@icba.org or by calling (800) 422-7285. 

Acceptable CPE topics vary by certification. Some examples include: 

• Audit – bank audit; risk; regulatory; compliance; bank operations; BSA/AML; AI policy 

• Bank Security – banking physical security; fraud; safety awareness; compliance issues related to fraud (The Bank Protection Act, Reg H); SAR’s; robbery; internal theft; ATM security; addressing confrontational behavior; elder abuse and elder fraud; AI fraud trends 

• BSA/AML – BSA; AML; fraud; CTR’s; OFAC; CIP; SAR’s; record retention; high-risk customers (CDD/EDD); AI fraud trends 

• Compliance –regulatory; compliance; Fair Lending; CRA; bank operations; BSA; AML; fraud; bank audit; AI policy 

• Commercial Lending – topics should be commercial lending focused: credit/lending; credit risk and risk ratings; cash flow; financial analysis; regulatory issues related to lending; lending compliance; analyzing tax returns or other financial statements; AI applications 

• Consumer Lending – credit/lending; credit risk and risk ratings; cash flow; financial analysis; regulatory issues related to lending; lending compliance; analyzing tax returns or other financial statements; AI applications 

• Credit Analysis – topics should be commercial lending focused: credit/lending; credit risk and risk ratings; cash flow; financial analysis; regulatory issues related to lending; lending compliance; analyzing tax returns or other financial statements; AI applications 

• Data Analytics & AI – using your bank’s data for analysis; strategic and budget planning; using data to make decisions; using AI to assist with data analysis; Microsoft Excel (concepts and functionality) 

• Enterprise Risk Management – enterprise risk management; credit risk; operational risk management; strategic risk management; legal risk; risk mitigation; compliance; fraud; AI fraud trends 

• Information Technology – IT or technology related; new bank software; core training; fraud; IT security; risk management; business continuity planning and policies; network security; banking technology threats; risk assessments; AI 

• Marketing – creating a marketing plan for your bank; social media management; website management; data analytics; brand management; communications and advertising; marketing compliance; using AI to assist with marketing efforts 

If you have a question about whether a particular course/training would qualify for CPE, please contact ICBA Education by email at certification@icba.org or by calling (800) 422-7285. 

All CPE requirements start the year after certification is achieved. For example, if you achieve your certification in 2026, the CPE requirement starts on Jan. 1, 2027, and you have two full years (the certification maintenance cycle) to accumulate the required CPE credits by Dec. 31, 2028. 

An online certification portfolio is created for each certified banker to enter and track their CPE credits. Documentation validating attendance is required for all CPE entries. 

Examples of qualified supporting documentation* include: 

• a certificate of completion/attendance 

• a copy of a sign-in sheet from the event validating your attendance 

• other document validating attendance  

*Please note that receipts, confirmations, agendas, or event materials are not eligible to validate attendance without including one of the above. 

These documents must include: 

• attendee’s name 

• entity providing training 

• course title/description 

• date(s) of the training 

• number of CPE provided or start/end times of the session(s)  

ICBA staff reviews all CPE submissions. CPE approvals are typically completed within a two-week period. If you have questions related to a specific CPE submission, please contact ICBA Education by email at certification@icba.org or by calling (800) 422-7285. 

If you do not pay the renewal fee annually and earn the required number of CPE credits by 12/31 of your certification cycle maintenance period, your certification will terminate. ICBA Education staff will notify bankers whose certification status is in danger of lapsing before the certification is terminated. 

If your certification lapsed less than two years ago, it can be reinstated. You must pay any outstanding renewal fees and report your earned CPE (CPE must have been earned during the previous maintenance cycle). A certification reinstatement fee of $200 will apply. 

To begin the process of reinstatement, please contact ICBA Education by email at certification@icba.org or by calling (800) 422-7285. 

Note: if your certification lapsed two or more years ago, you must repeat the respective Institute and retake the required exam.