Frequently Asked Questions

What is IDFA Learning?

Learning is the new home for all of the resources for IDFA Members. The Learning site also includes materials (or “products”) in many different formats, including webinar recordings, reports, articles, sample documents, templates, and much more!

What types of resources are on IDFA learning? 

Learning includes many types of materials that will help CDFA professionals, and other divorce professionals, keep up-to-date with information on effective CDFA practices, as well as trends in the industry.

On Learning you’ll find:

• Webinar Recordings: IDFA® offers a free CE webinar each month, available to both members and non-members from the 1st–7th of every month. CDFA® professionals who complete at least 50 minutes of the webinar and pass a short quiz will earn 1 hour of CE credit, which is automatically added to their member account. We make every effort to secure CFP® and NASBA approval for our free monthly webinars. When a webinar is approved for CFP® or NASBA credit, this will be noted in the webinar description. CE credits will also be automatically reported to the CFP Board and NASBA, provided your CFP® or NASBA membership number is included during registration.
• Reports and Publications: Review research and insights from the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts and other organizations that focus on finances, family law and divorce.
• Sample Documents and Templates: These resources have been shared by IDFA to help build your CDFA practice.

• Articles: Gain access to articles found in previous issues of the DFA Journal.
• CE Directory: IDFA has partnered with continuing education providers to offer CE courses that adhere to curriculum standards. You can search through all available courses and register on the CE sponsor site.

How do I access the resources on IDFA Learning? 

Log in with your IDFA Member credentials to gain access to Learning’s full resources (or “products”). 

How can I find the resources I need, and the format I prefer, on the IDFA learning site? 

There are several ways to see what materials (or “products”) Learning has to offer. You can: 

• Use the large icons on Learning's main page to go to the page with the resource of interest to you. Choose from Conferences, Resources (reports, articles, samples and templates), or Webinar recordings. From each of those pages, you can browse around to see what’s available. 
• Use the dropdown in the right sidebar to select one or more categories (topic areas) and/or a format type. 
• Use the search box in the right sidebar to enter the keyword(s) that match your learning needs and interests. 
• Visit the full catalog to drill down by category and/or format type, then sort the results by the date added to Learning or by the interest areas you’ve indicated in “My Profile.” 

Content is being added all the time, so be sure to visit periodically to see the latest additions.

Do I need to register to access resources (or “products”) on IDFA Learning?

For items that are available to you at no charge, registration is complete once you click the “Register” button. You can access the item by clicking the blue box with the arrow next to the item overview. The free item will appear in “My Cart” if you have any products waiting to be purchased.

If a product costs a fee, you’ll need to register to become an IDFA Member and complete the transaction in “My Cart.”

What is “My Profile”?

This feature allows you to customize your Learning experience by indicating what topics are important (and not so important) to you. Your selections will determine what you see in the “Recommended for You” sections of the Learning site. Revise your selections at any time based on your professional development or changes in your career path.

Access “My Profile” from the Learning menu box in the right sidebar.

What is “My Dashboard”?

This feature allows you to easily review the list of materials you’ve registered for or purchased, then link to them to explore them further. Note that most “print” materials like articles and reports have no access time limit.

Access “My Dashboard” from the "My Enrolled Content" menu in the top blue navigation bar or the Learning menu box in the right sidebar.

What is “My Cart”?

Here, you can review the list of items (or “products”) you’ve registered for or plan to purchase. From the shopping cart you can complete your purchases and access your materials.

Access "My Cart" from the Learning menu in the top blue navigation bar.

I’m having technical issues with the site. Whom do I contact?

For more information, please contact our office at 1-800-875-1760 or email us at support@institutedfa.com.

How many CE credits do I need to maintain my CDFA® designation?

To maintain the CDFA® designation, CDFA® professionals must complete:

• 24 hours of continuing education every two years
• 2 hours of ethics continuing education

Total Requirement: 26 IDFA®-approved CE credits every two years

How often are new CE webinars offered?

IDFA® offers at least one new continuing education webinar each month which is released on the first day of each month.

Are the webinars free?

Yes. IDFA releases one free webinar each month. Each new webinar is available free of charge for the first 7 days after release (from the 1st through the 7th day of each month).

Who can access the free webinars?

The free monthly webinars are open to:

• CDFA® professionals
• Non-members
• Referral partners and colleagues

You are encouraged to share the opportunity with others who may benefit from the content.

How do I earn CE credit?

To receive CE credit, you must:

• Watch the webinar
• Complete the quiz
• Pass the quiz with a score of 70% or higher

Once successfully completed, you will receive:

• 1 hour of CDFA® continuing education credit
• CFP® CE credit or NASBA credit (if eligible)

How do I know if a webinar qualifies for CFP® or NASBA credit?

If a webinar is approved for CFP® or NASBA credit, it will be clearly noted in the webinar description. We will try our best to register our webinars for CFP® and NASBA credit but it is not guaranteed.

Does IDFA report CFP® or NASBA CE credit for me?

Yes. If a webinar qualifies for CFP® or NASBA credit, IDFA® will report your attendance on your behalf at no additional cost, provided you include your CFP® or NASBA number during registration.

What happens after the free 7-day access period?

After the initial 7-day period:

• The webinar is added to the IDFA® On-Demand CE Library
• The course remains available for purchase and CE credit

Pricing:

• $24.99 for CDFA® members
• $49.99 for non-members

Do on-demand webinars still qualify for CE credit?

Yes. On-demand IDFA webinars include CDFA® CE credit upon successful completion of the quiz requirements.

Eligible programs may also continue to offer CFP® or NASBA CE credit. The webinar will clearly state if it is eligible for CFP® or NASBA CE credit. 

What qualifies as ethics CE?

Ethics CE programs must be approved by IDFA®, they will be clearly marked as an Ethics CE and will generally cover topics such as:

• Professional standards and conduct
• Fiduciary responsibility
• Ethical considerations in divorce financial planning
• Regulatory or legal updates affecting professional practice

Can I receive CE credit for third-party programs?

Yes. CDFA® professionals may receive CE credit for qualifying third-party continuing education programs if:

• The program is offered by one of our approved CE partners and is approved by IDFA in advance. You can view our approved CE partners and courses here. 
• The content aligns with IDFA® CE policies, standards, and competency requirements.
• The topic is relevant to divorce financial analysis or related financial issues

Programs must be pre-approved prior to attendance. Retroactive approval is not available.

Can organizations become approved IDFA® CE providers?

Yes. Third-party organizations may apply to become IDFA® CE Partners and offer programs eligible for CDFA® CE credit. To apply - click here.

What are the requirements to become an IDFA® CE Partner?

To qualify:

• Programs must be submitted to IDFA® for approval in advance
• Content must align with IDFA® CE policies, standards, and core competencies
• Topics must relate to divorce financial analysis or related financial issues

Programs must be approved prior to attendance. Retroactive approval will not be granted.

Are the webinars educational or promotional?

IDFA® webinars are designed to be educational, practical, and professionally relevant. Some webinars may include a brief sponsor message at the beginning of the program or the end of the program, but sponsor content is minimal and kept separate from the educational material.

What are Business Growth Webinars?

IDFA® Business Growth Webinars are expert-led programs designed to help CDFA® professionals build, grow, and strengthen their practices. These webinars focus on business development, professional growth, client relationships, marketing strategies, and practice management topics relevant to operating a successful CDFA® business.

Business Growth Webinars are:

• Available on demand for a fee
• Designed to provide practical strategies and real-world insights
• Focused on helping CDFA® professionals grow their visibility, confidence, and business success

Please note:

• Business Growth Webinars are not eligible for CE credit
• These programs do not count toward the CE requirements needed to maintain the CDFA® designation