Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) Continuing Education is an annual education requirement established by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) to help investment adviser representatives remain current on regulatory developments, ethical standards, fiduciary responsibilities, and industry best practices.

Financial Experts Network offers NASAA-approved IAR CE through both live webinars and self-study programs, making it easy for advisors to satisfy their annual requirements.

Who Is Required to Complete IAR Continuing Education?

Every Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) registered in a state that has adopted the NASAA IAR Continuing Education Model Rule must complete annual IAR CE requirements.

One of the most common misconceptions is that the requirement depends on where your advisory firm is registered. In reality, the requirement is based on where you, the individual IAR, are registered, regardless of where your firm is located.

States That Require IAR CE

The following jurisdictions currently require Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education.

View the latest adoption map from NASAA:
https://www.nasaa.org/iarce

Annual IAR CE Requirements

Most Investment Adviser Representatives must complete 12 IAR CE credits each calendar year, including:

• 6 credits of Products & Practice
• 6 credits of Ethics & Professional Responsibility

Both requirements must be satisfied independently.

For example:

❌ 8 Products & Practice credits + 4 Ethics credits = Requirement NOT Met

✅ 6 Products & Practice credits + 6 Ethics credits = Requirement Met

Products & Practice vs. Ethics

Products & Practice

Products & Practice courses focus on topics such as:

• Investment products
• Financial planning strategies
• Portfolio management
• Regulatory developments
• Compliance best practices
• Advisor competency

Ethics & Professional Responsibility

Ethics courses focus on:

• Fiduciary responsibilities
• Ethical decision-making
• Professional conduct
• Regulatory obligations
• Client protection
• Best practices for serving clients

Complete Your IAR CE with Financial Experts Network

Financial Experts Network offers NASAA-approved IAR CE through:

• Live CE webinars
• Self-study CE programs

Each eligible course clearly identifies whether it provides:

• Products & Practice credit
• Ethics & Professional Responsibility credit

You may complete all or part of your annual requirement with Financial Experts Network.

Do I Have to Complete All 12 Credits Through Financial Experts Network?

No.

You may earn your required credits through any NASAA-approved provider. Many advisors choose Financial Experts Network for part—or all—of their annual IAR CE requirement.

What Is My CRD Number?

Your CRD (Central Registration Depository) Number is your unique FINRA registration number.

When registering for an IAR CE program, please provide your individual CRD number—not your firm's CRD number—so your credits can be reported correctly.

If you don't know your CRD number, you can locate it through FINRA BrokerCheck:

https://brokercheck.finra.org

How Does Financial Experts Network Report My IAR CE?

After you successfully complete an eligible IAR CE program and provide your correct CRD number, Financial Experts Network reports your completion directly to FINRA's CRD system.

Most course completions are reported within one week after successful completion.

Can I Report My Own IAR CE Credits?

Generally, no.

For NASAA-approved IAR CE courses, approved course providers report course completions directly to FINRA. Advisors do not self-report these courses.

How Can I Verify My Credits Have Been Reported?

You can view your IAR CE transcript and current status by logging into your FINRA FinPro account.

https://www.finra.org/registration-exams-ce/finpro

FINRA CE Processing Fees

Financial Experts Network passes through third-party FINRA CE processing fees when FINRA CE credits are reported.

Please Note: These processing fees are charged by Financial Experts Network to cover third-party FINRA reporting costs and are in addition to any membership or program fees.

Can I Earn IAR CE Through Self-Study?

Yes.

NASAA permits approved self-study courses to satisfy IAR CE requirements, provided the course has been approved for IAR CE credit.

Financial Experts Network offers a growing library of NASAA-approved self-study courses for advisors who prefer to complete CE on their own schedule.

Can I Carry Extra Credits Into Next Year?

No.

Any credits earned beyond your annual requirement cannot be carried forward to a future calendar year.

What Happens If I Don't Complete My Annual Requirement?

Failure to complete your annual IAR CE requirement may result in your registration becoming CE Inactive.

If deficiencies are not resolved, your IAR registration could eventually be affected, including your ability to renew your registration.

Can I Receive Credit for Taking the Same Course Twice?

No.

A NASAA-approved IAR CE course may only be counted once toward your IAR CE requirement. Repeating the same course does not earn additional credit.

Have Additional Questions?

If you have questions about Financial Experts Network's IAR CE programs, CE reporting, or eligible courses, please contact our team. We're happy to help you understand your requirements and find the right programs to satisfy your annual IAR Continuing Education obligations.