Maintain Your IBBFA Active Status
Your earned credential remains on the IBBFA record. Active status shows whether your current maintenance period is in force and determines your eligibility for Active-only directory visibility and member services.
CBI enrollment includes two years of Active status from the enrollment date. Principal enrollment includes three years. No annual renewal payment is required during the included period.
After the included period, maintaining Active status requires a $99 annual renewal payment and completion of one maintenance option during the renewal year: the online Recertification Quiz or attendance at two IBBFA live webinars.
If the requirements are not current, the registry shows the credential as Lapsed. The earned credential remains on record; Lapsed describes current standing, not erasure of the credential.
When annual renewal begins
The included period is measured from enrollment, not from the date the candidate finishes the course or practical assessment.
2 years included
Annual renewal begins after the CBI included Active period ends.
3 years included
Annual renewal begins after the Principal included Active period ends.
$99 per year
Renewal payment plus the quiz or two webinars maintains Active standing.
Your individual expiration date should be confirmed through the IBBFA verification registry. Contact IBBFA when the registry record and your enrollment documentation appear inconsistent.
What Active status controls
Active status is a credential-maintenance designation. It does not guarantee employment, insurance acceptance, studio approval, or business results.
Public status verification
The registry can display credential level, specialties, Active or Lapsed standing, and expiration information without requiring an employer account.
Active directory eligibility
Active instructors may be included in relevant directory searches and may display available-for-hire or substitute indicators when those profile features are enabled.
Member education access
Active members may access eligible webinars, recorded materials, maintenance resources, and the Recertification Quiz through the applicable member platform.
Professional profile management
Eligible instructors can maintain their public bio, location, credentials, specialties, and contact preferences through the directory profile system.
Employer discovery
Studios may use the directory and IBBFA employer tools to identify possible candidates. Every employer should still verify the record and conduct its own hiring review.
Optional partner benefits
Insurance, consumer-discovery, or other partner benefits may be offered to eligible Active instructors. Availability, pricing, geography, and eligibility are controlled by the applicable provider terms.
Pay the renewal and complete one education option
The payment and education component are both required after the included Active period.
Auto-renewal can reduce accidental lapses
Auto-renewal can help prevent missed payments, but it does not replace the annual education requirement. Any billing date, cancellation rule, or price protection is governed by the terms displayed at checkout and in the subscription confirmation.
Active and Lapsed describe current standing
They should not be used to claim that a person never earned the credential.
Maintenance requirements are current
- The credential is within its included Active period or current renewal cycle.
- The public record shows Active standing and the applicable expiration date.
- The instructor may qualify for Active-only directory and member features.
- Employers can consider the current status alongside the live audition and other hiring evidence.
The current Active period has ended
- The earned credential remains part of the instructor's record.
- The public record shows Lapsed standing.
- Active-only directory visibility and member features may be paused.
- Reactivation requirements depend on the time elapsed and the policy in force.
Active status is one employer signal, not the entire hiring decision
Employers should distinguish credential history, current status, specialty preparation, references, required safety credentials, and live teaching performance.
See the credential acceptance framework and the 30-point live audition scorecard.
Reactivation schedule effective September 1, 2026
The tiered fees below apply after the announced grace period. The checkout page should display the current amount before payment.
| Status | Time past expiration | Published cost | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-time renewal | Before expiration | $99 | Annual payment plus quiz or two live webinars. |
| Administrative grace period | 0–90 days | $99 | Annual payment plus maintenance requirement; no additional reactivation fee. |
| Short lapse | 91 days–12 months | $149 | $99 annual renewal plus $50 reactivation fee and annual maintenance requirement. |
| Medium lapse | 13–24 months | $199 | $99 annual renewal plus $100 reactivation fee and mandatory Recertification Quiz. |
| Long lapse | 25+ months | $249 | $99 annual renewal plus $150 reactivation fee and mandatory Recertification Quiz. |
A participant should never be charged a fee that conflicts with the terms shown at checkout. Where this policy and checkout differ, pause the transaction and contact IBBFA for clarification.
Active-status questions
Does an IBBFA credential disappear when Active status lapses?
When does the $99 annual renewal begin?
Is the $99 payment alone enough to maintain Active status?
Do I need to repeat the full certification exam after a lapse?
Can I renew before my included period ends?
How are webinar attendances recorded?
Does every employer require Active status?
What happens to my directory profile when I become Lapsed?
Does Active status include discounted liability insurance?
Does auto-renewal permanently guarantee a $99 price?
How do I update my public profile?
Verification, employment, and credential policy
Keep Your Status Current and Verifiable
Confirm your expiration date, submit the applicable renewal, complete the quiz or webinar requirement, and verify that the registry has been updated.
IBBFA Active status is a credential-maintenance designation. It is not professional licensure, medical authorization, an employment guarantee, an insurance guarantee, or proof that a particular employer will accept the credential. Partner services, directory features, renewal rates, and reactivation terms should be confirmed through the current IBBFA checkout, member portal, or written policy before payment.