Your CEP® or MCEP® certification must be renewed annually based on the NICEP's most current qualification standards which include renewal fees, CE requirements, and adherence to a Professional Code of Ethics. Let's review the fees:

Annual certification renewal fees vary based on your election of either the STANDARD or ENHANCED PROFILE, as well as whether you pay annually or quarterly.

Certification Renewal / STANDARD PROFILE - a three column web page that contains your photo, contact information, award date, and bio. The third column is available for your own video, social media, or other links that may be useful and attractive for prospects and clients.

Payment Options:

• submit $275 annually by your award anniversary date, or

• subscribe to a $59/quarter automatic recurring debit/charge.

Certification Renewal / ENHANCED PROFILE - a NICEP branded, fully personalized and editable, multi-page website with your own unique URL (e.g., www.NICEP.com/EstatePlanner). It includes everything in the Standard Profile, plus a downloadable personalized e-brochure for prospects and clients, and multiple, easily navigable, pages that allow you to maximize your presence on the NICEP website and increase your business presence online. The difference between the Enhanced and Standard profiles is only $160/year - a very inexpensive professionally branded multi-page business website!

Payment options:

• submit $435 annually by your award anniversary date, or

• subscribe to a $99/quarter automatic recurring debit/charge.

Why is the quarterly pay option less than the annual?

Fees are reduced for the quarterly subscription as an incentive to elect that option. Automatic recurring quarterly billing subscriptions can run successfully for years, and they have proven to substantially reduce unintended certification lapsing and reinstatement fees, as well as save our organization time and money invoicing and collecting annual fees. NOTE - The lower fees are only available with the quarterly automatic recurring subscription and those who elect this option should choose a reliable form of payment. Repetitive declines or returns defeat the intended purpose and will result in a return to the higher annual renewal option.

New Graduates - If your enrollment was paid at full price ($1695), certification renewal fees commence on the anniversary on your award date (see above).

If your enrollment fee was discounted, certification renewal fees will commence the next calendar quarter following your award date (e.g., May 1st award date means your fees commence on August 1st), as follows:

• Standard Profile (described above) - submit a prorated annual fee of $205 or subscribe to the $59/quarter option.

• Enhanced Profile (described above) - submit a prorated annual fee of $325 or subscribe to the $99/quarter option.

Your CEP® or MCEP® certification must be renewed annually based on the NICEP's most current qualification standards which include renewal fees, CE requirements, and adherence to a Professional Code of Ethics. Let's review the CE requirements.

Certification renewal includes completion of the NICEP continuing education requirement of a minimum of eight (8) hours every two (2) years from the date your certification was awarded. For example, if your award date is July 1, 2010, your initial window for submitting proof of CE would be any relevant education completed between 7/1/10 - 7/1/12. Then going forward, 7/1/12 - 7/1/14, etc. You may submit proof of CE along with your annual renewal application, or at any time during the year by upload, e-mail, fax or US Mail.

The NICEP accepts many forms of CE for credit toward your requirement. You may use conventional CE sources that are available in every state or online. You may submit independent verification of attendance or participation in seminars, workshops, webinars, study groups, etc. You may submit a letter from a professional colleague on their letterhead attesting to joint work on estate planning cases with specific mention of time involved and techniques utilized.

The important thing to remember is that we are looking for estate planning and related advanced planning education. Many of our certificants submit comprehensive lists or transcripts from their state licensing body, company compliance department, or other professional educational credentialing boards of their ongoing CE and let us "cherry pick" the hours from these lists in order to add up the hours required. You may also consider sending us copies of all your CE certificates of completion as you receive them. If you show participation or a certificate of completion in a course or event where the title does not adequately reflect related estate planning concepts, then provide a more detailed outline, syllabus or table of contents that shows this subject matter.

Your CEP® or MCEP® certification must be renewed annually based on the NICEP's most current qualification standards which include renewal fees, CE requirements, and adherence to a Professional Code of Ethics. Let's review the code of ethics:

Certification renewal includes adherence to the NICEP Professional Code of Ethics. The NICEP performs an annual ethics/compliance check with all certificants as part of the certification renewal process. Further, the NICEP reserves the right to deny, suspend, or revoke the use of its trademarked certifications for any reason at any time. Certificants not in good standing with the NICEP may not display or otherwise use in any way the CEP® or MCEP® trademarks, award certificates, logos, or associated material.

NICEP Professional Code of Ethics

Graduates of the National Institute of Certified Estate Planners shall:

• properly represent themselves with utmost integrity, making every effort to set the highest level of service and competence in the estate planning profession.

• provide quality of service that is beneficial to, and in the best interest of, their clients.

• participate in ongoing continuing education programs which shall serve to promote their individual proficiency and their credentials.

• maintain proper compliance with any State or Federal authorities and regulations as well as the professional companies and organizations that they represent, and shall notify the NICEP, in writing, regarding any regulatory non compliance findings by these entities in a timely manner.

• submit to the findings and rulings of the NICEP with regard to the continued use of its trademarked professional certification marks.

• conduct their business in a trustworthy and honest manner that shall enhance the reputation of the NICEP, its certifications, and associates.