There are 10 separate multiple choice/true-false exams.  The exams have 10-14 questions each except Detailing Terminology which has 22.  Purchase online exams here.

You have to pass all 10 exams in order to become a Certified Detailer.  A passing grade on each exam is 80%.  If you fail an exam, you may take it one additional time free of charge.  If you fail on your 2nd try, you may purchase a 3rd attempt (max. 3 attempts per exam) for $10 each to cover administrative fees.  If you do not pass an exam after three attempts, please contact us at info@the-ida.com regarding next steps.  Order exam retakes here.

The Phase I Certified Detailer Program is an exam series, not a study course, that affirms and validates the skills of experienced detailers.  You may use any materials you have at your disposal in order to study, but the IDA does not supply study materials for the exams.

Currently, the IDA offers online CD exams in three languages: English, Portuguese, and Spanish.  We are working on offering the online CD exams in several different languages to ensure full and fair participation in the IDA Certification Program for members across the globe.  Keep an eye out for additional language options coming soon, including French, Italian, Dutch, and more.

If you have requests for additional translations, please email us at info@the-ida.com.

Once you successfully complete your exams, you will receive your digital IDA CD Certificate, digital artwork/logo, and CD patch in the mail. You will also be added to the Certified Detailer group on our website.  From that point forward, you will be able to use ", CD" after your name and use the IDA Certified Detailer logo in your marketing.  Maintaining your certification requires eight (8) hours of detailing-related education (seminars, webinars, tradeshow educational events, etc.) every two years.

The Skills Validated tests represent the four primary categories that each candidate must demonstrate their "hands on" ability to perform.  The detailer must perform each phase of the testing on their own and meet the minimum proficiency expected in order to pass.  The exam is presented in a scenario-type format to afford the detailer the opportunity to demonstrate the abilities expected of the Advanced Detailing Professional.

The applicant must have already completed Phase I Certification, having passed the ten written exams, to fulfill the classification of Certified Detailer.  Phase II Skills Validation testing demonstrates hands on skills and in-person testing by an IDA Recognized Independent Trainer (CD-SV, RIT) in areas covered in the written exams: Wash Bay/Prep, Interior, Exterior Correction, and Finishing Steps.  Each portion of the test will be a one-on-one teacher to student session.

As Phase II testing requires in-person evaluation, you must physically attend an event.  All events can be found on our Certification Events Community Calendar.  There may not always be testing available in your area, but the IDA strives to offer as many testing events as possible in varied locations.  If there are no events scheduled in your area, you may contact one of our Recognized Independent Trainers to express interest in setting up private testing. 

Once you successfully complete your Phase II assessment, you will receive a new digital IDA Certificate, digital artwork, and SV patch in the mail.  You will also be updated in the website.  From that point forward, you will be able to use ", CD-SV" after your name and use your updated IDA Certified Detailer - Skills Validated logo in your marketing.

Maintaining your certification will still require eight (8) hours of detailing-related education (seminars, webinars, tradeshow educational events, etc.) every two years.

Finally, after earning the IDA Certified Detailer - Skills Validated certification, and if you meet the other eligibility criteria (such as minimum 3 years of experience as a trainer), you may also apply to become a Recognized Independent Trainer (RIT) and begin offering IDA Certification yourself!  Learn about RIT application requirements here.

No.  The IDA Certification Events are an evaluation of a detailer's skills and not a training course.  Programs will include an overview of materials to be covered but do not guarantee certification.

Some events will have registration directly through the host and others will have registration through the IDA.  Each certification event listed on the Community Calendar will have an individual link you can use to register.

To maintain your certification, you must complete eight (8) hours of detailing-related continuing education over a two-year period beginning with the date of your initial certification.  You will receive one CD credit hour for each full clock hour of a qualifying program with a max of four (4) credit hours per calendar day.  (MTE's Education Day is the only exception to this.)  IDA Certified Detailers with a specialty certification must ensure that at least two (2) of the eight (8) total credit hours are earned via continuing education activities related to each specialty.

You must renew within two months of your Certification Expiration Date to retain your certification.  The cost for Certification Maintenance is $100 for IDA members and $150 for non-members.  If you miss this deadline, you do have a full year to renew your certification at the full rate ($200 for IDA members and $400 for non-members).  If your certification lapses for a full year past your Certification Expiration Date, you are no longer able to recertify with continuing education credits; you will need to restart with the Phase I - Certified Detailer (CD) exams in order to regain your certification designation.

Any detailing-related continuing education activities can be applied.  They do not have to be IDA events.  The IDA does offer free monthly webinars that can be attended for 1 credit and IDA webinar recordings that can also be applied for 1 full hour of credit.  Other options include attending tradeshow education sessions, writing articles for the IDA newsletter or other industry publications, or attending other detailing training programs.  Training that you proctor or sessions that you present at would NOT count as continuing education.  If you have any questions on a specific activity, contact us.

A Recognized Independent Trainer (RIT) is an individual recognized by the IDA as qualified to offer quality training and that demonstrates the needed skill set to proctor IDA certification exams.  RITs have proven to industry peers that they understand multi-faceted knowledge of techniques, terminology, and understanding of chemistry and their relation to detailing.  Their RIT endorsement does not make them a more competent detailer, rather someone recognized as a detailing trainer to others in the profession.  An RIT is someone to whom fellow industry professionals can reach out for accurate information.  They assist others in becoming the professionals that a customer would want to entrust with some of their largest investments.

RITs are held to the highest level of integrity and professionalism and are expected to support others in the detailing industry, the organization, and its certification programs.  RITs must strictly adhere to the IDA Code of Ethics and be a prime example of ethical conduct to others.  The role of the RIT within the IDA is to conduct certification testing for Certified Detailers (CD) and Skills Validated (SV) candidates and to be a resource for individuals seeking detailer training.

The applicant must be an active member of the IDA, be an IDA Certified Detailer - Skills Validated (Phase II), and must have a minimum of three years of experience in the last ten years training individuals to become professional detailers.  You will also need to have a facility available to administer training and testing, and offer training to the public.

The application requires completion of the form including submission of references, letters of recommendation, and a sample class outline.  Once a completed application is received, the materials are reviewed by the IDA Recognized Independent Trainer (RIT) Review Board, who will meet with the candidate to discuss their application/qualifications and the scope of the position.  Upon application approval by the RIT Review Board, their recommendation will go to the full IDA Board for final ratification at their next monthly meeting.  CD-SV detailers have access to the Recognized Independent Trainer application on the Skills Validated group home page.

The IDA currently offers three specialty certifications: Watercraft (formerly Marine), Motorcycle, and RV.  Individuals who earn any specialty certification have not only demonstrated expertise in auto detailing, but have also exhibited the specific knowledge needed to care for other types of vehicles.

As the IDA continues to expand our certification program and scope to better benefit detailers that work in specialized areas of the industry, we have determined that our Marine Certification requires a name change.  In order to make way for the new Motorcycle Certification program, we have made the decision to officially change the Marine Certification to Watercraft!  This means that any of our Certified Detailers who currently hold the Marine Certification will need to change the credentials after their name from CD, MC to CD, WC.

We are working quickly to update all website and certification verbiage to reflect the new name change to minimize the amount of disruption for previous Marine Certified Detailers.  We will be sending out new certificates and IDA member badges to everyone that currently holds the former Marine Certification, and all new materials will reflect the new Watercraft designation.  Moving forward, CD, MC will become the new designation for our Motorcycle Certified Detailers.  We apologize to any of our Watercraft Certified Detailers for any inconvenience this may cause, but hope that you will all join us in recognizing those in our industry that are experts at detailing motorcycles, and help us with providing recognition and a new form of certification to that part of the industry!