About IDC®

Achieve DEIA Confidence, Competence, and Credibility with the Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC)®

The Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC)®, support professionals and executives who are tasked with advancing the next generation of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in the workplace.


Since its 2009 founding by Leah Smiley, CDE®, IDC has combined education and technology to develop effective workplace and marketplace Diversity and Inclusion interventions. As a global leader, we support more than 2,500 individual and corporate members with educational and networking opportunities through our Membership arm while our Certification arm is the world’s leading DEIA credentialing body, conferring the industry-recognized Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)® and Certified Diversity Executive (CDE)® designations to qualifying practitioners.


IDC was recognized on the 2022 and 2023 Inc. 5000 listing as one of the fastest growing companies in the Midwest.

Our Mission

To engage in a holistic approach to DEIA that dives deep into changing behaviors, expectations, attitudes, and needs within different demographic groups; how those changes will sustain (or disrupt) organizations; and the way they work now and in the future.

Our Vision

IDC® work equips the next generation of leaders to effectively operate in or pivot towards increasingly diverse and complex workplace and marketplaces. Our vision is to become a globally renown organization demonstrating excellence in preparing professionals and executives for productive, thriving careers. IDC® Membership, Certification, and training programs help us foster a widespread diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment for the next generation of DEIA.

Our Values

Advance the culture of Inclusion while remaining current in societal trends.


Remove bias and barriers; build a diverse space for the next generation of DEIA.


Cultivate a sense of belonging and continue to enhance our performance and reputation.

A team building experience where 4 colleagues stand arm-in-arm in a park. Each wear one letter on their shirts, spelling TEAM

Our Commitments

Membership – Develop relationships that make a positive difference in the lives of our members. 


Quality – Provide outstanding tools and resources and unsurpassed service that, together, deliver premium value to members.


Integrity – Uphold the highest standards of integrity in all actions. 


Teamwork – Work together, across boundaries, to meet the needs of our members and to help the company continue to strive for equity.


Respect for Members – We value our members, encourage their development, and celebrate their successes.

A Will to Win – Exhibit a strong will to win in the DEIA space as we continue to educate and encourage DEI professionals and practitioners in every aspect of an organization.


Personal Accountability – We are personally accountable for delivering on our commitments to provide a safe space for DEI practitioners and professionals.


Openness – Provide a safe space for open-minded individuals for collaboration between members of different disciplines, fostering a culture that welcomes new ideas and styles of work that can allow everyone to grow.


Partner – Partner with other organizations to assess and implement equitable, inclusive practices that advance our vision, mission, values, and goals. 

Goals



  • To increase and maintain visibility and discuss of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion challenges and trends.
  • To help develop inclusive and pervasive environments for all members to thrive.
  • To facilitate and encourage the use of translatable strategies that enable empowerment.
  • To partner with divisions, sections, and zones to broaden DEIA capacity.
  • To expand our Certification, Membership, and training programs, their levels of participation, and engagement.
  • To support our Members and Designees in embracing difficult conversations with openness and empathy, and handling the discomfort and burnout inherent in DEI work.
  • To provide professional learning opportunities at annual conferences.
  • To provide top-notch virtual learning opportunities.
  • To post meaningful, action-focused content on our website and social media channels.
  • To spotlight scholars, students, Members, and sponsors. 

Our History

  • 2009-2011

    • IDC develops its first international credentialing program in partnership with global DEI subject matter experts (SMEs), who defined the audience, designation, certification requirements, Code of Ethics, and Standards of Practice.
    • The assessment process was two-fold, consisting of a standardized test (measuring knowledge) and a capstone professional work that is peer reviewed (the Candidate Project, which measures skill). 
    • Exam instruments are developed with the help of Dr. Howard Mzumara, a psychometrician at Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI). Dr. Mzumara redirected IDC's exam item writers, as the SMEs initially developed questions and answers that were deemed too easy. The SMEs revised all of the exam items with rigor, and then Dr. Mzumara approved their work on both tests.
    • IDC commissions Performance Assessment Network (PAN, a Talogy company) to develop and proctor the first high-stakes exams, providing IDC with access to over 600 testing centers throughout North America.
    • The first pilot exam participants were from the US, Canada, Denmark, and France.

  • 2013-2014

    • IDC updates the program terminology to reflect Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) versus Diversity alone. 
    • The exams are revised, with 16 distinct competencies for the CDP® and 16 distinct competencies for the CDE®.
    • IDC offers onsite certification prep courses in Indiana and Texas. 
    • IDC receives approval from Indiana for military servicemembers to use GI Bill benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to pay for the certification exam. 
    • IDC launches its first Job Analysis Survey to gather information about D&I work, including the duties, responsibilities, and educational requirements.

  • 2015-2016

    • IDC moves to a smaller advisory council and conducts a job analysis survey to gather information about D&I work. 
    • The U.S. Air Force awards IDC a contract to conduct onsite CDP® exam prep at the Pentagon.
    • IDC becomes a member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. 
    • The State of Washington offers CDP® and CDE® credentials to 40 executives and aspiring managers in an onsite DEI certification program. Additionally, IDC offers prep courses at Hodges University (FL), Howard University (DC), and Martin University (IN), as well as at office parks in Chicago (IL) and Los Angeles (CA). 

  • 2017-2020

    • IDC secures its intellectual property to distinguish the rigors of DEI certification from other certificate programs. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued trademarks for the Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC)®, Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)®, and Certified Diversity Executive (CDE)® credentials. The exam and study guide copyrights were also secured for both credentials.
    • Membership presents the Diversity 3.0 and Diversity 4.0 conferences, featuring CDP® and CDE® Designees as expert speakers, panelists, moderators, and hosts.
    • The exams are updated based on the 2016-2017 Job Task Analysis.
    • IDC adjusts its terminology to reflect an industry shift to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). 
    • It transitions to electronic files with the Talent Learning Management System.

  • 2021-2023

    • IDC migrates to CourseNetworking (The CN) learning management system for Candidates and Designees. 
    • IDC begins working with the OSU CETE to update its assessments and testing process. 
    • The 5th edition of the CDP® and CDE® exams are designed based on the 2021-2022 Job Task Analysis and Verification Survey. 
    • CETE used item writing software, with an assessment development expert, to facilitate the SMEs revision of both exams.
    • Membership hosts Diversity 5.0, a hybrid summit focusing on employee resource groups, where CDP® and CDE® Designees facilitated workshop sessions, served as panelists, and networked. 
    • Membership hosts the 2023 Neurodiversity Summit: Wired for Success, a virtual summit exploring next-generation DEIA practices that advance neurodivergent experiences, interventions, and achievements.
    • IDC adopts Accessibility as a cornerstone for our work, moving from DEI to DEIA.

    Today, IDC has thousands of Candidates and Designees in 50 US states and 30+ other nations. Certification prep courses are offered in North and South America, as well as in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, plus Asia Pacific (EMEA+APAC).

Supporting Global DEI Education & Leadership Development

Diversity operates differently in various nations; likewise Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility impacts organizational cultures in a unique way, depending on where you live and/or work. IDC is dedicated to providing high-quality certification programs that meet the needs of DEIA professionals around the world. The EMEA+APAC programs allow IDC to apply knowledge and experience in a manner that is global in scope. Indeed, IDC's history of innovation and continuous improvement ensures that its certification programs remain relevant, up-to-date, and specific to your region of operation.


IDC holds registered trademarks for the Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)® and Certified Diversity Executive (CDE)® credentials. It also owns several state and international trademarks, which allows us to partner with global affiliates and preferred providers under the IDC umbrella. All of our partners have been thoroughly vetted to ensure commitment, collaboration, and high performance in the field of DEIA. 


Through the professional membership association, certification, and continuing education, IDC helps global Equity and Inclusion champions achieve measurable progress in their careers and their organizations. We succeed when our candidates and designees are productive, strategic, and impactful. Together, our collective outcomes tell an amazing story about the power of change.

ICE Membership

IDC maintains an active membership with the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). Throughout the year, IDC's team participates in workshops and conferences to learn certification industry best practices and up-to-date credentialing techniques.

Institute for Credentialing Excellence logo

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