Course Overview
IRA Institute has three delivery formats designed with every learner in mind to prepare you to earn the nationally recognized CIP or CISP designation:
- Onsite in Charlotte, NC
- Online (12-week, Self-paced with ERISA coach available to you)
- Virtual (2 week, Live Zoom, half-day sessions)
Click the Schedule tab to learn more about each delivery option.
What You Will Learn
After successfully completing IRA Institute, you will be able to do the following.
- Establish and administer Traditional and Roth IRAs
- Understand the rules for SEP and SIMPLE IRA plans
- Describe the contribution eligibility requirements
- Process IRA distributions, transfers, and rollovers
- Understand beneficiary options and process these transactions
- Process tax reporting to the IRS and IRA owners
- Mitigate risk by reducing errors and penalties
Course Topics
- Establishment and amendments
- Prohibited transactions
- Contributions
- Transfers and rollovers
- Conversions and recharacterizations
- Excess contributions
- IRA distributions and withholding
- Required minimum distributions
- Beneficiary distributions
- Reporting
- Handling legal issues
- SEP and SIMPLE IRA plans
Registration Fees
IRA Institute
Each Attendee $1,899
IRA Institute Online
Each Attendee $1,899
Virtual IRA Institute
Each Attendee $1,799
Exam Fees
CIP – $299
The optional CIP exam is a closed-book, proctored exam that is taken electronically at a location of your choosing.
CISP – $600
To register for the CISP exam, you must apply with the American Bankers Association (ABA). ABA offers approved candidates of testing at Meazure Learning's U.S. test sites or via their live remote proctoring (LRP) system, the ProctorU Proctoring Platform. LRP allows candidates who meet the technical requirements to take the exam at their home or other private location with a live, remove proctor. For additional information and to obtain the exam application, visit the ABA website.
Audience
You should attend IRA Institute if you
- want to earn the CIP or CISP designation,
- need CE credits,
- are looking to acquire comprehensive IRA knowledge, and
- have two years of IRA compliance or operations experience.
Schedule
IRA Institute (Onsite)
May 4 - 8, 2026
Monday – Thursday
Breakfast - 7:15 a.m. – 8 a.m.
Lunch - 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Session - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday
Breakfast - 7:15 a.m. – 8 a.m.
Session - 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Lunch on your own - 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Optional study session - 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
IRA Institute Online
February 23 - May 17, 2026
August 31 - November 22, 2026
A detailed schedule for our IRA Institute Online will be provided 2-3 weeks prior to each session start date. It’s a 12-week course with assignments due each week.
Virtual IRA Institute
September 21 - October 2, 2025
A detailed schedule for our Virtual IRA Institute will be provided prior to the session start date. It is 10, half day sessions, held from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET, over a two week period via Zoom.
Charlotte, NC
May 4 - 8, 2026
Embassy Suites Uptown Charlotte
401 E. MLK Jr. Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28202
704-940-2517
Room Rate: $229.00
Room Discount cut-off date: April 14, 2026
CIP/CISP Certification
Attending IRA Institute is one of the ways you’re able to become a CIP or CISP. To learn more, visit our CIP or CISP designation pages.
2026 ABA CISP Exam Application and Testing Schedule
| Application Deadline | 2026 Testing |
| January 7, 2026 | March 1 - 31, 2026 |
| March 16, 2026 | May 15 - June 15, 2026 |
| July 17, 2026 | August 15 - October 15, 2026 |
| October 2, 2026 | December 1 - December 19, 2026 |
