Don’t Forget: Continuing Education for IARS

California IAR CE Deadline: What Registered Investment Adviser Representatives Need to Know

The deadline for California-registered investment adviser representatives (“IARs”) to complete their required Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education (“IAR CE”) hours is quickly approaching. Every IAR registered in California must comply with these requirements, regardless of whether they are associated with a state-registered or federally covered investment adviser.[1]

Below is a clear breakdown of key deadlines, requirements, and consequences to help IARs stay compliant.

• All California-registered investment adviser representatives
• IARs associated with:
  
  
  
  • State-registered investment advisers
  
  
  • SEC-registered (federal-covered) investment advisers.[2]
  
  

  The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (“DFPI”) recommends:

  • Complete all 2024 IAR CE hours by mid-November 2025
    
    
    
    • This allows time for CE providers to report credits before the FINRA annual system shutdown on December 26, 2025. [3]
    
    
    
    

    Missing this informal deadline creates reporting delays that could affect your registration status. [4]

    
    

    Consequences of Failing to Complete CE Requirements

    
    

    1. Initial Failure to Complete by Year-End

    
    

    If an IAR does not complete CE by the annual deadline:

    
    
    
    
    • The IAR must still pay the registration renewal fee, and
    
    
    • The CRD system will change the IAR’s status to “CE Inactive.” [5]
    
    
    
    

    This CE Inactive status will appear publicly in:

    
    
    
    
    • Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD)
    
    
    • FINRA BrokerCheck. [6]
    
    
    
    

    Importantly, IARs may continue to conduct business while in CE Inactive status, temporarily. [7]

    
    

    2. Failure to Complete CE for Two Consecutive Years

    
    

    If CE is not completed by the end of the second year:

    
    
    
    
    • The IAR will be unable to renew their registration, and
    
    
    • Their registration will be terminated for failure to complete CE. [8]
    
    
    
    

    Example:
    If an IAR is required to complete CE for 2024 and does not complete it by December 31, 2025, they will not be permitted to renew for 2026.

    
    

    Need Guidance on IAR CE Compliance? We Can Help.

    
    

    Each state has different rules, exemptions, and reporting expectations. If you are unsure whether you are required to complete IAR CE, or what your specific state requires, our team can help.

    
    

    With offices in San Diego, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, Shustak Reynolds & Partners, P.C. represents:

    
    
    
    
    • Investment advisers
    
    
    • Broker-dealers
    
    
    • Registered representatives
    
    
    • High-net-worth investors
    
    
    
    

    We are prepared to help our clients understand and navigate these changes with strategic advice and robust legal representation.

    
    

    Shustak Reynolds & Partners, P.C. focuses its practice on securities and financial services law and complex business disputes.
    We represent many investment advisors, financial professionals, broker-dealers, registered representatives, investors and businesses.
    Attorney Robert R. Boeche can be reached in the firm’s San Diego office at (619) 696-9500.

    
    

    [1] DFPI, Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education (IAR CE), https://dfpi.ca.gov/regulated-industries/broker-dealers-and-investment-advisers/investment-adviser-representative-continuing-education-iar-ce/

    
    

    [3] DFPI, Monthly Bulletin, Broker-Dealer and Investment News, (October 2025) https://dfpi.ca.gov/news/monthly-bulletins/monthly-bulletin-october-2025/