IAE Membership Guide

Article IV of the IAE Articles of Association

Membership is open to qualified professionals regardless of citizenship, country of residence, race, sex, age, or disability. IAE does not permit discrimination in the administration of its membership programs.

Senior Member of the Association

An application-based category for experienced professionals working in a recognized field. It provides the right to use the SM post-nominal designation and to be included in the IAE Global Register. This is the entry point into the IAE professional community.

Professional Experience

Documented professional experience in a recognized field of: expert practice, academic or scientific work, forensic examination, consulting.

Support from Two IAE Members

Recommendations from two current IAE members confirming the applicant’s professional standing. During the Association’s initial stage, recommendations are not required under the transitional rule established in § 4.1.

Transitional Rule under § 4.1. During the initial organizational stage, applications are accepted without the requirement for two recommendations and are instead subject to enhanced documentary verification. Until the Superior Credentialing Council is established, credentialing decisions are made by the Board of Directors.

Approval by the Credentialing Council

The final decision is made through collegial voting and supported by written reasons. Decisions are made by the Superior Credentialing Council or, until the Council is established, by the Board of Directors under § 4.1.

Acceptance of the IAE Code of Ethics

Written acceptance of the IAE Code of Ethics and the obligations established by this Guide is required to complete the credentialing process.

Application Through the Official Portal

The application must be submitted through the official IAE portal together with documents confirming the applicant’s experience and qualifications.

Certified International Expert

The principal IAE credentialed status. It requires successful completion of a multi-stage professional assessment based on peer-review principles. Internal competency standards have been developed with reference to EQF Level 7 descriptors and the principles of ISO/IEC 17024 exclusively for private benchmarking purposes under § 4.8.

Documentary Assessment by the Secretariat

The Secretariat verifies: the completeness of the submitted documentation, compliance with admission criteria, professional experience, the absence of conflicts of interest.

Independent Peer Review

The application is independently reviewed by two members of the Credentialing Council. Where practicable, the reviewers are not informed of one another’s recommendations, reducing the risk of mutual influence.

A CIE profile in the IAE Global Register is publicly available for third-party verification through a unique URL and QR code.

Collegial Vote Supported by Written Reasons

The final decision is made by the Credentialing Council through collegial voting. Every refusal must be accompanied by written reasons.

EQF Level 7 and ISO/IEC 17024 - Benchmarks Only

IAE’s internal standards were developed with reference to EQF Level 7 descriptors and the principles of ISO/IEC 17024 exclusively for private benchmarking. This does not constitute: accreditation, formal equivalence, recognition by any government or regulatory authority.

Compliance with the IAE Code of Ethics

The applicant must confirm that they have no active disciplinary sanctions and accept the obligations imposed by the IAE Code of Ethics.

Highest Elective Membership Category

The highest elective form of IAE membership. It is conferred by the Credentialing Council upon members whose cumulative professional contribution has received broad national or international recognition. F.IAE status is not available by personal application and cannot be requested or purchased.

Broad National or International Recognition

The candidate’s cumulative contribution must be supported by documentary evidence, including: publications, citations, recognition by courts or arbitral tribunals, professional awards, other objective evidence assessed under the Criteria Matrix in § 8.5.

Current IAE Membership

The designation is available only to current Association members holding SM or CIE status. As a general rule, it presupposes prior participation in the IAE professional community.

Important: F.IAE status is not available by personal application. Any offer to “purchase” or “arrange” F.IAE status is fraudulent and must be reported immediately to the IAE Secretariat.

Initiative of the Credentialing Council

Consideration for F.IAE status may be initiated exclusively by the Credentialing Council. The decision is made through a special Council vote without the candidate’s participation.

Impeccable Professional Reputation

The candidate must have: no active or unreinstated disciplinary sanctions, no criminal convictions relating to professional activity, no other circumstances capable of undermining professional trust.

Professor of the Association, Honoris Causa

An honorary designation conferred by the Credentialing Council in recognition of an outstanding mentoring contribution to the development of the profession. It may be awarded exclusively to current IAE Fellows.

F.IAE Status Held for at Least Five Years

At the time the designation is conferred, the candidate must have continuously held active Fellow of the Association status for at least five years.

Mentorship of at Least Ten Certified Professionals

The candidate must provide documented evidence of mentoring at least ten professionals who subsequently obtained an IAE credential at the SM, CIE, or higher level.

The abbreviation h.c., meaning honoris causa, identifies the honorary nature of the designation. It is not: an academic degree, an employment position, a professional license. It must not be represented as any of these.

Decision of the Credentialing Council

The designation is conferred upon the initiative of the Credentialing Council. Personal applications are not accepted.

Article IV, Section 4.3 of the IAE Articles of Association

The full credentialing cycle takes up to approximately 30 days from the date on which the complete set of required documents is received. This timeframe is indicative and may be extended in complex cases or when the documentation is incomplete.

Application Through the Official Portal

The applicant completes the form on the official IAE portal and uploads supporting documents, including: résumé or CV, education and qualification documents, list of publications, recommendations from IAE members, where required for SM, evidence of professional achievements.

Documentary Verification by the Secretariat

The IAE Secretariat verifies the completeness of the application package and its compliance with the admission criteria. When documentation is incomplete, the Secretariat requests the missing materials. The credentialing timeframe is suspended until they are received.

Peer Review

For Senior Member: recommendations and supporting documents are verified. For Certified International Expert: the application is independently reviewed by two members of the Credentialing Council. Where practicable, each reviewer is unaware of the other reviewer’s recommendation. Each reviewer assesses the application under the published IAE Criteria Matrix.

Collegial Vote

The Credentialing Council - or, until it is established, the Board of Directors - considers the application and reviewers’ opinions at a closed meeting. The decision is made through collegial voting when a quorum is present. Every decision must be issued in writing and state the grounds on which it is based.

Notification of the Applicant

The applicant receives written notice of the decision within a reasonable period following the vote. When an application is refused, the notice includes: the reasons for refusal, information about the right of appeal.

Appeal Following Refusal

The applicant may appeal a refusal to an appellate panel of the IAE Board of Directors within 30 days after receiving notice. Directors with a conflict of interest may not participate in the appellate panel.

Entry in the IAE Global Register

Following a positive decision and payment of the membership fee, the member: is entered in the IAE Global Register, receives a digital certificate, receives a unique verification URL, receives a QR code, obtains the right to use the post-nominal designation corresponding to their membership category.

Article IV, Section 4.4 of the IAE Articles of Association

The following rights belong to every member in good standing. Good standing requires: timely payment of all dues and fees, compliance with this Guide, compliance with the IAE Code of Ethics.

Membership rights cannot be transferred to third parties. They terminate when membership ends, including administrative termination for non-payment.

IAE membership does not entitle a member to receive: client enquiries, case referrals, sales leads, rankings, inclusion on shortlists, placements, endorsement for a particular matter.

Use of Post-Nominal Designations

Members may use the designation corresponding to their membership category: SM, CIE, F.IAE, Prof.IAE, h.c. All designations must be used strictly in accordance with the IAE Style Guide.

Entry in the IAE Global Register

Members receive a verified entry in the IAE Global Register, accessible to third parties through the public verification portal in accordance with the IAE Privacy Policy.

Digital Certificate

Members receive an official IAE digital certificate containing: a unique verification URL, a QR code, a Registry number. The certificate may be presented in professional communications.

Access to IAE Resources and Programs

Members may access: membership resources, IAE Review publications, professional programs, association events.

Participation in the Annual Meeting

Members may participate in the annual IAE members’ meeting in an advisory capacity. They may submit petitions and proposals to: the Board of Directors, the Credentialing Council.

Article IV, Section 4.5 of the IAE Articles of Association

By accepting IAE membership, a professional assumes the following obligations. A violation may constitute grounds for disciplinary proceedings under Section 4.6 of the IAE Articles of Association.

Compliance with the Governing Documents

Members must comply with: the IAE Articles of Association, the IAE Code of Ethics, this Membership Guide, all other applicable internal Association documents.

Timely Payment of Dues

Membership dues and fees must be paid within 30 days after they become due to maintain good standing.

Current Contact Information

Members must keep their contact details current with the IAE Secretariat, including: email address, principal place of professional activity, other information required for communication.

Notification of Changes in Professional Status

Members must promptly notify the Secretariat of: any criminal conviction, any professional disciplinary sanction, any other material change in professional status.

No Use of Designations After Membership Ends

Members must immediately stop using all IAE post-nominal designations when their membership ends for any reason, including: administrative termination, voluntary resignation.

Protection of the Association’s Reputation

Members must refrain from statements and actions capable of damaging the reputation of IAE unless they are based on reasonable and documented grounds.

Article V of the Articles of Association - Dues and Fees

Good standing is a mandatory condition for exercising all membership rights, including the use of post-nominal designations and inclusion in the public Registry.

Current Statuses

Dues have been paid and all obligations are being fulfilled. All membership rights are active.

The balance has remained unpaid for more than 30 days.

More than 60 days have passed following notice. Use of all IAE designations is prohibited.

A disciplinary suspension has been imposed. All membership rights are frozen for the duration of the measure.

Payment Deadline

All membership dues and fees must be paid within 30 days after they become due.

Check status

Any person may verify the current membership status of an IAE professional through the public verification portal.

Verify Status →

Notice of Delinquency

When payment becomes overdue, the Secretariat sends an official notice.

Administrative Termination

When the outstanding balance is not paid within 60 days after notice, membership is automatically terminated through an administrative procedure. Administrative termination is not a disciplinary sanction.

Reinstatement

A person whose membership was terminated for non-payment may be reinstated after: paying the entire outstanding balance, paying the reinstatement fee established by the Board of Directors. Reinstatement is subject to the IAE standards in effect at the time of reinstatement.

Section 1.4 of the IAE Articles of Association

IAE designations are the intellectual property of the Association. They may be used only by current members in accordance with the IAE Style Guide.

Senior Member · Senior Member of the Association

Use: Ivan Ivanov, SM. The designation is placed after the person’s name, separated by a comma, and written in Latin characters. It confirms successful completion of IAE credentialing at the Senior Member level. It is valid only while the member remains in good standing.

Certified International Expert · Certified International Expert

Use: Ivan Ivanov, CIE. The designation confirms successful completion of the multi-stage IAE credentialing process under the Association’s internal standards. References to EQF Level 7 and ISO/IEC 17024 are used only as private benchmarking references. The designation is valid only while the member remains in good standing.

Fellow of the Association · Highest Elective Category

Use: Ivan Ivanov, F.IAE. This is IAE’s highest elective designation and is not available by personal application. The spelling “Fellow IAE” without the full stop after the letter F is not permitted.

Professor of the Association, honoris causa · Professor of the Association

Use: Ivan Ivanov, Prof.IAE, h.c. This is an honorary designation issued by a private association. It is not: an academic degree, a professional position, a license. It may be conferred only upon current F.IAE members who have held that status for at least five years.

Termination of the Right to Use IAE Designations. The right to use an IAE designation ends at the same time as membership: following voluntary resignation, use must stop immediately under § 4.7, following administrative termination for non-payment, use ends automatically under § 5.2, following disciplinary suspension or termination, use is prohibited for the duration of the sanction under § 4.6. Continued use after membership has ended constitutes a violation of: the Association’s intellectual-property rights under § 1.4, the IAE Code of Ethics. The current status of any person can be verified publicly through the Registry.

Summary of Disclaimers Section 4.8. All IAE statuses, certificates, and designations are voluntary designations issued by a private association. They do not constitute: a government license, an academic degree, authorization to practise a profession, a court appointment, an immigration decision, accreditation, formal equivalence, a recommendation, an endorsement, a ranking, approval of a member for a particular case, court, government authority, client, or employer. References to EQF Level 7 and ISO/IEC 17024 are used only as private benchmarking references. IAE does not claim that its statuses are recognized by any government authority unless such recognition has been formally obtained and documented.