While the CERTIFIED MASTER DEALER® program was developed in 2001, to help dealers manage and grow a profitable business, it has grown into one of the industry’s most respected training programs.  Dealers who attend this training are committed to our industry, support ethical business standards and are leaders in their communities. They bring a wide range of experience to each class and leave with new strategies for analyzing their business practices and increasing their bottom line. They make friends who share their interests and their challenges and who often become valuable professional resources.

Instruction is provided by Joe Lescota, Northwood University, Automotive Department Chair, who was a retail automotive executive and has over 25 years of frontline dealership, selling, management, and training experience.

Northwood University developed the CMD® curriculum in collaboration with NIADA and will award 4 Continuing Education Units upon successful completion of the course.

All Certified Master Dealers® must complete 12 hours of continuing education within a 36 month period to retain their certification.

NIADA approved educational activities and training will allow all CMD graduates to fulfill this requirement. 

During the NIADA National Convention there will be more than 12 hours of education offered.  Three strands of topics---Buy Here Pay Here, Leadership, and Retail. The retail topics will address the core subjects presented in the CMD training: Management, Merchandising, Financial Management, Human Resources, and Business Planning. However, all of the sessions will meet the continuing education criteria.

A. Only a state licensed dealer principal operating as a proprietorship, partnership, corporation or limited liability company in the business of retailing (sale and/or leasing) motor vehicles (passenger cars and/or trucks) may submit an Application for Certification Candidacy. Dealer principal shall also mean a partner and/or officer of a licensed partnership or corporation.

B. Dealer must be an NIADA member in good standing.

C. Dealer must maintain an Established Place of Business, which meets, at a minimum, all of the following requirements:

1. Approved/licensed location as an automobile dealership by their state and/or local unit of government;
2. Continuously occupied on a regular basis by the dealer;
3. Business books and records kept at the Established Place of Business;
4. A majority of the business transacted at the Established Place of Business; and
5. Vehicle inventory kept at the Established Place of Business.

D. The dealer must post and maintain regular business hours consistent with state regulations.

E. Maintain an inventory of not less than 50 passenger cars and/or trucks (units).

F. Sell at retail or lease a combined minimum of 240 units per year, or have annual dealership gross sales equal to at least $1,000,000.00. (Total gross sales may include service department/body shop.)

G. Applicant must have minimum of five years of automobile retail experience as a dealer principal under the same dealer license and under the same dealership name.

H. Applicant must submit dealership financial statements along with a minimum of three references (lenders, accountants, business associates, etc.) Note: Financial Statements will be safeguarded and made available to lenders only with applicants approval.

*I. Dealership Associates (employees) may apply to receive CMD® training. They will be required to attend classroom training and pass all required examinations; however, upon completion, they will receive Certificates of Participation only and will not receive the CMD® designation. The only requirement for entrance shall be: Applicant must be currently employed by a CMD® designated dealer principal or the dealer principal has been approved as a CMD Candidate for training.

J. CMD® designation and seal are awarded to an individual dealer principal in recognition of the qualifications and personal achievements of that dealer principal. The award is not granted to the dealer's business entity, therefore, not transferrable.

**K. CMD® designation and use of the CMD® seal are awarded for a term/period of 36 months from the original award date. Each CMD® graduate must obtain a minimum of 12 credit hours of NIADA approved continuing education during each 36 month period to retain the CMD® designation. At least 12 hours of Continuing Education opportunities will be offered throughout the year.

L. CMD® designation and CMD® seal remain the property of NIADA. The CMD® designation may be revoked by NIADA upon the dealer principal being convicted of a felony or in a case of dealer license being revoked by the appropriate state agency. CMD® designation may also be revoked if any questions on the application have been misrepresented.