Maintaining an active GInI certificate is an essential part of your professional development. One of the key aspects of this is earning Innovation Development Units (IDUs), which demonstrate your ongoing commitment to innovation excellence. Here’s how to meet the IDU requirements and keep your certification up to date.

IDU Requirements for Certification

To maintain your GInI certification, you need to earn Innovation Development Units (IDUs) within a three-year certification cycle. The required IDUs may vary by certification, and you can earn them through various activities such as continuing education, on-the-job experience, and research. The maximum number of IDUs you can earn from a single category ranges from 15 to 40, depending on the activity.

You must retake the certification exam if you fail to meet the IDU requirement. For more detailed information, refer to Maintaining Your Certification.

IDUs for Specific Certifications

Here are the IDU requirements for different certifications:

• CInP, CInS, CDTP: 45 IDUs required
• CInA: 30 IDUs required
• CCInO, AInA: 60 IDUs required
  

How to Calculate Your IDUs

To ensure you meet the required IDUs for your certification, you can calculate them based on the following categories:

1. Continuing Education (40 IDUs maximum)
You can earn up to 40 IDUs by completing different continuing education activities. You earn one (1) IDU credit hour for each hour of continuing education, not including activities such as registration, meals, breaks, exhibit hall time, "pre-work," etc.

Continuing Education Activities Include:

• College and University Courses
• Conferences and Seminars
• Workshops
• E-Learning Courses
• Webinars/Webcasts, Video-conferences (15 IDUs limit)
  

2. Instruction/Teaching (30 IDUs maximum)
You can earn up to 30 IDUs by delivering instruction or training on a subject related to innovation. You earn one (1) IDU credit hour for each hour of presentation time.

Instruction/Teaching Activities Include:

• Delivering a formal presentation within your organization relating to innovation.
• Teaching a course or workshop, or presenting a public seminar or conference session related to innovation.
• You may earn reaccreditation IDUs for each time you present a presentation or teach a course, workshop, seminar, or conference session, so long as it is being delivered to a different audience each time. There is a 15 IDU cap on IDU credits derived from the same presentation.

3. On the Job Experience (30 IDUs maximum)
You can earn IDUs for first-time on-the-job experience projects that have added to your innovation knowledge. This includes activities like designing and implementing innovation frameworks or participating in innovation committees. You earn 1 IDU for each hour invested in the project.

4. Research and Publishing (20 IDUs maximum)
You can earn IDUs by conducting primary research on an innovation-related topic and writing and publishing the results of that research in a scholarly journal or publication.

Examples of Research and Publishing Activities:

• Writing an article as the primary or sole author published in a recurring journal or periodical – 10 IDUs.
• Contributing significantly to a published text, such as a textbook – 10 IDUs.
• Co-writing or editing an article or chapter in a textbook – 5 IDUs.
• Developing an innovation video – 5 IDUs.
• Writing and publishing a fact-based blog post covering subjects relating to innovation – 1 IDU per post, with a limit of 20 IDUs during each three-year certification cycle.

5. Writing Exam Questions (20 IDUs maximum)
You can earn IDUs by contributing to the creation of exam questions related to innovation. This includes writing questions for certification exams or designing assessments based on innovation knowledge.

Reporting Your IDUs

Once you complete an IDU-eligible activity, it is essential to report it promptly through the GInI Members Portal. This ensures your progress is tracked and helps you stay on top of your certification requirements.

Monitor Your Progress

To ensure you meet the 40 IDU requirement within your three-year certification cycle, regularly monitor your IDU status through the GInI portal. The portal provides an overview of your progress and lets you track completed and pending IDUs.

Maintaining Certification

To maintain your certification, you must submit the Professional Development IDUs Application within six weeks of your certification expiration date, self-certifying that you've earned the required IDUs. If you do not meet the IDU requirement, you can maintain your certification by retaking the exam.

Conclusion

By earning and reporting the necessary IDUs within the three-year certification period, you demonstrate your ongoing commitment to innovation excellence. Stay engaged in IDU-eligible activities to maintain your certification and continue advancing your skills in this dynamic field.

For further questions or assistance, feel free to contact support@gini.org