Become a Licensed Consultant

SFX Licensed Consultant logoFor more than 18 years, the Standards for Excellence Institute has continued to build a national network of qualified consultants licensed to provide training, consulting, and support on the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. The Licensed Consultant Training Program is an exclusive professional development initiative that gives independent consultants the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to work with nonprofit organizations across the country interested in learning about, conducting self assessments, implementing change, and becoming accredited in the Standards for Excellence program.

Sign up to be notified when the application for the 2026 training is available.

Benefits of Becoming a Consultant

Eligibility

  • Nonprofit professionals must submit an application and be accepted into the Licensed Consultant training program (fees apply).
  • Applicants accepted into the program must participate in a three-day training that covers topics such as the importance of self-regulation for the nonprofit sector, the specific content contained within the 67 guidelines of the Standards for Excellence code, and skills development to support program utilization in your practice.
  • Two years after licensure is granted, Licensed Consultants must maintain an active status by paying an annual licensing fee.
  • Active Licensed Consultants must commit to program reporting and evaluation requirements, and abide by all copyright, intellectual property, and derivative work restrictions of the Standards for Excellence Institute.

Benefits of Becoming a Licensed Consultant

  • License to provide Standards for Excellence consultation to organizations interested in incorporating the Standards for Excellence and/or applying for accreditation.
  • Access to custom training tools for all Standards for Excellence signature programs including PowerPoint slides, curricula notes, and resource handouts.
  • Listing on the Standards for Excellence Institute’s website, promoting your status as a National Licensed Consultant in all facets of Standards for Excellence code.
  • All the benefits of membership in the Standards for Excellence Institute.
  • Three full sets of the Standards for Excellence Educational Resource Packets (electronic copies), and 20 Standards for Excellence codebooks (hard copies) to utilize in your practice.

  • Through a special partnership with Nonprofit.ist, take advantage of a 20% discount off your initial Nonprofit.ist membership fee.

2026 Licensed Consultant Training

The three-day training will be held in November in Baltimore, MD.

More information about the training
Recently I delivered a strategic planning session for a board of directors that was seeking new direction, accountability, transparency and effectiveness after a few difficult years. As their Licensed Consultant, one of my recommendations was to use the Standards for Excellence® as a guidepost for best practices from a neutral and trusted source. Each board member received a copy of the code at the retreat and I was pleased to hear that they ordered more for the rest of the organization. While some of a strategic planning session involves visioning and ‘dreaming big,’ it also to be grounded in reality. The Standards for Excellence® provide that grounding and compass and was a perfect fit for the organization.
Rob Levit
Licensed Consultant since 2016
Standards for Excellence Institute leadership has taken decades of research and practice around nonprofit governance, management, and operations and makes it available for consultants to use in their work. I am thrilled to have these guiding principles and tools to use in my consulting practice.
Jackie Carrera
Licensed Consultant since 2016
As a Licensed Consultant, I am ready to partner with nonprofit organizations to strengthen their governance, accountability, and operational excellence.
Laura Edwards
State Director of Maryland CASA
The Licensed Consultant Training was truly one of the most comprehensive training programs I have ever attended. The trainers shared expertise, lived experiences, and tangible examples that we as consultants can now use in our daily work.
Beth Anne Dorman
Saint Michaels, MD

Licensed Consultant Reinstatement Request

We welcome your interest in reinstating your Licensed Consultant status. Please complete the form and someone from the Standards for Excellence Institute will respond to your inquiry within the week.

Submit a Request