LEARN TO ENGAGE ARCHITECTS AND INTERIOR DESIGNERS

The CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI) program enables members to provide continuing education to their local design and build industry partners, helping establish vital business-to-business networking contacts and raising the awareness of CEDIA, its members, and the home technology industry.

After completing the training, CEDIA Outreach instructors can access a library of content to deliver to their local design and build partners.

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EXPLORE THE LIBRARY

Top five reasons to engage your local design and build community:

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Great Prospecting Tool

With a suite of presentations at your disposal, you have a strong professional development proposition to get your foot in the door of a new architect or design practice. Help them be more successful, and start a journey toward mutual prosperity.
Raise Industry Awareness

Do your part to grow the awareness and credibility of the Home Technology Integration business: the more of us that fly the flag, the more concious the design and build communities will be of your work.
Build Lasting Relationships

Become the local expert for architecture and interior design businesses in your area. Develop partnerships that can last the lifetime of your business, and be fruitful for both parties.
Continue the Conversation

Architects and Interior designers need continuing professional development to remain accredited: use the bank of courses at your disposal to keep going back and deliver new content and deeper understanding to your partners, and become a long term part of their plan.
Drive Future Direction

Help us to develop future courses or recommend topics that are considered important by design and build professionals close to you. Be part of teams that develop new content so you can continue to add value to your partners' businesses.

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14

CPD presentations available
for you to teach

5

classes held so far
this year

31

New COIs in 2022

739

Design and build professionals
educated this year

Already a COI?

Hear what our COIs think:

Jake Fuller, COI

Automated AV, Australia
"One of the reasons I wanted to become a CEDIA Outreach Instructor was because when my business was new - I thought it would become a good resource to develop relationships with other trades and it has proven very beneficial for myself for personal growth as well as growing my business. It provides resources to better explain our industry, to other trades who might not understand what systems an integrator would typically be involved in. I am also passionate about education within our industry and CEDIA provides the access to such material.”
Erin Thomas, COI

SaaviHome, USA
"We’ve been CEDIA members since 2005 and have finally decided to share our CEDIA knowledge as CEDIA Outreach Instructors to help build and solidify relationships with local industry partners. CEDIA’s continuing education courses have provided SaaviHome with a platform and means to expand our outreach and impact as technology professionals. We held our first course this month and had several potential partners join us. One attendee in particular, an architect with whom we had an active proposal with, contacted us that same afternoon to seal the deal! The presentation gave way to our professionalism, attention to detail, and technical understanding, and ultimately helped our team gain the trust of a new valued partner."
Sonia Hernandez, COI

Crestron, USA
"Thank you for your efforts and support this year. Although I am fairly new to the industry, and CEDIA, I have enjoyed the program thus far. (In fact, I taught three classes last week.) That said, I look forward to the opportunities 2022 will present. Education plays an important role in our profession, and it is one of the best ways to build new relationships with the design build community."
Oscar Bell, COI

Inspired Dwellings, United Kingdom
"This knowledge can further the quality of the engagement I have with potential clients, architects on CPD’s and other industry professionals that I interact with. Having the CEDIA qualification gives me a massive edge over other AV companies in London: being able to teach such an interesting CPD means I can interact and engage with architects on a highly technical level, answer their questions with confidence, and come across as a far more knowledgeable home technology professional."

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CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI) FAQs

What is the mission of the CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI) Program?

The COI program was developed to contribute to the prosperity of CEDIA members by leveraging the CEU requirements of various design & build professionals to facilitate long term business partnerships for your organization. We also aim to raise awareness of the industry and CEDIA within residential building channels. We empower CEDIA members to deliver a consistent message through relevant high quality education.
Why should I become a COI?

This valuable member benefit program enables instructors to provide continuing education to their local design and build industry partners, helping you establish vital business-to-business networking contacts and lifetime strategic partnerships, whilst raising the awareness of CEDIA, its members, and the custom electronics industry.
What are the requirements to become a COI?

Your company must be a CEDIA member and you must successfully complete the CEDIA outreach instructor course and pass the peer-evaluated presentation assessment.
How do I maintain my COI credential?

There is no continuing education requirement or renewal fee, but COIs must complete a minimum of two CEU presentations each calendar year to keep their credential. Furthermore, instructors are expected to follow program guidelines for registering upcoming classes and reporting attendance.
If a COI changes companies, the credential stays with the individual, but they can only actively participate in the program if currently employed with a CEDIA member company.
Do I need to complete any pre-work or prerequisites before taking the “Train the Trainer” class?

Pre-work, which is provided upon registration, is REQUIRED and should be reviewed and prepared prior to arrival. The pre-work information is extremely important, as part of it contains an abbreviated PowerPoint presentation which you will be expected to practice and present during the peer evaluation. This peer evaluation will be the determining factor as to whether or not a participant passes or fails the class.
Does becoming a COI affect my other CEDIA certifications?

Successful completion of the COI “Train the Trainer” course allows participants to earn eight CEUs toward a current CEDIA certification, and COIs may petition to earn one CEU per hour each time they teach a class. Additionally, in order to help your colleagues meet their continuing education requirements, CEDIA-certified staff at the COI's company may petition to earn one CEU per hour for each class in which they participate.
Which industry associations recognize the COI courseware?
These informative courses can be delivered to any organization, and currently, members of the following associations may receive continuing education credit for their attendance:
- American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- American Institute of Building Design (AIBD)
- American Society of Interior Designer, (ASID)
- International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
- Interior Designers of Canada (IDC)
- National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
- National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
- Ontario Association of Architects (OAA)
- Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC)
- Architects’ Association of New Brunswick (AANB)
- Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC)
- The Alberta Association of Architects (AAA)
- Saskatchewan Association of Architects (SAA)
- Manitoba Association of Architects (MAA)
- Nova Scotia Association of Architects (NSAA)
- Architects’ Association of Prince Edward Island (AAPEI)
- Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Architects (NAA)
- Northwest Territories Association of Architects (NWTAA)
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
- The British Institute of Interior Design (BIID)
For professionals with AIA, ASID, IIDA, and IDC, CEDIA will report their attendance directly to the association. For all other organizations, attendees can self-report using the certificate of completion that the COI provides.
What format is the courseware provided in?

The COI presentations are provided in Microsoft PowerPoint format, and each is password protected, which means no alterations of the presentations can be made. CEDIA does not provide unprotected files for Mac computers, iPads, or other tablet devices. Participants are advised to research the best methods for accessing these protected presentations and install the software needed to successfully use the courseware. It is recommended that Mac users purchase and install “PowerPoint for Macs.”
As a COI, would I charge my industry partners for classes?

The classes are designed to provide industry partners with free education and help COIs establish mutually-beneficial relationships with those businesses and organizations. COIs are not allowed to charge industry partners for their participation in these classes.
Can I offer the COI courses as online learning?

The COI courses are approved for face-to-face delivery only. Additional requirements are needed to satisfy online learning through various industry partner associations, and CEDIA has elected to submit its COI courses for in-person delivery only.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some institutions have approved online delivery of continuing education content. Please check with the respective association to confirm whether they are currently accepting online delivery.
What if I have additional questions?

For additional information, contact the CEDIA Education Team.

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