NIADA Education

Certified
Master Dealer

Three days, ten disciplines, and one business plan you build for your own store. The industry's most respected certification for independent dealers — retail and buy-here-pay-here.

Dates
December 7–9, 2026
Location
Dallas, TexasHotel to be announced
Format
3-day in-person class
Registration
Opens late AugustPricing below
What is a Certified Master Dealer?

A certification built for dealers by experts

The Certified Master Dealer™ (CMD) program was developed to help you manage and grow your business. Once you complete the certification, you join a group of dealers committed not only to the industry, but to compliant business standards and practices, and to leadership in their communities.

The program is open to both retail and buy-here-pay-here dealers. In each subject area you'll go deep with experts, trade best practices with fellow dealers, and leave with an action plan — not a binder.

The 3-day curriculum covers:

  • Compliance
  • Marketing and Customer Acquisition
  • Dealership Accounting
  • Sales Management and Sales Process
  • Human Resources
  • F&I
  • Inventory Management
  • Service
  • Reconditioning and Make Ready
  • Owner Retention

You leave with a business plan ready to put to work.

  • Built during class, not after
  • Shaped with subject-matter experts
  • Ready to run when you get home
Agenda at a glance

Three days, ten disciplines

Tentative — subject to change
1 Monday, Dec. 7
  • Compliance
  • Dealership Accounting
  • Human Resources
  • Inventory Management
2 Tuesday, Dec. 8
  • Reconditioning and Make Ready
  • Marketing and Customer Acquisition
  • Sales Management and Sales Process
  • F&I
3 Wednesday, Dec. 9
  • Service
  • Owner Retention
Tuition

Reserve your seat

Tuition covers all three days of instruction, class materials and meals during program hours. Travel and lodging are separate.

Best value
NIADA Members
$4,795
Save $600 with your membership

The rate for current NIADA members.

Opens late August
Non-Members
$5,395

The rate without a NIADA membership.

Opens late August
Current CMD
$2,395

For dealers who have already earned the CMD designation.

Opens late August

Registration opens late August 2026. Want a reminder when it does? Tell us you're interested.

Donald Sullivan, Jr.
Through the CMD program, you have access to knowledge and insight on things that are specific to the car industry. You get material to take back that can actually help you throughout your journey of being a car dealer. Being a CMD really puts you on the map and sets you apart from other dealers.
Donald Sullivan, Jr.Owner, Sullivan Auto Trading — Fredericksburg, Virginia
2024 NIADA National Quality Dealer of the Year and 2016 CMD graduate
Keeping your certification

The plan keeps growing with you

CMDs maintain the designation by continuing to seek out qualified education. NIADA has worked with state associations to tailor their offerings to qualify for continuing education credit, and NIADA's own in-person sessions, webinars and convention education count as well — so your business plan keeps pace as the business changes.

Interested, but not quite ready to register?

Tell us a little about your store and someone from NIADA education will get in touch with details on the December class.

Talk to someone