At a glance
- No refunds on membership: all direct professional membership fees, upgrades and renewals are non-refundable.
- Application, portfolio review and interview fees are non-refundable once submitted.
- Examinations: the earlier you cancel, the more you get back — a full refund 30+ days before your exam.
- Duplicate or incorrect payments are always corrected in full.
- To request a refund, email info@cipag.us.
Scope of this policy
This Refund Policy applies to fees paid to the Chartered Institute of Public Administration and Governance (“CIPAG”) for membership, applications, examinations, learning resources, events and related services, whether paid online, by bank transfer or through a local CIPAG agent. It forms part of our Terms of Service.
Nothing in this policy affects rights you have under consumer protection laws that apply where you live that cannot legally be excluded.
Membership fees — no-refund policy
All direct professional membership fees are non-refundable. Once a membership fee, upgrade or renewal has been paid, it will not be refunded, in whole or in part, except in the limited cases listed below. Please read the eligibility criteria and choose your membership tier carefully before you pay.
This no-refund policy applies to every form of direct professional membership with CIPAG – Associate, Fellow, Doctoral Research Fellow, Distinguished Fellow and Platinum / Eminent Fellow – including new memberships, upgrades to a higher tier, annual renewals and reinstatements, whether paid by card payments, PayPal or bank transfer, processed by third-party payment providers such as Stripe and PayPal.
Membership fees will not be refunded for
- Change of mind – including requests made shortly after payment;
- Unused time – there are no partial or pro-rata refunds if you cancel part-way through a membership year. Your membership simply stays active until the end of the period you paid for;
- Unused benefits – such as resources, events, chapter activities or CPD opportunities you did not take up;
- Renewals – including renewals you forgot to cancel before the renewal date or during the 30-day grace period;
- Suspension or removal – where membership is suspended or withdrawn because of false information, plagiarism, examination malpractice or a breach of the CIPAG Code of Ethics;
- Application, portfolio review and interview fees – including the Experiential Route application and portfolio review fee ($250) and interview fee ($150). These cover the cost of assessing your application and are non-refundable once submitted.
Limited exceptions
- Duplicate or incorrect payments – if you were charged twice, or charged more than the published fee, we will refund the excess in full.
- Application not accepted – if we decline your application for membership, any membership subscription you paid in advance is refunded. The application and assessment fees are retained because the review has been carried out.
- Where the law requires it – this policy does not remove any rights you have under consumer protection law that cannot legally be excluded.
Alternatives to a refund
If serious illness, bereavement or genuine financial hardship stops you from using your membership, contact us. At our discretion, we may defer your membership for up to 12 months so that you do not lose the time you paid for. Membership is personal and cannot be transferred to another person.
Examination fees
Published examination fees, which include the examination, digital badge and first-year certification maintenance:
| Certification | Standard fee (USD) | Africa / Caribbean fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| CPA® Foundation | $250 | $125 |
| CGP® Professional | $400 | $200 |
| CACS® Specialist | $350 | $175 |
| PFM™ Expert | $300 | $150 |
| Digital Gov Leader | $350 | $175 |
| When you cancel | Refund of exam fee |
|---|---|
| 30 days or more before your exam date | 100% |
| 15–29 days before your exam date | 75% |
| 7–14 days before your exam date | 50% |
| Less than 7 days before, or failure to attend (“no-show”) | No refund |
| After you have started the exam | No refund |
Rescheduling instead of cancelling
Rather than cancelling, you can move your exam to a new date for the published rescheduling fee ($50–$80, depending on how much notice you give). Rescheduling fees are non-refundable.
Emergencies and technical problems
If you cannot attend because of serious illness, bereavement, an official duty you could not have foreseen, or another emergency outside your control, contact us within 14 days of the exam with supporting evidence. We will normally offer a free reschedule or, at our discretion, a full refund. If a remote proctored or computer-based exam cannot be completed because of a technical failure on our side or our provider’s side, you will be offered a free reschedule or a full refund.
Retake fees apply after a second attempt and are non-refundable once the retake is booked.
Other service fees
| Fee | Amount | Refund rule |
|---|---|---|
| Exam remarking | $50 | Refunded in full if your result changes; otherwise non-refundable |
| Special accommodations processing | $75 | Refunded in full if we cannot provide the accommodation |
| Certificate reprint | $50 | Non-refundable once issued |
| Exam rescheduling | $50–$80 | Non-refundable |
| Events, workshops and webinars | As advertised | Full refund up to 14 days before the event; 50% from 13 to 3 days before; no refund after that. You may transfer your place to a colleague at no cost. |
| Preparation courses and study materials | As advertised | Refundable within 14 days only if not yet accessed or downloaded |
If CIPAG cancels or changes a service
If we cancel an examination, event or programme, or change its date or format in a way that does not suit you, you can choose either a free transfer to another date or a full refund of the fee you paid for that service. We are not responsible for travel, accommodation or other costs you incur.
Non-refundable situations
Refunds will not be given where:
- the payment is for direct professional membership, an upgrade or a renewal (see Membership fees — no-refund policy), other than the limited exceptions listed there;
- membership or certification is refused, suspended or revoked because of false information, plagiarism or examination malpractice;
- you change your mind after the cancellation periods described above;
- you do not pass an examination – results do not create a right to a refund;
- for nomination or invitation-only honours, where no fee is normally charged.
How to request a refund
- Email info@cipag.us with the subject line “Refund Request”.
- Include your full name, membership or candidate number (if you have one), the service you paid for, the payment date, amount and method, and the reason for your request.
- Attach your payment receipt and any supporting evidence.
We will acknowledge your request within 3 business days and give you a decision within 10 business days.
How refunds are paid
- Approved refunds are made to the original payment method within 10 business days of approval. Your bank, card or mobile-money provider may take a few more days to show the credit.
- Refunds are made in the currency of the original payment. We are not responsible for exchange-rate differences or charges made by your bank or provider.
- Third-party processing fees that cannot be recovered by CIPAG may be deducted, and we will tell you if this applies.
- If you paid a local CIPAG agent in local currency, your refund will be processed through that agent under this policy.
Payment disputes
If you are unhappy with a charge, please contact us before raising a dispute or chargeback with your bank – we can usually resolve it faster. If a chargeback is raised, membership or certification benefits linked to that payment may be suspended while the dispute is investigated.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Refund Policy from time to time. The version in force when you made your payment will apply to that payment.
Contact us
Questions about a payment or refund?