Internal Control Institute

What Internal Control Institute does

Internal Control Institute (ICI), founded in 1998 and headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, is a private professional certification and training organization focused exclusively on internal control and corporate governance. Its core offerings are two professional certifications: the Certified Internal Control Specialist (CICS, $300) and the senior-level Certified Internal Control Professional (CICP, $400), both predicated on work experience and online examinations. These credentials are supported by a catalog of eight online training courses priced at $29.95 individually or $199.95 as a bundle, a 473-page Common Body of Knowledge (CBOK) reference manual ($175), an annual membership program ($50/year) providing CPE credits, and organizational and individual quantitative self-assessment tools based on the COSO framework.

ICI's platform is built on Kajabi, a standard online learning management system, with content delivery, payment processing, and credential issuance handled through this self-serve e-commerce stack. The methodology is anchored to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the COSO Internal Control framework, with content field-tested by a Board of Advisors of executive managers, CPA firm partners, board members, attorneys, and control designers. Digital credentials are issued via a partnership with Credly for sharable badges on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

ICI operates a hybrid go-to-market combining self-serve online purchasing for individual buyers with a geographic partner network of regional representatives in over 50 countries (including China, India, Brazil, Romania, South Africa, Nigeria, Turkey, and Singapore) who deliver localized training. The organization also maintains a referral relationship with Sihle Insurance Group to channel high-scoring assessment users toward D&O liability insurance. The company is led by Pete Warner as President and CEO, has between 11 and 50 employees, has not raised external funding, and shows no public revenue disclosure.

Name

Internal Control Institute

Legal name

Internal Control Institute

Website

https://theinternalcontrolinstitute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Internal Control Institute (ICI) is a private, Clearwater-based professional certification and training organization offering CICS and CICP credentials, online courses, and quantitative self-assessment tools based on the COSO framework and Sarbanes-Oxley Act, serving internal control specialists, auditors, consultants, and corporate boards in 50+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification and Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Governance, Controls & Internal Control Frameworks (EDABAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE) (EDAAALAJ), Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Internal control certification
• Corporate governance training
• Risk management courses
• SOX compliance training
• COSO framework assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Clearwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Professional Certifications: Revenue from certification fees including CICS ($300), CICP ($400), CICS to CICP upgrade ($100), and retest fees ($100). Recertification fees of $100 for active certificates, $250 for expired certificates over 3 years.
2. Online Training Courses: Individual courses priced at $29.95 each. Special combo offer for all 8 courses at $199.95 (16% savings). Courses are self-paced, self-study format delivered via Kajabi LMS.
3. CICS Common Body of Knowledge: CBOK study and reference manual sold as PDF read-only format for $175. Used as primary study material for certification exam preparation.
4. Annual Membership Program: Annual membership at $50/year providing updates on internal control activities, monthly self-assessments, e-newsletters, 20 hours of annual CPE credit, and complementary electronic copy of ICI Encyclopedia of Internal Control Descriptions ($100 value). Three-year membership waives CICS/CICP recertification fee.
5. Individual Self-Assessment Tool: Free mini assessment tool for individuals to measure readiness for CICS certification. Full assessment available through the platform.
6. Organization Self-Assessment Tool: Free mini organizational assessment for corporations to evaluate internal control effectiveness using COSO model framework.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Internal Control Institute delivers professional certifications (CICS and CICP), self-paced online training courses, and quantitative self-assessment tools focused exclusively on internal control and corporate governance. Curriculum and assessment methodology are grounded in the COSO Internal Control Framework and Sarbanes-Oxley Act requirements. All offerings are sold individually online via a Kajabi-powered e-commerce platform with digital credentials issued through Credly.

Product overview

Internal Control Institute (ICI) is the only organization worldwide devoted exclusively to internal control and corporate governance, offering a portfolio of professional certifications, online training courses, and assessment tools. The product suite centers on two professional certifications: Certified Internal Control Specialist (CICS) at $300 and Certified Internal Control Professional (CICP) at $400, both requiring work experience and passing examinations. Supporting these certifications are eight online training courses (individually priced at $29.95 or bundled at $199.95), including Internal Control Boot Camp, Assessing Business System Controls, Build an Environment for Business Controls, Identifying Measuring and Managing Risk, Risk Assessment, Impact of Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Understand and Assess Corporate Governance, and Using COSO to Assess Internal Controls. The CICS Common Body of Knowledge (CBOK) at $175 serves as the primary study and reference manual. ICI also provides organizational and individual quantitative self-assessment tools, a $50/year membership program with CPE credits, and digital credentials through Credly partnership. The offerings are based on the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and COSO internal control framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CICS (Certified Internal Control Specialist): A personal certification of competence granted to individuals who meet the requirements of the certification program demonstrating understanding of the Internal Control Common Body of Knowledge.
• CICP (Certified Internal Control Professional)
• CBOK (Common Body of Knowledge)

Products and services

• Certified Internal Control Specialist (CICS) Certification

Quantifiable outcome

• Quantitative internal control effectiveness score (scale 1-7) for corporate boards and management
• +2 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CredlycoreTechnology or IntegrationICI has partnered with Credly to provide digital versions of credentials and badges. Digital badges can be used in email signatures or digital resumes, and on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. This service is provided at no cost to ICI credential holders.
• Sihle Insurance GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerICI risk assessment products provide direct access to Sihle Insurance Group for Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance. ICI assessment scores indicate minimal legal, financial and credibility risk, potentially reducing D&O insurance premiums. Contact: Bob Hackett 407-389-3513 or Allen Foster 407-389-3502.
• Geographic Partner NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICI establishes geographic partnerships with organizations and individuals in countries throughout the world. The Institute is represented in over 50 countries including Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, China, India, Middle East, Nigeria, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe. Each partner provides local training course delivery and customer support.
• The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO)coreOthersICI programs are based on the COSO internal control framework. The COSO Enterprise Risk Management Framework pronouncements are incorporated into CBOK curriculum. ICI uses COSO as the foundational model for organizational assessments.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA): The global professional association for internal auditors, issuing the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation — the most recognized credential in the field and a direct substitute for ICI's CICS/CICP, with a far larger member base and institutional reach.
• ISACA: Global association issuing CISA, CISM, CRISC, and other governance/risk/control credentials. Competes for the same compliance and controls professionals ICI targets, with a much larger catalog and enterprise training programs.
• AICPA: Issues the CPA license and the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), the dominant US accounting credentials. CPA holders frequently pursue ICI's CICS to broaden into internal control, making AICPA both a feeder source and a competing authority for control-related designations.
• Becker Professional Education: Major provider of CPA, CMA, and continuing professional education courses online. Operates a much larger professional education platform and competes for the same mid-career professionals ICI targets, particularly for SOX and controls-related CPE.
• Surgent Professional Education: Provider of CPE courses for CPAs and finance professionals, with significant content on internal controls, SOX, and risk management. Competes for CPE-credit-seeking professionals with broader accounting curriculum and stronger distribution.
• Skillsoft / SumTotal: Large corporate learning and development platform offering compliance, audit, and risk courses to enterprise customers. Competes with ICI for enterprise training budgets and offers broader catalogs but with less internal-control specialization.

Direct peers

• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE): Issues the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential with content closely overlapping ICI's fraud-prevention and internal controls curriculum. Targets a similar compliance/audit professional audience and competes for the same CPE-credit-seeking learners.
• OCEG (Open Compliance and Ethics Group): Issues the GRC Professional (GRCP) and GRC Auditor (GRCA) certifications covering governance, risk, and compliance. Targets a similar professional buyer and overlaps with ICI's COSO/governance curriculum, though with a broader GRC scope.
• Illumeo (formerly Bisk CPEasy): Online CPE and professional development platform with dedicated tracks in internal control, SOX, and audit. Sells individual courses in the same price tier as ICI ($29-$200 range) and competes for the same internal control specialist learner.

Others

• Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO): Publishes the Internal Control Integrated Framework and Enterprise Risk Management framework on which ICI's CBOK is built. Functions as the foundational standards body rather than a direct competitor, but is the most influential organization shaping the curriculum ICI teaches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Internal-Control-Institute-298091957677546

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Internal Control Institute