What do I need to know about franchise compliance? How do I foster a healthy company culture? How do I know when it’s time to scale? How do I support my franchisor clients?
Whether you’re the founder of a franchise brand, part of an operations team, a franchisee, or a support service provider, if you’re in the franchise industry, you’ve likely asked yourself questions like these. Franchising may be a $133 billion sector—the 12th largest industry in Canada—yet reliable, specialized professional development is still surprisingly hard to find.
That’s why the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) offers the gold standard of franchising education: the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) Certificate Program.
Eye on education
Education is one of the CFA’s four strategic pillars and a foundational part of our mission. We know that strong franchise systems depend on equally strong learning systems—ones that evolve with industry needs, support emerging leaders, and encourage best practices across every stage of the franchise journey. At a time when franchise systems are navigating rapid industry evolution—from shifting labour markets to rising competition—ongoing professional learning has never been more important.
With this in mind, the CFA proudly partnered with the International Franchise Association (IFA) in 2021 to bring the CFE Program to Canada. In doing so, we set out not simply to deliver a credential, but to cultivate a culture of ongoing professional growth within the Canadian franchise community.
The CFE Program sets the highest standards for franchise education in Canada. Franchising is an interconnected ecosystem, and this is reflected in the program: CEOs and founders learn alongside operations and development teams, marketers, lawyers, bankers, accountants, coaches, consultants, franchisees, and more. By providing accessible, up-to-date education relevant to every corner of the industry, the CFE helps individuals strengthen their capabilities—and in doing so, strengthens the systems they support.
And it does something equally important: it connects people.
Education doesn’t take place in isolation—some of the most meaningful insights arise through dialogue. I see this constantly at CFE-accredited events, whether it’s the spark of an idea exchanged over a video call or the energy of in-person conversations among professionals at different stages in their franchising careers. Franchising, at its core, is collaborative—and franchise education thrives on the same spirit.
How do I get my CFE certification?
Participants earn their CFE designation by accumulating 3,500 credits through a blend of past experience and accredited learning activities. Credits can be earned through:
- Previous professional experience in franchising (eligible for credit upon enrollment)
- CFE-accredited programming through official international partners, including the International Franchise Association (IFA), the Franchise Council of Australia, and the Philippine Franchise Association
- Specialized franchising programs delivered by accredited educational providers
- CFA e-learning courses, including self-paced modules and on-demand content
- CFA CFE-accredited half-day, in-person workshops
- CFA virtual workshops and webinars, such as Franchise Your Business, Learn & Grow, and the Evening Education Series
- Active participation in CFA live events, including National Convention, Law Day, Marketing & Operations Day, and others
- Involvement in the franchising community, including CFA membership, committee participation, and volunteer leadership
- Any accredited learning completed within the year prior to enrollment
Fran-Guard
Participants must also complete the Canadian version of Fran-Guard, a specialized course focused on the business case for strong compliance practices. The program emphasizes the legal and operational principles that support ethical franchise sales and effective system management, providing a solid foundation for understanding compliance requirements within the Canadian environment.
CFE Final Examination
To earn the CFE designation, participants must also pass the Canadian version of the online CFE final exam, which evaluates their knowledge across the core competencies of franchise leadership and management. This ensures that every CFE graduate meets a consistent, internationally recognized standard of franchise leadership.
Learning Together
In just four years of offering the CFE Program in Canada, over 70 professionals have now earned their CFE designation. What’s even more encouraging is how rapidly the momentum is building: more than 25% of all graduates completed the program within the past year, and the program has seen more than 50% year-over-year growth. That’s a lot of franchise knowledge!
This tells a powerful story. It demonstrates not only a rising appetite for professional learning in franchising but also a deeper shift, one where franchise professionals increasingly recognize the value of structured, high-quality development in strengthening their systems and advancing their careers.
What inspires me most is the mindset behind this growth. The individuals who pursue their CFE bring curiosity, commitment, and a desire to contribute meaningfully to their organizations and the broader sector. They also understand that increasing their own knowledge directly strengthens their franchisees, because no franchise system can thrive without strong, profitable franchisees at its foundation. Every investment in professional development ultimately becomes an investment in supporting franchisees’ success. Their enthusiasm creates a ripple effect: stronger leaders, more resilient systems, and a community better equipped to navigate a rapidly evolving industry landscape.
If you want to take your franchise knowledge to the next level, you can find out more at https://cfa.ca/cfe-program/ or by contacting me at [email protected]
