The migration from REF Insider to Academy is officially finished. All resources are available!

Hi,

This is your space to learn our foundations, access key resources and keep growing together.
On‑demand · by role

Continue with your courses

REF Insider Migration Complete!

Access all our guidelines and templates

Live sessions · Recordings

Catch up on our latest live sessions

Here are our two most recent sessions, or explore the full library below.
September 2026
Round Tables
For Partners, Local Teams & Forum Leaders
August 2026
Positive Intelligence Offsite
For Partners, Local Teams & Forum Leaders
Monthly Q&A · Live

Bring your questions
to October's live Q&As

Join us to get your recruitment and facilitation questions answered in real time by the HQ team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about REF Academy
Forum Leaders

It's my first time logging in. Where should I start?

Start by watching the "Onboarding to REF Academy" video for a quick walkthrough of the platform and its features. Once you finish, move on to "Intro to REF", which is the very first step toward your Recruitment certification.

Why can’t I see all the courses?

Course access depends on your role (Partner, Forum Leader, or Local Team) and unlocks progressively as you hit specific milestones:

  • As a new Forum Leader, you start with the Recruitment Certification, which consists of two steps: first complete Intro to REF, which unlocks the Member Recruitment course. Completing both gets you certified in Recruitment.
  • When you are close to launching your Forum, your Partner or Local Team notifies us, and our Team will reach out and unlock the Forum Facilitation course so you can complete your Facilitation certification.

I missed a live training session hosted by HQ. Can I watch the recording?

Yes! All past live trainings are recorded and uploaded under the Sessions tab on the main toolbar for on-demand viewing.

What are the Monthly Live Q&A Sessions, and are they mandatory?

These live sessions are interactive spaces hosted by experienced HQ facilitators to support you, answer questions, and foster peer learning. They are conducted in English, with full support to ask questions in Spanish if you prefer.

As a Forum Leader in training, the expectation is to attend at least one Recruitment session and one Facilitation session after completing each respective online certification—though you are welcome to join every month whenever you need ongoing support. Attendance is not a requirement to start recruiting or to launch your Forum.

Where can I find official guidelines, toolkits, and templates?

Head to the Resources tab. Everything previously in the REF Insider for Recruitment and Facilitation has been migrated and organized into clear, dedicated sections.

Can I access the courses and resources in Spanish or Portuguese?

Yes, depending on the type of content you are viewing:

  • Platform Interface & Assessments: You can translate the entire site and course quizzes into English or Spanish using the built-in interface translator (Portuguese is not currently available for assessments).
  • Course Videos: Videos feature built-in subtitles in English, Spanish, and Portuguese (on select courses).
  • Resources Tab: All downloadable toolkits and member-facing materials are available in both English and Spanish so Forum Leaders can easily share them with their Members.
Partners & Local Team

How does my navigation differ as a Partner or Local Team compared to a Forum Leader?

  • Full Course Access: Unlike Forum Leaders who unlock content sequentially, Local Teams have immediate access to all courses simultaneously so you can review the full learning journey at any time.
  • Live Workshops & Partner Cohorts: You will have visibility and access to workshop invitations tailored specifically to your role to support territory growth and execution.

How can I track the progress of Forum Leaders in my territory?

Each operation has at least one user assigned as a Group Manager. This role grants extended platform access to accurately track Forum Leaders' course completion and assessment progress.

  • To learn how to use these tracking tools: Watch the "Group Manager Role" tutorial under the Courses tab.
  • Not sure who holds this role in your territory? Contact our Knowledge Team, and we’ll let you know who is assigned or help update your team’s permissions.

As a Local Team member, are any courses mandatory for me?

While full certification is meant for Forum Leaders, we recommend the following approach:

  • Must-Do: We ask that all Local Team members take Intro to REF to align on REF'S culture and mission.
  • Role-Based: Depending on your focus, explore Recruitment or Facilitation certifications to better understand what your Forum Leaders do.
  • Best Practice: Reviewing all courses is strongly encouraged so you can effectively take part of your team.
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