how accredited in business valuation works
the accredited in business valuation credential is awarded to cpas who demonstrate considerable knowledge skill and business valuation experience the study program to become an abv covers the basic business valuation process professional standards qualitative and quantitative analysis valuation analysis and other related topics such as financial reporting and litigation individuals with the abv designation may work for business valuation firms consulting firms and other businesses that regularly deal with business value accredited in business valuation requirementscandidates seeking abv accreditation must have a valid and unrevoked cpa license or certificate issued by the appropriate state authority they must also pass the abv examination with some exceptions for example this requirement is waived in the case of am accredited member of the asa and asa accredited senior appraiser credential holders of the american society of appraisers cfa certified financial actuary holders and cbv chartered business valuator credential holders of the canadian institute of chartered business valuators every three years abv professionals must complete 60 hours of continuing professional education they must also pay an annual fee of several hundred dollars business experience and education requirements for candidatesabv candidates must have obtained a minimum of 150 hours of bv experience within the five years preceding the credential application date candidates may also apply a maximum of 15 experience hours by completing the hands on business valuation case study track at the aicpa forensic and valuation services conference abv candidates must complete 75 hours of valuation related continuing professional development cpd all hours must be obtained within the 5 year period preceding the date of the abv application accredited in business valuation examthe abv exam is conducted by computer and consists of two parts both parts must be passed in 12 months based on passing the first part to receive abv credit applicants are given three hours and 15 minutes to complete each section of the test including a 15 minute break the exam consists of 90 multiple choice questions per module and much of the exam are discrete multiple choice questions 78 in total a dozen questions are case studies with accompanying multiple choice answers these questions are meant to test a candidate s analytical aptitude and apply valuation theory and methodology 