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ABV Credential Information

ABV Credential Program Objectives:

• Increase public awareness of the CPA as the preferred business valuation professional
• Increase exposure for CPAs who have obtained the ABV credential
• Enhance the quality of business valuation services that members provide
• Ensure the continued competitiveness of CPAs versus other valuation services providers through continuous access to a comprehensive community of resources and support
• Increase the confidence in the quality and accuracy of business valuation services received from CPA/ABV providers 

Benefits of becoming an ABV:

CPAs who provide valuation services should consider obtaining the ABV Credential because it:     

• Positions the credential holder as a premier valuation services provider  
• Enhances the practitioner’s image as a competent, trustworthy valuation expert
• Promotes a greater level of confidence for current and potential clients
• Demonstrates commitment to continuously improving valuation skills and expertise, resulting in increased professional competency
• Offers greater revenue opportunities
• Expands opportunities for referrals from other practitioners, strategic partners, attorneys and clients
• Opens up a community of CPA valuation professionals with similar interests and practices
• Distinguishes your practice with the powerful combination of a CPA certificate and an ABV Credential

ABV Credential Application Requirements:

The ABV Credential is exclusively granted by the AICPA to qualified CPAs. To qualify, a new ABV applicant must:      

• Hold a valid and unrevoked CPA license or certificate issued by a legally constituted state authority  
• Pass the ABV Examination
• Upon successfully passing the ABV Examination, complete the ABV Credential application (online by clicking "Join" at the top of this page or the one contained in the ABV Credential Application Kit) and attest to meeting the minimum business experience and education requirements
• Pay the credential fee of $350 (see “Pricing” information below)
• Sign a Declaration of Intent to comply with the requirements of ABV recertification

ABV Credential Exam Registration Process:

REGISTER FOR ABV EXAM ONLINE!
There are three categories of exam registrants including new registrants, exam retake registrants, and deferral registrants.

New registrants - Candidates who have not previously registered for or taken the ABV Exam fall into this category. Prices for new registrants are as follows:  

• Current FVS Section members - $300
• Current AICPA members - $400
• Non-AICPA members - $500

Exam retake registrants - Candidates that previously took the exam and did not pass the exam fall into this category. There is a $100 fee to retake the ABV Exam. 
  
Deferral registrants - Candidates that fall into this category are individuals who previously registered for an exam but did not schedule or take an exam during the year he/she originally registered. Registrants that elect to defer exam until the following year must pay a $100 fee to re-register for the exam the following year.   

Note: CPAs that hold the Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) or Accredited Member (AM) credential from the American Society of Appraisers in Business Valuation are deemed to have satisfied the examination requirement.

ABV Credential Application Process:

After receiving notification of successfully passing the ABV Exam, download a copy of the ABV Credential application within the ABV Credential Application Kit.  The Application Kit provides all necessary information regarding the qualifications necessary to meet the ABV Credential requirements. 

To earn an ABV Credential, a candidate must meet the following minimum requirements:   

• Pass the ABV Examination (or equivalent such as be an Accredited Member or Accredited Senior Appraiser in the American Society of Appraisers) 
• Meet the Education requirement by obtaining at least 75 hours of business valuation related CPE
• Meet the Business Experience requirements by the following means:  
  • A credential candidate will successfully complete the requirement by serving as a full-time instructor that has taught at least 4 accredited college courses covering at least 50% of the material included in the business valuation body of knowledge indicated in the ABV Exam Content Specification Outline. 
  • A credential candidate will also successfully complete the requirement by completing at least 150 hours of or 6 business valuation engagements where the valuation analyst must use professional judgment and the engagement results in the estimation of value culminating in the expression of either a conclusion of value or a calculated value (see paragraph 21 of Statement on Standards of Valuation Services No. 1.)   
  • Having trouble meeting the experience requirement, the ABV Credential Experience Program may be able to assist in your efforts to obtain the relevant valuation experience you need. 

Please use the following guidance when remitting payment:

For Initial Pricing:
The standard initial pricing for the ABV credential is $350 unless you qualify for one of the exceptions listed below: 

• If the job code in your AICPA profile is “Government”, then the initial price is always $250.
• If you hold the CFF credential, then the initial price is $150.
• If you hold another AICPA credential, then the initial price is $200 (unless category #4 below applies with a lower price)
• If you are a member of the FVS Section, then you will receive a credit for a pro rata portion of your remaining annual FVS membership fee. (The actual cost will be somewhere between the $350 standard price and $150 depending on the number of months remaining in your annual FVS membership period) 

For Renewal Pricing:
Credential renewal pricing is $350 for the first credential and $200 for each subsequent credential held.  There are 2 exceptions:  

• If the job code in your AICPA profile is “Government”, then each credential has a renewal price of $250.

• If you hold both the ABV and CFF credentials, then the renewal price for the second credential is $150 (instead of the standard $200).

Multiple credential examples:   

• If you hold the PFS and ABV, then your renewal price is $550 ($350 + $200) for both credentials.
• If you hold the ABV and CFF, then your renewal price is $500 ($350 + $150) for both credentials. 
• If you hold the CITP, ABV and CFF, then your renewal price is $700 ($350 + $200 + $150) for all three credentials.

If remitting payment by credit card, you may attach your application to an e-mail and send to ABV@aicpa.org with “ABV Application” in the subject line, or fax it to 800.326.5066. If you prefer to pay by check, your payment and application may be mailed to: AICPA – ABV Application, 220 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707. It will be reviewed and processed, and you will receive notification of your application status shortly thereafter. In some cases, you may be asked to provide additional information to support your application. If you meet the ABV requirements, your application will be approved. If your application is not approved, your fee will be refunded.   
 

ABV Credential Recertification:

• Maintain an AICPA membership in good standing.
• Hold a valid and unrevoked CPA certificate or license issued by a legally constituted state authority.
• Provide verification of obtaining at least 60 hours of forensic related CPE over the preceding three years. (Note: Authoring or publishing articles is limited to 24 hours. Classes taught or lectures given are limited to 36 hours). Refer to the ABV  Credential Application Kit for examples of applicable CPE.
• Submit electronic intent to continue to comply with all recertification requirements. Attestations are requested in late April following the end of the credential holder's recertification period.

ABV Credential Reinstatement Process:

• Submit an ABV reinstatement application.
• Pay a reinstatement fee of $100 in addition to the credential application fee. Application fees are outlined above in the application process section.

You must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a valid and unrevoked CPA certificate or license issued by a legally constituted state authority.
• Have at least 60 hours of forensic related CPE in the last three years.  Refer to the ABV  Credential Application Kit for examples of applicable CPE.

If you have held the ABV credential in the past, you do not need to re-qualify for the examination or experience requirements of the credential.