Private Equity Certificate
Take a leap forward in your career by studying for the Private Equity Certificate. This intermediate level certificate in private equity focuses on practical skills and outcomes expected of an analyst or associate in a private equity firm. The Private Equity Certificate features financial modeling instruction and assignments developed in partnership with Financial Edge – a leading training provider for top private equity firms around the world.
Advance your subject matter expertise
Built on globally recognized CFA® Program content, the Private Equity Certificate gives you the job-ready skills you need to build robust LBO (leveraged buyout) models, leverage private market investing, assess deals, and define strategies for value creation in private equity. If you wish, you’ll be able to use the knowledge you gain as a foundation for more advanced studies, with the CFA Institute Advanced Private Equity Certificate launching in summer 2025.
Why choose the Private Equity Certificate?
Enhanced insight
Familiarize yourself with the intricate detail around private equity models and speak about them with complete confidence.
Career advancement
Acquire the important practical ability needed to become an expert analyst or associate in a private equity firm.
Authoritative content
Focus your expertise with private equity training built on the industry-leading CFA Program.
Future-proof knowledge
Learn the key skills you need to become the investment professional of tomorrow.
Insights from experts
Benefit from the knowledge of established practitioners with a Private Equity Certificate developed by leaders in investment education.
Enhanced professional profile
Share your achievement on professional networks with a shareable digital badge and a printable certificate when you complete the Private Equity Certificate.
Who should enroll
- Analysts or associates in private equity partnerships.
- Investment banking analysts who wish to move to private equity.
- Finance students who aspire to work in private equity.
- Finance professionals transitioning from other sectors.
Curriculum
Gain essential skills for the private markets, including fixed income securities analysis, financial statement analysis, and financial modeling. In this course, you’ll learn to calculate bond metrics, understand the basics of derivatives for risk mitigation, distinguish business forms, analyze financial reports, forecast performance, and integrate financial statements for strategic forecasts.
Have a clear understanding of private equity, focusing on value creation and the synergy between private equity firms and portfolio company managers. You'll be equipped to navigate through private equity strategies for different company life stages, including venture capital, growth equity, and buyouts.
Explores private debt instruments and their applications in take-private transactions, focusing on their structures, terms, conditions, and providers, and the broader financial ecosystem. You'll gain a comprehensive understanding of credit risk, methodologies for assessing corporate creditworthiness through both qualitative and quantitative lenses, and the implications for private debt valuation.
Delve into the intricacies of private equity financial modeling. You’ll advance your skills in constructing financial models that accurately forecast company performance and facilitate effective valuation in a PE context.
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a general partner in managing private investment funds. You'll also be adept at discussing the mechanisms and strategies used by private investment firms to align interests with investors, evaluating fund performance, selecting investment opportunities, enhancing value within portfolio companies, and conducting due diligence while establishing business plans in the private investment process.
The final assessment will be an online, open book assessment of 60 multiple choice questions. You will have 2 attempts to pass the final assessment and must achieve a passing score of 70%.
The Advanced Private Equity Certificate will launch in summer 2025. Access the Advanced Private Equity Certificate syllabus and learning outcomes and fact sheet for further info.
Learn via engaging content and activities
Work towards the Private Equity Certificate in the way most suitable for your learning style and schedule.Self-paced online learning
Register and start studying straight away. You will have access to the content and activities, plus the final assessment, for 12 months from registration.
Online Q&A
To enhance your knowledge, the Private Equity Certificate includes live Financial Modeling Q&A sessions with an expert trainer.
Further study
Develop your skills further with the Advanced Private Equity Certificate, available in August 2025 (you will need to complete the Private Equity Certificate as a prerequisite).
Not sure which level is right for you? Explore all private markets learning opportunities from CFA Institute.
Private Equity Certificate
- Certificate – 5 course series
- Intermediate level
- 125 hours to complete
- Self-paced online learning
- 20 PL Credits
Frequently asked questions
You’ll have access to the learning materials for 12 months from the date of purchase. Learning materials and assessments can be accessed anywhere, online, providing maximum flexibility and convenience to candidates.
For the Private Equity Certificate, we recommend having a basic understanding of private markets, which can be gained through completing the Private Markets and Alternative Investments Certificate, CFA Level I, or relevant work experience. However, this is not a mandatory requirement.
To successfully complete the financial modeling assignments, you'll need access to the latest version of Microsoft Excel, ideally running on a Windows device. This ensures compatibility with all features and tools used in the course.
CFA Institute currently offers the foundational Private Markets and Alternative Investments Certificate, the Private Equity Certificate, and the upcoming Advanced Private Equity Certificate. These are the recommended options available at this time.
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