FMVA Certification: Courses, Eligibility, Fees, Registration, Syllabus
The FMVA is CFI's Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA)® program that is designed to show viable applications of bookkeeping, Excel, finance, financial modeling, valuation, presentations, and other basic skills that financial analysts need. The program consists of 12 required courses, each with a certified assessment toward the end, and all are accessible 100% on the web.
This Story also Contains
- FMVA Certification Eligibility
- FMVA Registration
- FMVA Course Requirements
- FMVA Certification Optional Courses
- FMVA Certification Syllabus
- FMVA Certification Test Dates and Locations
- FMVA Certification Fees
- FMVA Certification Result
The Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA®) designation is a worldwide certification program that focuses on viable applications of financial analysis, modeling, valuation, presentations and more. It covers the whole financial analyst skill set and provides the tools and preparing necessary to turn into a world-class financial analyst.
The Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst or FMVA certification program is offered by the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI). This is a universal level certification accreditation which is all around perceived as a benchmark for professionals in the space of financial modeling and valuation. The FMVA certification program comprises various courses which are led online alongside training tests and a last assessment.
FMVA Certification Eligibility
There are no specific eligibility requirements for candidates who want to pursue the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst program. All candidates are eligible for registration and participation regardless of their background and level of experience. Despite this, it is understood that FMVA certification applicants are in the professional domain of financial modeling and valuation or are pursuing an academic qualification in the same area of study.
For candidates who do not have prior knowledge of some of the basic concepts required for the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst program, CFI offers a number of optional prerequisite courses that the candidate can pursue prior to the required FMVA certification courses. These courses are available to candidates upon registration to the FMVA certification program and the cost for these courses is included in the total CFI tuition fee.
FMVA Registration
In order to register for the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst program, candidates need to simply fill in the registration form for FMVA certification which has been offered by CFI. This form is to be filled out in the online format and requires the basic details of the candidate including personal information and contact details. Candidates must make the full course payment after filling out the registration form in order to complete the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst registration process.
FMVA Course Requirements
In order to obtain the FMVA certification, candidates are required to complete a number of online courses which focus on various aspects of financial modeling and valuation. This include three types of courses:
There are 7 optional prerequisite courses which deal with fundamentals and revision for the required course content.
There are 9 required courses that all Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst aspirants need to complete.
There are 3 elective courses which each candidate needs to complete from 8 different course options.
Therefore, candidates need to complete a total of at least 12 courses in order to be awarded the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst certification. In order to complete the entire coursework, it takes students anywhere from 50 to 100 study hours. The course content is delivered entirely online in a variety of formats which includes video lectures, multiple choice tests, quizzes and hands-on exercises. The various courses available along with the prerequisite courses required and the CFI recommended study time have been listed in the tables given below.
FMVA Certification Optional Courses
Course Title | Recommended study time | Prerequisites required |
Accounting fundamentals | 1-3 hours | No prerequisites required |
Reading financial statements | 1-3 hours | No prerequisites required |
Fixed income fundamentals | 1-3 hours | No prerequisites required |
Excel crash course for corporate finance | 1-3 hours | No prerequisites required |
Introduction to corporate finance | 1-3 hours | No prerequisites required |
Math for corporate finance | 1-3 hours | No prerequisites required |
Excel modeling fundamentals | 1-3 hours | Accounting fundamentals |
Financial models and templates library | N/A | No prerequisites required |
FMVA Certification Required Courses
Course Title | Recommended study time | Prerequisites required |
Financial analysis fundamentals | 2-4 hours |
|
Building a financial model in Excel | 2-4 hours |
|
Business valuation modeling | 2-4 hours |
|
Budgeting and forecasting | 2-4 hours |
|
FP&A monthly cash flow forecasting | 2-4 hours |
|
Scenario and sensitivity analysis | 2-4 hours |
|
Advanced excel formulas | 2-4 hours |
|
Dashboards and data visualization | 2-5 hours |
|
PowerPoint and pitchbooks | 2-5 hours |
|
FMVA Certification Elective Courses
Course Title | Recommended study time | Prerequisites required |
Behavioral finance fundamentals | 2-4 hours | No prerequisites required |
Real estate financial modeling | 4-8 hours |
|
Startup /e-commerce financial model | 4-8 hours | |
Mining financial model & valuation | 4-8 hours | |
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) modeling | 4-8 hours |
|
Leverage buyout (LBO) modeling | 4-8 hours | |
Financial modeling with VBA | 2-5 hours |
|
Corporate and business strategy | 3-6 hours |
|
FMVA Certification Syllabus
The syllabus which is covered in the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst course is derived from the CFI body of knowledge. Over the course of the program, students learn about the necessary concepts and tools which they need to master in order to excel in the professional domain of financial modeling and valuation.
FMVA Certification Syllabus Distribution
Subject | Weightage |
Financial modeling | 25% |
Finance | 23% |
Excel | 17% |
Valuation | 10% |
Budgeting and forecasting | 8% |
Presentations and visuals | 8% |
Accounting | 5% |
Strategy | 4% |
The CFI body of knowledge has been designed to imbibe individuals with the practical knowledge and skills they need in order to excel in the professional world. The various broad subject areas and concerned topics which constitute the FMVA certification syllabus CFI body of knowledge have been listed below.
FMVA Certification Syllabus
Subject area | Topics |
Accounting | Constructing a balance sheet and income statement; Constructing a cash flow statement; Understanding the balance sheet; Understanding the income statement and cash flow |
Budgeting, forecasting FP&A | Budgeting within a strategic framework; Building a robust budgeting process; A practical guide to developing budgets; Forecasting techniques; Tracking budget performance with variance analysis; Applied budgeting tools and techniques in Excel; Financial modeling best practices; Modeling cash flows; Building your financial model in Excel; Enhancing your model |
Excel | Excel layout; Excel settings; Basic financial analysis setup; Advanced financial analysis setup; Functions and formulas; Excel tips and tricks; Better formulas; Catering for uncertainty; Adulting a model; Excel template setup; Financial statements; Financial analysis; Macros; Introduction to VBA for financial modeling in; Excel; Design, build and run VBA sub procedures; Create customized excel functions; Branching looping and procedure code |
Finance | Fixed income products and markets; Pricing fixed income securities and duration; Overview of corporate finance; Business valuation; Mergers and acquisitions; Debt financing; Equity financing; Corporate finance careers; Decision making biases and errors; Information processing errors; How decisions are impacted by others |
Financial analysis | Vertical and horizontal income statement analysis; Balance sheet and leverage ratios; Cash flow statements and ratios; Rates of return and profitability analysis |
Financial modeling | A structured approach to financial modeling; Forecasting income statement and balance sheet items; Debt and financing schedules; Building a free cash flow forecast; Scenario analysis; Sensitivity analysis; Cap rates and net operating income (NOI); Land loans and construction loans; Real estate development financial model; Joint ventures and cash flow waterfalls; eCommerce financial model; Customer metrics; DCF valuation modeling; Introduction to the mining industry; Valuation metrics; Mining financial model; M&A model structure; Acquirer and target models; Transaction assumptions; Closing balance sheet; Pro forma financial model; Accretion and dilution |
Math | Discounted cash flow (DCF); Bond pricing and yields; Key statistical skills; Covariance, correlation and regression |
Presentation | Data visualization; Excel visuals; Focus attention; Storytelling; Excel dashboards; PowerPoint layout; Design principles; PowerPoint setup and functions; Slide masters; Formatting tips; Transitions; Animations |
Valuation | Equity value vs. enterprise value; Valuation multiples; Comparable company analysis (Comps); Precedent M&A transactions (Precedents); Discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis; Weighted average cost of capital (WACC); Presentation of results |
At the end of the course, candidates will have to participate in a final assessment which will cover all the topics introduced through the course content. In order to obtain the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst certification, candidates need to obtain at least 80% in the final assessment for each course.
FMVA Certification Test Dates and Locations
As the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst credential course is offered in the online mode of delivery, there is no specific test centre or test location for the FMVA certification program. Therefore, it is a program which is highly suitable for professionals as the course content can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection. The program is also available throughout the year and therefore there are no specific deadlines for application or registration. There are also no deadlines for course completion and the course content will be available to the candidate indefinitely after registration to the FMVA certification.
FMVA Certification Fees
The Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst credential course fees are USD $497. These fees are subject to change as published by the CPI. The FMVA course fees in India or the CFI tuition for Indian candidates is INR 21,000.
The FMVA certification price for the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst course and credential or the CFI tuition includes the cost for the following:
25+ courses and certificates
Exclusive library of excel model templates
Digital certificates (blockchain verified)
All exam fees for the FMVA certification
Financial modeling and valuation analyst certification
Lifetime access to CFI
All future upgrades
FMVA Certification Result
Candidates who successfully complete the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst course will receive the FMVA certification. The FMVA certification will be emailed to the candidate within 24-48 hours of successful course completion and fulfilment of the program requirements after processing. The certificates for each of the individual courses will be emailed to the candidates immediately upon course completion and final assessment completion.
Candidates can also order a physical copy of their FMVA certification upon successful completion of the Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst course. The physical FMVA certification is sent to candidates by mail only upon special request.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Candidates seeking FMVA certification will have to first choose 8 optional courses, core courses, elective courses and then appear for Final exam.
Yes, the FMVA certification is definitely worth it if you are planning a career in Finance.
No, CFA is much more intensive course than FMVA and it has wider scope and recognition.
Yes, the FMVA course is recognised in India.
The cost of FMVA certification is roughly INR 21,000.
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