- ABV is issued by AICPA & CIMA and tested via two separate 90-question Kryterion modules.
- Both modules must be passed within 12 months of passing the first one taken.
- Each module is weighted 50%: Foundation of Valuation Theory and Implementation of Valuation Methods.
- Registration runs USD 175-275 per module, with one included retake per purchase.
Quick Identity Check: What ABV Actually Is
Before diving into cheat-sheet facts, a quick anchor point: this guide covers Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), the credential issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants through AICPA & CIMA. If you've landed here searching for background on the letters themselves, our companion explainers on what ABV is, ABV meaning, and what ABV stands for cover the terminology in plain language. This page is the condensed, print-it-and-tape-it-to-your-monitor version for people already deep in study mode.
For a slower walkthrough of the full credential - who it's for, what it opens doors to, and how it fits into a valuation career - see ABV Certification and What Is ABV Certification?. This cheat sheet assumes you already know the basics and just want the numbers, formats, and deadlines in one place.
Exam Format Snapshot
The ABV exam is delivered as two separately purchased computer-based modules through Kryterion, available year-round at test centers or via remote proctoring. There's no single sitting - you register, schedule, and pay for each module on its own.
- Question count: 90 multiple-choice questions per module.
- Order: Modules can be taken in either order - there's no mandated sequence.
- Time limit between modules: both must be passed within 12 months of passing the first one.
- Scoring: results are reported as pass/fail, with no scaled score breakdown released to candidates.
- Reference materials during testing: formulas and variable definitions are provided on-screen - you don't need to memorize every formula cold, but you do need to know when and how to apply them.
If you want a deeper dive into what "hard" actually means for this exam given the format, check How Hard Is the ABV Exam? and the data-driven look in ABV Pass Rate 2026.
Key Takeaway
Because the exam is split into two independently scheduled modules, you can stagger your prep - mastering one domain fully, sitting that module, then shifting focus entirely to the second domain without splitting attention across both simultaneously.
Fees and Registration Mechanics
Registration pricing runs USD 175-275 per module, with membership discounts applied automatically at checkout for eligible AICPA members. Since each module is bought separately, your total cost depends on whether you register for both at once or spread purchases over time.
- One retake is included with each exam purchase - plan your first attempt accordingly rather than assuming unlimited free reschedules.
- Because scheduling is year-round through Kryterion, there's no fixed testing-window calendar to work around, unlike credentials with quarterly windows. See ABV Exam Dates 2026 for scheduling logistics.
- A full cost breakdown, including how membership status affects your total spend, is covered in ABV Certification Cost 2026.
Domain Cheat Sheet
The exam blueprint, effective October 1, 2020, splits content evenly across two domains - each worth exactly half the exam. There's no lopsided weighting to game here; you need genuine competence in both.
Domain 1: Foundation of Valuation Theory (50%)
This domain tests your grasp of the conceptual and regulatory underpinnings of valuation work - the "why" and "under what standard" before you ever touch a spreadsheet.
- Valuation approaches and their theoretical basis (income, market, asset-based)
- Professional standards and engagement considerations governing valuation work
- Subject company, industry, and economic analysis fundamentals
- Normalization adjustments and their conceptual justification
Domain 2: Implementation of Valuation Methods (50%)
This is the applied half - taking the theory from Domain 1 and executing it against realistic scenarios and numbers.
- Applying income, market, and asset-based methods to specific fact patterns
- Discount and capitalization rate development and application
- Discounts and premiums (marketability, control) and when they apply
- Report conclusions, calculations, and documentation implications
For the full domain-by-domain breakdown with task statements and study weighting logic, see ABV Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 2 Content Areas. And if you're still building your overall prep plan around these two domains, ABV Study Guide 2026 walks through sequencing in more depth than this cheat sheet allows.
Eligibility Pathways at a Glance
Every applicant needs AICPA membership in good standing and 75 valuation-related CPD hours completed within the preceding five years. Beyond that baseline, there are two distinct routes depending on whether you hold a CPA license.
| Requirement | CPA Pathway | Finance-Professional Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| License/Education | Valid, unrevoked CPA license or certificate | Bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited institution |
| Valuation Experience | 1,500 hours within five years | 4,500 hours within five years |
| Additional Coursework | Not required | AICPA Professional Conduct and Standards Education for Finance Professionals course, within 30 days of application |
| Shared Requirements | AICPA membership, 75 valuation CPD hours (5 years) | AICPA membership, 75 valuation CPD hours (5 years) |
One detail candidates often miss: you're allowed to take the exam before completing your credential education and experience requirements. That means you can sit - and pass - both modules while your experience hours are still accumulating, then submit your full application once you clear the threshold. This is a meaningful planning advantage if you're early in a valuation career but want the exam behind you sooner. Full detail on both pathways lives in ABV Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Recertification Quick Reference
Passing both modules isn't the finish line - ABV status has to be maintained. Recertification requires:
- Continued AICPA membership in good standing
- 60 valuation-related CPD hours every three years, with at least 10 hours completed each year (no cramming all 60 into year three)
- 4 professional-ethics hours every three years
Building these hours into your annual CPD planning from day one avoids a last-minute scramble before your three-year renewal window closes.
One-Week Domain Scheduling Trick
Generic study advice - Pomodoro blocks, spaced repetition, flashcards - applies to any exam. What makes it useful here is mapping it directly onto the two-module structure. Because Domain 1 (Foundation of Valuation Theory) and Domain 2 (Implementation of Valuation Methods) are tested as separate purchases, you don't need a single unified study calendar; you need two sequential ones.
Foundation of Valuation Theory
- Work through standards, approaches, and analytical fundamentals using spaced repetition on terminology
- Register for and sit the Domain 1 module once practice scores stabilize
Implementation of Valuation Methods
- Shift entirely to applied calculations - discount rates, method application, adjustments
- Time yourself against 90-question mock sets to build stamina for the actual module
Reinforcement
- Run timed practice sessions on the main practice test platform between modules to keep prior material fresh
This split-calendar approach respects the reality of the format: since both modules must be passed within 12 months of the first, there's no need to hold both domains in your head simultaneously - just sequentially, with enough overlap review to avoid forgetting Domain 1 material while deep in Domain 2 prep.
Key Takeaway
Treat the 12-month window between modules as a planning asset, not a deadline pressure point - most candidates who pace themselves comfortably finish well inside it.
If you want to stress-test your readiness before committing to a registration date, running full-length timed sets on our ABV practice tests against both domain weightings is the closest simulation available to actual module conditions.
FAQs
Each of the two modules contains 90 multiple-choice questions, for 180 total across both modules combined.
Yes. Candidates may take Foundation of Valuation Theory or Implementation of Valuation Methods first - there's no required sequence, though both must be passed within 12 months of passing the first one.
No. Formulas and variable definitions are provided on-screen during testing under the current blueprint, though you still need to know how and when to apply them correctly.
Yes. Candidates may take the exam before completing the credential's education and experience requirements, then finalize their application once those requirements are met.
Beyond the initial registration fees per module, recertification requires continued AICPA membership, 60 valuation-related CPD hours every three years (at least 10 annually), and 4 professional-ethics hours every three years. For a broader look at whether the total investment pays off, see Is the ABV Certification Worth It? and ABV Salary Guide 2026.