ABV Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling

How ABV Exam Scheduling Actually Works

Unlike certification programs that run on quarterly or seasonal testing windows, the Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) credential exam is delivered continuously through Kryterion, either at a physical test center or via remote proctoring from your own workstation. There is no application deadline tied to a specific "2026 exam date" - you register, pick an available slot, and sit for the module on your own schedule, largely dependent on seat availability at your preferred location or time.

The exam is split into two separately purchased modules, each containing 90 multiple-choice questions and each covering both content domains at an even 50/50 weight:

• Domain 1: Foundation of Valuation Theory (50%)
• Domain 2: Implementation of Valuation Methods (50%)

Because both modules test the same two domains rather than splitting content between them, "exam dates" for ABV really means two separate scheduling decisions rather than one. For a full breakdown of what each domain actually tests, see the ABV Exam Domains 2026 guide.

2026 Testing Windows: No Fixed "Exam Dates"

Candidates coming from credentials with quarterly testing windows often assume ABV works the same way. It doesn't. Since delivery is continuous throughout 2026, your effective "exam date" is whatever date you book when you register and reserve a seat - at a Kryterion test center or through remote proctoring - subject to normal appointment availability.

That flexibility is an advantage for planning, but it also means the burden of pacing shifts entirely to you. Nobody is going to force you toward a deadline the way a fixed testing window would. If you want a disciplined pace, you need to set your own target dates and build backward from them, which is exactly what the ABV Study Guide 2026 walks through in more detail.

Registration Mechanics and Deadlines

Each module is registered and paid for separately, with a published price range of USD 175-275 per module - AICPA membership discounts apply automatically at checkout, which is one reason costs vary. For a complete accounting of what you'll actually spend across both modules, plus optional prep materials, see the ABV Certification Cost 2026 breakdown.

Practical scheduling deadlines to keep in mind:

• Registration happens per module - you are not locked into a single combined exam date the way some bundled exams work.
• Modules can be taken in either order - there's no rule requiring Foundation of Valuation Theory concepts to be tested before Implementation of Valuation Methods, or vice versa, since both modules cover both domains.
• Seat availability, not a fixed calendar, drives your date - book your preferred slot as far ahead as your prep timeline allows, especially if you need a specific test center location.

The 12-Month Clock Between Modules

The single most important date-related rule in the entire ABV process: once you pass your first module, you have 12 months to pass the second module. Miss that window and you lose credit for the module you already passed, meaning you'd need to retake it.

This 12-month clock is why "exam dates" matter so much more for ABV than for single-sitting exams. You're not just picking one date - you're sequencing two dates with a hard deadline in between, and that deadline starts ticking the moment you get your first pass/fail result.

Which Module to Schedule First

Since both modules weight Domain 1: Foundation of Valuation Theory and Domain 2: Implementation of Valuation Methods equally at 50% each, there's no scoring reason to take one module before the other - the content split isn't domain-by-module. Instead, base your ordering decision on your own background:

• If you're stronger on valuation theory, standards, and engagement fundamentals but shakier on applying discounted cash flow, market, and asset-based methods under time pressure, consider scheduling your first attempt while that conceptual foundation is freshest, then use the gap before your second date to sharpen applied method work.
• If your daily work already involves heavy hands-on valuation modeling, you may feel more confident going in without a long lead-up, since Implementation-style questions will feel familiar regardless of which module you sit first.

Because the exam provides formulas and variable definitions during testing, memorizing formula strings isn't the bottleneck - knowing which formula applies to which fact pattern is. That distinction matters when deciding how much runway you need before your first booked date. The How Hard Is the ABV Exam? guide goes deeper into where candidates typically underestimate prep time.

Building a Realistic Scheduling Timeline

A generic weekly study template won't map well onto a two-module, 12-month-window credential exam. Instead, build your calendar around the two booked dates themselves.

This structure only works if you already understand what's inside each domain in detail - vague familiarity isn't enough for questions that test applied judgment. Review the full ABV Exam Domains 2026 guide before you finalize either scheduling date, and use the ABV Cheat Sheet 2026 in your final review week.

Rescheduling, No-Shows, and the Included Retake

Life happens, and exam dates sometimes need to move. Two mechanics matter here:

• Rescheduling: Kryterion's registration and scheduling terms specify cutoff windows for moving your appointment without losing your fee. Check the current terms before you book so a schedule conflict doesn't turn into a forfeited payment.
• Included retake: One retake is bundled with each exam module purchase. If you don't pass on your first attempt at a given module, you have a built-in second chance without paying full price again - but you still need to schedule that retake attempt, and it still counts against your 12-month window if it's your second module.

If you're weighing how likely a retake scenario is for you personally, the qualitative discussion in ABV Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and the scoring mechanics in ABV Passing Score 2026 are worth reading before you commit to your first date.

Aligning Your Testing Dates With Eligibility

One quirk of the ABV process that directly affects scheduling: candidates may take the exam before completing the full credential's education and experience requirements. That means you can book Module One and Module Two based purely on your study readiness, without waiting for every eligibility box to be checked first.

That said, you'll eventually need to satisfy the underlying requirements to actually receive the credential after passing both modules. Depending on your background, that means either:

• The CPA pathway: a valid, unrevoked CPA license or certificate plus 1,500 valuation-experience hours within five years, or
• The finance-professional pathway: a bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited institution plus 4,500 valuation-experience hours within five years, along with the AICPA Professional Conduct and Standards Education for Finance Professionals course completed within 30 days of submitting the credential application.

You'll also need AICPA membership in good standing and 75 valuation-related CPD hours within the preceding five years. Because these requirements run on a separate timeline from your exam dates, it's worth mapping both simultaneously - see the full breakdown in ABV Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify so your testing schedule and your paperwork timeline don't collide unexpectedly.

Once you're comfortable with the timing mechanics, it helps to zoom out and confirm the credential is worth pursuing on your career timeline in the first place - the Is the ABV Certification Worth It? ROI Analysis 2026 and ABV Salary Guide 2026 are useful companion reads, especially if you're weighing scheduling both modules quickly against spreading them out around a busy engagement season. You can also start building exam-day familiarity right now with realistic practice questions on the main practice test platform, rather than waiting until your booked date is close.

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