- ABV stands for Accredited in Business Valuation, issued by AICPA & CIMA, not any other "ABV" credential.
- The exam is two separately purchased 90-question modules, each weighted 50% by domain content.
- Modules cost USD 175-275 each and must both be passed within 12 months of the first pass.
- Two eligibility routes exist: a CPA pathway (1,500 hours) and a finance-professional pathway (4,500 hours).
What Is an ABV?
ABV stands for Accredited in Business Valuation, a credential issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants through AICPA & CIMA. It is designed for professionals who perform, review, or rely on business valuation work - determining what a company, ownership interest, or intangible asset is worth for purposes like litigation, transactions, tax reporting, or financial disputes.
Unlike a general accounting designation, the ABV is narrowly focused on valuation theory and application. It signals that the holder has demonstrated competency across a structured body of knowledge covering how valuations are conceptually framed and how they are actually executed in practice. If you searched "what is a ABV" hoping to confirm this is the valuation-specific AICPA credential and not a different industry's identically-abbreviated certification, this is the one: Accredited in Business Valuation, full stop. For a broader definitional overview, see What Is ABV? and the closely related ABV Meaning page.
Who Issues the ABV and Who Holds It
The credential is administered by AICPA & CIMA, the umbrella organization formed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Holders typically work in valuation-focused roles at accounting firms, litigation-support practices, business brokerage firms, and corporate finance departments. Common job titles include valuation analyst, forensic accountant, and financial expert witness - roles explored in more depth on the ABV Jobs page.
Because AICPA membership in good standing is a prerequisite for the full credential (not just the exam), most candidates are CPAs already embedded in accounting practice who are adding valuation as a specialization. However, a non-CPA finance-professional pathway also exists, discussed below.
Exam Structure and Format
The ABV exam is delivered by Kryterion and is split into two separately purchased computer-based modules. Each module contains 90 multiple-choice questions, and testing is available year-round at physical test centers or via remote proctoring - there are no fixed testing windows to wait for.
- Two modules, each with 90 multiple-choice questions
- Modules may be taken in either order
- Both modules must be passed within 12 months of passing the first one
- Results are reported as pass/fail only - no scaled score is disclosed
- Formulas and variable definitions are provided on-screen during testing
Because the modules are purchased and scheduled independently, candidates can space them out strategically rather than sitting a single marathon exam. That flexibility is a meaningful planning advantage, but it also means the 12-month completion clock is something you need to track carefully. For scheduling mechanics and how to plan around test-center availability, see ABV Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Key Takeaway
Treat the two modules as two distinct exams with a shared deadline. Passing Module 1 starts a 12-month countdown to pass Module 2 - build your study calendar around that constraint, not around an arbitrary target date.
The Two ABV Exam Domains
The current blueprint, effective October 1, 2020, organizes exam content into exactly two domains, each carrying equal weight. This 50/50 split is a defining feature of the ABV exam and shapes how study time should be allocated.
Domain 1: Foundation of Valuation Theory (50%)
This domain covers the conceptual and regulatory groundwork of valuation practice - the "why" and "under what standard" behind a valuation engagement.
- Professional standards and engagement scoping
- Valuation theory, premises of value, and standards of value
- Economic and industry analysis underpinning a valuation conclusion
- Regulatory and legal context affecting valuation assignments
Domain 2: Implementation of Valuation Methods (50%)
This domain is the applied half of the exam - actually building and defending a valuation using recognized methods.
- Income, market, and asset-based valuation approaches
- Discounts, premiums, and adjustments to a valuation conclusion
- Valuation of specific interests such as intangible assets or debt securities
- Report writing and communicating valuation conclusions
Because the domains are weighted equally, neither can be treated as secondary. A candidate strong on valuation theory but weak on applying methods to a fact pattern - or vice versa - will struggle on whichever module tests that gap. For a full breakdown of subtopics and sample question angles within each domain, see ABV Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 2 Content Areas.
Eligibility Pathways
Every ABV credential holder needs AICPA membership in good standing and 75 valuation-related continuing professional development hours completed within the preceding five years. Beyond that, applicants qualify through one of two experience routes.
| Pathway | Core Requirement | Additional Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| CPA Pathway | Valid, unrevoked CPA license or certificate | 1,500 valuation-experience hours within five years |
| Finance-Professional Pathway | Bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited institution | 4,500 valuation-experience hours within five years, plus AICPA Professional Conduct and Standards Education for Finance Professionals within 30 days of application |
Notably, candidates are permitted to sit the exam before completing the credential's education and experience requirements. This means you can take and pass both modules early in your career trajectory and finish the experience-hour requirement afterward - a sequencing option worth factoring into your timeline. Full eligibility detail, including how experience hours are documented, is covered in ABV Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Registration, Cost, and Retakes
Each module is registered and paid for separately, with a published price range of USD 175-275 per module. AICPA membership discounts are applied automatically at checkout, which affects the final price within that published range. One retake is included with each exam purchase, which gives candidates a built-in second attempt if a module isn't passed the first time.
- Two modules purchased independently, not bundled
- Published price: USD 175-275 per module before membership discounts
- One included retake per module purchase
- Both modules must be passed within the 12-month window described above
Because pricing depends on membership status and which discounts apply at checkout, budgeting for the full credential - including any recertification CPD costs down the line - deserves its own line item in your planning. A detailed cost breakdown, including how the included retake affects total spend, is available in ABV Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Recertification Requirements
The ABV is not a one-time credential. To keep it active, holders must maintain continued AICPA membership and meet ongoing continuing professional development obligations:
- 60 valuation-related CPD hours every three years
- At least 10 of those CPD hours completed annually (not all deferred to year three)
- 4 professional-ethics hours every three years
This structure rewards steady, incremental learning over cramming CPD hours at the last minute, since the annual minimum prevents that strategy. Valuation methodology, standards, and market data evolve, so recertification effectively keeps holders current rather than resting on a credential earned years earlier.
Preparing for the Two Modules
Because each module tests 90 multiple-choice questions drawn from a defined 50/50 blueprint, preparation benefits from mapping study blocks directly to the domain each module emphasizes rather than studying generically. A simple way to structure this is to dedicate early weeks to Domain 1's conceptual material - standards, premises of value, economic context - since that theoretical foundation makes the applied Domain 2 material (methods, discounts, report writing) easier to absorb later.
Foundation of Valuation Theory
- Standards of value, premises of value, and engagement scope
- Regulatory and professional-standards context
- Practice questions isolated to Domain 1 topics
Implementation of Valuation Methods
- Income, market, and asset-based approaches
- Discounts and premiums applied to a value conclusion
- Full-length practice sets combining both domains
Module-Specific Review
- Targeted review based on missed-question patterns
- Timed practice runs to build stamina for 90 questions per sitting
- Final formula-reference familiarization since formulas are provided on-screen
Since formulas and variable definitions are supplied during the exam, memorization matters less than knowing when and how to apply each formula to a fact pattern - that judgment is what the multiple-choice questions are actually testing. A structured week-by-week plan built around this reality is laid out in the ABV Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and if you're unsure how demanding the material actually is relative to other credentials, How Hard Is the ABV Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks that down.
Key Takeaway
Because both domains carry identical 50% weight, allocate study time evenly between theory and application rather than over-investing in one at the expense of the other.
Practicing under realistic multiple-choice conditions - timed, 90-question blocks - is one of the most direct ways to prepare, since the exam's pass/fail scoring means partial theoretical knowledge without applied fluency (or vice versa) won't carry a module. You can run full-length timed practice sets on our ABV practice test platform to simulate the module experience before exam day, and cross-reference weak areas against the domain breakdown in ABV Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 2 Content Areas.
If you're still weighing whether to pursue the credential at all given the time and cost investment, Is the ABV Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and ABV Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis address that question directly, while ABV Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and ABV Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass cover what "passing" actually requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
ABV stands for Accredited in Business Valuation, a credential issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants through AICPA & CIMA. See What Does ABV Stand For? for more on the terminology.
Two separately purchased computer-based modules, each with 90 multiple-choice questions, both of which must be passed within 12 months of passing the first.
Yes. A finance-professional pathway exists requiring a bachelor's degree, 4,500 valuation-experience hours within five years, and completion of the AICPA Professional Conduct and Standards Education for Finance Professionals course within 30 days of applying.
Each module is published at USD 175-275, with membership discounts applied at checkout; one retake is included with each exam purchase.
No. Candidates may sit the exam before completing the credential's education and experience requirements, allowing the technical exam and the experience accumulation to happen in parallel.