CBI study guide
CBI · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) is a designation conferred by the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), which describes it as "a prestigious designation of the IBBA that identifies an experienced and dedicated business broker." The IBBA positions the CBI as a marker for buyers and sellers, stating that the designation identifies "individuals who have met our highest standards for education, ethics and professionalism." This makes the credential most relevant to working business brokers and intermediary specialists who already handle transactions and want an externally recognizable signal of experience, rather than to complete newcomers, who are better served first by introductory brokerage resources and IBBA membership benefits. Because the credential is built around education, ethics, and professionalism, the knowledge it tests sits at the intersection of transaction practice and conduct: how intermediaries market and sell businesses, how they represent clients honestly, and how they maintain professional standing. The CBI study guide has 4 sections and about 1,596 words.
01Education
The Education domain on the CBI exam tests how the credential’s learning requirements are structured and why they matter in practice. Expect questions on initial coursework, continuing education, approved providers, documentation, and the line between formal education and on-the-job experience.
404 words, about 2 min02Ethics
The Ethics domain tests whether you can recognize the duties that attach when a broker handles confidential financial information, represents a party, and earns a fee. Questions often turn on disclosure, conflicts, confidentiality, and fair dealing rather than on abstract philosophy.
399 words, about 2 min03Professionalism
The Professionalism domain tests conduct that supports trust: competence, scope discipline, communication, documentation, and accountability. It overlaps with ethics, but the focus is on how a broker behaves as a professional-how you set expectations, handle mistakes, and represent the occupation.
398 words, about 2 min04Business Brokerage Practice
The Business Brokerage Practice domain tests the transaction workflow: engagement, valuation, marketing, buyer qualification, confidentiality, offers, due diligence, and closing. Questions often ask what the broker should do next, so know the sequence and the purpose of each document.
395 words, about 2 min