CVA (Mile2 Cybersecurity Certifications)

The Certified Valuation Analyst is a business valuation credential issued by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA). NACVA describes the CVA and its MAFF designation as the only valuation and financial forensic credentials accredited by the NCCA, with the CVA also accredited by ANSI/ANAB. It signals valuation competency to clients and courts.

It suits accountants, finance professionals, and consultants who value private businesses, support litigation damages work, or perform forensic accounting. NACVA frames its audience as users and providers of business valuation and financial litigation services. If your work involves valuing a company, defending an opinion, or quantifying damages, the credential is directly relevant.

The blueprint is weighted toward business valuation at roughly half of the content, with financial forensics and litigation and forensic accounting each around a quarter. Expect valuation approaches and methods, discounts and premiums, report writing and standards, damages and litigation support, and forensic accounting techniques. Confirm the current detailed blueprint with NACVA before scheduling.

It is a professional credentialing exam, so it assumes working knowledge rather than introductory familiarity. The heaviest risk is business valuation depth: method selection, normalization of earnings, and discount justification. Candidates without active valuation engagements typically need structured coursework plus substantial practice applying methods to realistic fact patterns before sitting.

Start with business valuation fundamentals because it carries the largest weight, then layer financial forensics and litigation, then forensic accounting. Practice applying each method to a fact pattern before moving on. Finish with integrated case practice and report-writing drills, since exams test judgment across disciplines rather than isolated definitions.

Candidates often memorize formulas but cannot justify method choice, mishandle normalization adjustments, or misapply discounts without supportable reasoning. Weakness in the litigation and forensic accounting sections is also common because candidates under-invest there. Another frequent problem is poor time allocation on computational items, leaving narrative questions unanswered.

Retake rules, waiting periods, and any fees are set by NACVA and are not stated in the source material used for this page, so confirm them directly with NACVA before you register. Plan to pass on the first attempt: build a study schedule that covers all three content areas rather than concentrating only on valuation.

Duration, item count, passing score, and fee are not published in the source material summarized here, so they are intentionally left unstated rather than guessed. Exam logistics change periodically. Check NACVA's certification pages or contact NACVA directly for the current format, timing, pricing, and any membership-related discounts.

Validity and recertification requirements are governed by NACVA and are not specified in the source material used here. NACVA does publish a recertification section among its certification resources, so review that page or ask NACVA about continuing education hours and renewal cycles before you enroll.

NACVA offers credentialing training, virtual and self-study courses, and publications including a business valuation fundamentals text. Use a structured course for coverage, then reinforce with practice cases and report-writing exercises. Supplement with the association's journal and news content on valuation inputs and normalized earnings to stay current.