The CFA Institute is tapping into a need, as it sees it, for more expertise in the private equity investment field.

The CFA Institute, a global association of investment professionals, has launched the Advanced Private Equity Certificate, a new online course which is a more complex version of an existing qualification. The course is online and self-paced.

Building on the Private Equity Certificate, the Advanced version introduces topics such as due diligence, advanced financial modelling, private debt valuation, and strategic communication. 

This certificate, which has been developed with industry experts, incorporates assignments, including financial modelling exercises from Financial Edge, a training firm.

The certificate is available to individuals who have completed the Private Equity Certificate. 

The new course comes against a background of increasing wealth management focus on private assets such as PE, private credit, forms of infrastructure, and venture capital. 

“This certificate provides actionable learning into the intricate dynamics of private equity, ensuring that participants can directly apply what they learn to their professional roles,” Richard Fernand, senior head, learning content and innovation at CFA Institute, said. 

Four in-depth courses are included, requiring a total of about 100 hours to complete. They cover:

-- General partner toolkit: This covers due diligence, deal sourcing, evaluation, execution, and strategies for operational and financial management, as well as strategic communication and crisis management; 

-- Advanced private debt valuation techniques: this focuses on credit analysis, valuation of private debt with embedded options, and distressed private debt assessment; 

-- Advanced financial modelling: This equips learners with advanced scenario analysis, acquisition finance, and complex leveraged buyout modelling; and  

-- Limited partner perspectives: This includes evaluating general partners, integrating sustainability factors, and advanced strategies for portfolio construction, risk management, and liquidity management.

Certificate content will be available to access from 19 August 2025, the Institute added.