What is the ABV credential?

The ABV (Accredited in Business Valuation) credential is the AICPA's specialty designation for CPAs who specialize in business valuation work. To earn ABV, a CPA must hold an active CPA license, complete required AICPA business valuation education, demonstrate practical valuation experience (75+ engagement hours), pass the rigorous ABV exam, and commit to ongoing CPE in valuation methodology. ABV-credentialed CPAs follow AICPA Statement on Standards for Valuation Services (SSVS No. 1) and IRS Revenue Ruling 59-60. Joey Friedman, CPA, ABV, MAcc, MIB serves clients throughout the United States with active matters in Canada and Iceland from his Pembroke Pines, Broward County FL headquarters.

What is the difference between CPA and ABV?

A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is a state-licensed accountant; ABV is a specialty credential layered on top of CPA licensure. CPAs without ABV may perform standard accounting work but lack the AICPA-recognized business valuation specialty training. ABV-credentialed CPAs apply AICPA SSVS No. 1, Revenue Ruling 59-60, and NACVA Professional Standards in valuation work — methodology depth that matters for Florida Daubert admissibility (§90.702 Fla. Stat.) and federal Rule 702 admissibility. Joey Friedman CPA PA serves attorneys and litigants throughout the United States plus active international matters. NOT a tax preparation, tax planning, or bookkeeping firm.

What are the ABV exam requirements?

ABV exam requirements include: (1) active CPA license in good standing; (2) completion of AICPA-approved business valuation education (~75 hours of qualifying coursework); (3) demonstrated business valuation experience (75+ valuation engagement hours within preceding 5 years); (4) passing the ABV exam covering valuation theory, methodology, case analysis, and professional standards. Post-credential, ABV CPAs commit to 60 CPE hours every 3 years in valuation-specific topics. Joey Friedman maintains active ABV credential with full continuing education compliance and demonstrated practice across federal/state/foreign court (Canada and Iceland matters) plus AAA Arbitration.

How long does it take to earn ABV certification?

Earning ABV typically takes 12-24 months after CPA licensure, depending on whether the candidate's prior practice includes valuation work. The 75-hour education requirement can be completed via AICPA self-study modules (3-6 months part-time) or in-person courses. The 75 engagement-hour experience requirement is the typical bottleneck for CPAs without prior valuation work. ABV exam scheduling is flexible. Joey Friedman earned ABV after demonstrating active forensic business valuation practice across Florida divorce (§61.075 Fla. Stat.), partnership disputes, M&A engagements, and federal court matters; now active throughout the US plus Canada and Iceland.

Is ABV required for business valuation work in litigation?

ABV is not legally required to perform business valuations, but is the AICPA-recognized specialty credential that signals methodology depth. For Daubert admissibility under §90.702 Fla. Stat. (Florida adopted 2013) and federal Rule 702, courts evaluate expert credentials including ABV designation as a factor in methodology-grounded analysis. Attorneys typically prioritize ABV-credentialed CPAs for expert witness engagements in divorce (§61.075 Fla. Stat. equitable distribution), partnership disputes, AAA Arbitration, and litigation requiring defensible valuation testimony. Joey Friedman CPA PA serves cases nationally with active international engagements.

What does ABV continuing education require?

ABV-credentialed CPAs must complete 60 CPE hours every 3 years specifically in valuation topics (this is in addition to standard CPA CPE). Qualifying topics include: business valuation methodology, IRS Revenue Ruling 59-60 application, AICPA SSVS No. 1 updates, NACVA Professional Standards, Daubert case law (federal and state), litigation support, fair value vs fair market value, and emerging valuation areas. AICPA tracks compliance. Joey Friedman CPA PA maintains all CPE current through annual recertification — a credential investment that supports cases across US courts plus active Canada and Iceland matters.

Who can use the ABV credential?

Only CPAs who have completed AICPA ABV exam, education, and experience requirements may use the ABV credential. Non-CPAs (including those with adjacent valuation credentials like ASA, CVA, or MAFF) cannot use ABV. The credential is jurisdiction-portable but the underlying CPA license is state-specific. Joey Friedman, CPA, ABV holds active Florida Board of Accountancy CPA licensure plus AICPA ABV credential and member of both AICPA and ACFE (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners). Combined credentials matter for cross-state and international engagements: federal court expert work spans multiple jurisdictions plus active Canada/Iceland.

How is ABV different from CFE, CVA, or MAFF?

ABV (AICPA-issued) is the CPA-specific business valuation credential. CFE (ACFE) is for Certified Fraud Examiners — fraud examination specialty, not valuation. CVA (NACVA) is an alternative business valuation credential that doesn't require CPA licensure. MAFF (NACVA) is Master Analyst in Financial Forensics — broader forensic specialty. ABV specifically signals CPA + advanced AICPA-vetted valuation methodology. Multi-credentialed CPAs hold the strongest profile for Daubert-defensible expert witness work in federal, state, and foreign courts. Joey Friedman holds CPA, ABV, MAcc, MIB credentials with AICPA + ACFE membership, serving clients nationally and internationally (Canada, Iceland active).

How to Earn the AICPA ABV Certification: Step-by-Step Guide

Joey Friedman, CPA
November 13, 2025
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What Is the ABV Certification?

The Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) credential — often searched as the “ABV certification” — is the business-valuation designation awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the largest professional accounting body in the United States. It identifies a CPA, or a qualified finance professional, who has demonstrated specialized expertise in valuing businesses, ownership interests, and intangible assets. I have held the ABV credential since 2008, and I rely on it when I value companies for litigation, ownership disputes, divorce, gift and estate matters, and shareholder buyouts.

In short: the ABV signals that the holder does not just understand accounting, but has the training, experience, and tested judgment to determine what a business or an ownership interest is actually worth — and to defend that conclusion under cross-examination.

How Do You Earn the ABV Credential? (CPA Pathway)

A CPA earns the ABV by satisfying four requirements set by the AICPA, all measured within the five years preceding the application:

Credential and membership. Hold a valid, unrevoked CPA license or certificate from a state board of accountancy, and maintain AICPA membership in good standing.
Business-valuation experience. Document at least 1,500 hours of business-valuation experience within the prior five years.
Education. Complete 75 hours of valuation-related continuing professional development within the prior five years.
Examination. Pass the two-part ABV Examination (described below).

For a practicing CPA who already performs valuation engagements, the experience requirement is often met through ordinary client work; the examination and the focused education are usually the steps that take deliberate planning.

The ABV Examination

The ABV Examination is a computer-based test offered year-round in two modules, with each module containing 90 multiple-choice questions covering valuation theory, approaches, and applications. The exam requirement is waived for candidates who have already passed certain other qualifying valuation exams, including the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) BV 201–204 series or BV Challenge Exam, Level III of the CFA Institute’s Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam, or the Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) exam of the CBV Institute.

The Non-CPA Pathway

Since the AICPA opened the ABV to qualified finance professionals, you no longer have to be a CPA to earn it. A non-CPA candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, complete the AICPA’s Professional Conduct and Standards course for finance professionals within 30 days of applying, and document a higher experience threshold — at least 4,500 hours of valuation experience within the prior five years — along with the same 75 hours of education and the examination.

How the ABV Compares to Other Valuation Credentials

Several organizations grant business-valuation credentials, and they are not interchangeable. The ABV comes from the AICPA and is built around the CPA profession. The CVA (Certified Valuation Analyst) is granted by NACVA, and the ASA (Accredited Senior Appraiser) by the American Society of Appraisers. Each has its own experience, education, and examination requirements. For a side-by-side comparison, see my guide on CVA vs. ABV vs. MAFF credentials.

Why the ABV Matters in Litigation and Disputes

In a courtroom or a settlement negotiation, the credibility of a valuation often turns on the credentials and methodology of the person who prepared it. An ABV-credentialed CPA brings two things at once: the financial-statement fluency of a CPA and the tested, standards-based valuation discipline the credential represents. When I value a business for a dispute, that combination is what allows the opinion to hold up against an opposing expert and a skeptical cross-examiner.

Maintaining the ABV Credential

The ABV is not a one-time achievement. The AICPA requires holders to recertify periodically by documenting ongoing valuation experience and continuing education, and by keeping their AICPA membership and CPA license (for the CPA pathway) in good standing. That recertification cycle is what keeps the credential a current signal of active, practicing expertise rather than a historical accomplishment.

Key Takeaways

The ABV (Accredited in Business Valuation) is the AICPA’s business-valuation credential — the “ABV certification” most people search for.
CPA pathway: active CPA license + AICPA membership + 1,500 hours of valuation experience + 75 hours of education + the ABV Exam, all within five years.
Non-CPA finance professionals can also earn it, with a bachelor’s degree, a standards course, and 4,500 hours of experience.
The exam is two modules of 90 multiple-choice questions, waived for holders of qualifying ASA, CFA Level III, or CBV exams.
The credential must be maintained through ongoing experience and continuing education.

ABV Certification: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ABV certification?

The ABV (Accredited in Business Valuation) certification is the business-valuation credential issued by the AICPA, the largest professional accounting body in the United States. It identifies a CPA or qualified finance professional who has demonstrated specialized expertise in valuing businesses, ownership interests, and intangible assets.

How do you earn the ABV credential?

A CPA earns the ABV by holding an active CPA license, maintaining AICPA membership in good standing, completing 1,500 hours of business-valuation experience within the prior five years, finishing 75 hours of valuation-related continuing education, and passing the two-part ABV Examination.

How long does it take to earn the ABV?

There is no fixed timeline. The 1,500 hours of valuation experience and 75 hours of education must fall within the five years before you apply. Many CPAs accumulate the required experience through ongoing valuation engagements, then sit for the ABV Examination, which is offered year-round in two modules.

Is the ABV certification the same as the CVA?

No. The ABV is granted by the AICPA and is built around the CPA profession, while the CVA is granted by NACVA. Both are recognized business-valuation credentials, but they come from different organizations with different experience and examination requirements.

Do you have to be a CPA to earn the ABV?

Not anymore. The AICPA opened a pathway for non-CPA finance professionals, who must hold a bachelor’s degree, complete a professional standards course, and document 4,500 hours of valuation experience. CPAs use the 1,500-hour pathway.

What does an ABV-credentialed expert do?

An ABV-credentialed expert values businesses and ownership interests for litigation, divorce, gift and estate planning, mergers and acquisitions, and shareholder disputes, and frequently serves as a testifying valuation expert in those matters.