The National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts said its Accredited Valuation Analyst credential is now recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a “qualified source” for independent business valuations.

Parnell Black

The AVA joins NACVA’s other business valuation credential, the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) as a qualified source. “The AVA credential is among the nation’s most distinguished and widely recognized business valuation credentials,” said NACVA CEO Parnell Black in a statement. “Formal SBA endorsement of the AVA credential reinforces the wide recognition in the business consulting industry of the superb training and challenging examination process that leads to earning one of these prestigious credentials.”

The SBA requires independent business valuations from all firms requesting SBA-backed loans and claiming a value of more than $250,000.  Tens of thousands of loan requests are submitted each year by businesses valued by “qualified sources,” such as AVA and CVA credential holders, representing hundreds of millions of dollars in actual SBA-backed loans actually processed to small businesses annually.

NACVA created both the CVA and AVA accreditations, which are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, the accreditation body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. 

A primary requirement for becoming a CVA is to hold a valid license as a CPA, while AVAs must hold a business degree and/or MBA or higher business degree from an accredited college or university and demonstrate substantial business valuation experience, among other requirements. This is the only distinction between the two credentials. 

In addition to passing a comprehensive five-hour, multiple-choice, proctored exam, both CVA and AVA applicants must successfully demonstrate that they meet NACVA’s experience requirement by completing a case study or submitting an actual and sanitized fair market value report, prepared during the last 12 months, for peer review.

For more information, visit www.nacva.com.