CBV Institute

What CBV Institute does

CBV Institute, legally The Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators, is a Toronto-based not-for-profit professional organization founded in 1971 that governs Canada's only designation dedicated solely to business valuation: the Chartered Business Valuator (CBV). The Institute accredits finance professionals through a structured pipeline consisting of the Program of Studies (four core courses and two electives offered online year-round in English and French), culminating in the Membership Qualification Exam (MQE), a four-hour case-based examination administered annually via Examity online proctoring. As of 2025, the Institute serves 2,742 members and 1,436 registered students, with 148 new CBVs welcomed into the profession and membership growing 5.71% year-over-year.

The Institute's revenue model is subscription/recurring across four streams: annual membership fees, Program of Studies course fees, MQE examination fees, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) revenue, supplemented by the annual CONNECT conference (500+ attendees in 2026) and ancillary publications such as the Journal of Business Valuation. Distribution is primarily direct-to-individual through the cbvinstitute.com portal and the public Find a CBV Member Directory, with no disclosed enterprise sales motion or public pricing. Supporting the credential are trademarked designations (CBV in English, EEE in French) and a governance apparatus including Practice Standards updated for 2026, a revised Code of Ethics under public consultation through September 2026, and a Practice Inspection Program.

The Institute has aggressively modernized its standards and partnerships since 2023: it adopted International Valuation Standards (IVS), rebranded from CICBV to CBV Institute, integrated Financial Modeling Institute certification into the curriculum, and signed national partnerships including the M&A Club (2026), VersaFi (2024), and the University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business (2025) — the first Western Canada university partnership of its kind. Leadership is led by President & CEO Christine Sawchuk (appointed October 2020), with a member-elected Board of Directors and regional director structure. The organization employs 11-50 staff and operates without external ownership, funding rounds, or public listing.

Name

CBV Institute

Legal name

The Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators

Website

https://cbvinstitute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CBV Institute is a Toronto-based not-for-profit professional body, founded in 1971, that governs Canada's only Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) designation. It accredits finance professionals through a Program of Studies and Membership Qualification Exam, serving 2,742 members and 1,436 registered students with recurring membership, course, and CPD revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Professional Organizations (813920)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

National/Institutional Accreditors (Career, Faith-Based, Distance, etc.) (EDADACAB), National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies (EDADAFAA)

Keywords

• Business valuation services
• Chartered business valuator
• Professional certification
• Valuation education
• Professional standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: CBV Institute charges membership fees to CBVs and Registered Students for access to professional development, resources, practice standards, networking, and the CBV designation.
2. Program of Studies Fees: Revenue generated from course registration fees for the CBV Program of Studies (four core courses and two electives), offered online year-round in English and French.
3. Membership Qualification Exam (MQE): Fees for the annual case-based four-hour MQE examination, which is the final step before becoming a CBV.
4. Continuing Professional Development (CPD): Revenue from CPD activities including online learning, regional workshops, webinars, and events such as the annual CONNECT conference.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CBV Institute is Canada's only professional designation body dedicated solely to business valuation, established since 1971. It governs the Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) designation by delivering a structured Program of Studies, administering the Membership Qualification Exam (MQE), enforcing a Code of Ethics and Practice Standards, and maintaining the public Find a CBV member directory for organizations seeking valuation expertise.

Product overview

CBV Institute operates as a professional membership organization governing the Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) designation in Canada. The organization offers a unified portfolio of products and services centered on business valuation education, accreditation, and professional standards. The core offerings include the CBV Program of Studies (four core courses plus electives) and the Membership Qualification Exam (MQE) for certification; the Find a CBV member directory for public lookup of credentialed professionals; and CBV Insights content for thought leadership. Supporting offerings include the CONNECT annual conference, Business Valuation Challenge student competition, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs, Young Professionals in Valuation networking, Practice Standards and Code of Ethics governance materials, and the annual Journal of Business Valuation publication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CBV Program of Studies Structured online educational program comprising four core courses plus elective offerings that prepare Registered Students for the Membership Qualification Exam and the Chartered Business Valuator designation.
• Membership Qualification Exam (MQE)
• CBV Membership
• CONNECT Annual Conference Flagship annual conference for CBV members and stakeholders with 500+ attendees, featuring educational sessions, networking, and industry updates on business valuation practice.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• Find a CBV Member Directory
• Practice Standards and Code of Ethics

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,742 members and 1,436 registered students as of 2025, with 5.71% membership growth
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• M&A ClubcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026National partnership effective January 1, 2026, reinforcing shared commitment to advancing high-quality mergers and acquisitions practice across Canada. Members of CBV Institute will actively engage with the M&A Club community through participation in events, knowledge-sharing, and thought leadership initiatives.
• University of Calgary's Haskayne School of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2025Three-year partnership, the first university partnership of its kind in Western Canada. Provides students with a direct pathway into the Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) designation. Eligible Haskayne students gain accelerated access to Canada's premier credential in business valuation.
• Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2025Joint publication on the critical role of valuators in financial reporting, highlighting that valuation estimates are among the most complex and critical elements of financial reporting.
• Canadian Academic Accounting Association (CAAA)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2025Collaboration to launch Academic Research Grant in 2025, building on the success of the Sponsored Research Initiative. Underscores CBV Institute's commitment to advancing thought leadership in the valuation profession.
• VersaFi (formerly Women in Capital Markets)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2024Bronze Corporate Partner collaboration reflecting shared commitment to fostering a more inclusive culture in Canadian finance, with a particular focus on empowering women. CBV Institute and VersaFi will work together to support and advance women in finance.
• Institute of Valuers and Appraisers, Singapore (IVAS)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2023Collaboration on public consultation for proposed Intangible Asset Valuation Guidelines, working with ASA and RICS to provide guidance to business valuators on ESG information requests.
• International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC)coreTechnology or Integration · 24 July 2023CBV Institute is a supporting partner and has adopted International Valuation Standards (IVS). The Institute participates in IVSC conferences, and CBV leaders serve on IVSC technical boards including the Business Valuation Standards Board and Financial Instruments Board.
• American Society of Appraisers (ASA)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2023Joint publication to provide guidance to business valuation professionals in gathering ESG information during the valuation process, addressing the increasing importance of ESG factors.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2023Joint publication with ASA, CBV Institute, and IVAS to provide guidance on ESG information requests in business valuation, responding to growing demand for ESG integration.
• Financial Modeling Institute (FMI)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2023Partnership recognizing the importance of financial modeling skills. CBV Institute provides the FMI Foundations in Financial Modeling program to its students, and in 2025, includes FMI certification in the CBV curriculum.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC): Global standards-setting body whose International Valuation Standards CBV Institute adopted in 2023. Not a direct competitor but a closely linked ecosystem participant—setting the methodology framework that CBV members are tested and inspected against.

Broad incumbents

• CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants): UK-based professional body issuing the CGMA and CIMA designations for management accountants. Comparable as a long-established international finance/accounting credentialing organization with similar member-driven governance and continuing education model.
• AICPA: U.S. accounting body offering the ABV and CVA credentials for valuation practitioners among CPAs. Comparable to CBV Institute as an overlapping credentialing path for valuation work, though operating as part of a much broader accounting designation portfolio.
• CFA Institute: Global issuer of the CFA charter covering investment analysis and portfolio management. Comparable to CBV Institute as a globally recognized finance credentialing body, though serving a broader investment-management function.
• CPA Canada: National Canadian accounting designation body, with many CBVs holding dual CPA/CBV credentials. Comparable as a Canadian professional credentialing organization with shared candidate pipeline and overlapping audit/valuation practice areas.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): Global professional body covering real estate, land, and valuation (Red Book). Comparable to CBV Institute as an international valuation credentialing partner (joint ESG guidance), with a broader portfolio across real estate and construction.

Direct peers

• American Society of Appraisers (ASA): U.S.-based professional credentialing body offering AM, ASA, and FASA designations in business and intangible asset valuation. Directly comparable to CBV Institute as a national valuation credentialing organization with overlapping practice standards and a joint ESG publication partnership.
• National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA): U.S. professional association offering the CVA designation for business valuation practitioners. Directly comparable to CBV Institute in scope (business valuation credentialing), training program (Program of Studies equivalent), and membership-based operating model.

Regional players

• Singapore Institute of Valuers (SIV): Singapore professional body for property and business valuers. Comparable to CBV Institute as a regional credentialing organization in a different geography, with similar focus on valuation standards and continuing professional development.
• Institute of Valuers and Appraisers Singapore (IVAS): Singapore-based valuation credentialing body collaborating with CBV Institute on intangible-asset and ESG guidance. Comparable in scope (national valuation credentialing) but operating primarily in an Asia-Pacific regulatory context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xlinkedin.com/company/cbvinstitute
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCq2ABhGvxx03nEo_MIAuDzg
• Facebookfacebook.com/CBVInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cicbv
• Instagraminstagram.com/cbvinstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CBV Institute