IACVS

What IACVS does

IACVS (International Association of Certified Valuation Specialists) is a Toronto, Canada-headquartered professional association founded in 2001 that issues the ICVS (International Certified Valuation Specialist) credential to business valuation and fraud deterrence practitioners across more than 50 countries. It is self-described as the first and only international association dedicated to global support for valuation and fraud deterrence professionals, operating a federation-style model in which national or regional 'Charter Members' administer credentialing and training locally while headquarters sets standards. The core product is the ICVS credential, delivered through live instructor-led training, self-study, and e-learning formats; the product portfolio is extended by the CFD (Certified in Fraud Deterrence) and ICVS-A (Advanced Studies in Financial Instruments, which incorporates Python instruction for financial modeling) certifications, a Technical Resource Database, and an IACVS Bookstore. Governance is provided by a Board and Officers led by CEO/President William A. Hanlin Jr. and Secretary General Robert Brackett.

The business model is membership- and certification-fee based: practitioners pay annual dues plus course-and-exam bundles (e.g., $900–$1,500 for ICVS Advanced, $995 for ICVS-A in Ethiopia, with one-year membership and exam fees bundled in), while universities, regulators, and service organizations join as Observer Members. Revenue is supplemented by bookstore sales and referral discounts negotiated with strategic partners such as Business Valuation Resources (BVR). Distribution runs through 8 Charter Members (including MAPPI in Indonesia with 4,850+ members, plus ANEVAR Romania, NIESV Nigeria, KPCG Montenegro, FIFC Florida/Ethiopia) and strategic alliances with bodies such as the China Appraisal Society (since 2009), the International Institute of Business Valuers (iiBV), and C&K Management. The organization is structured as a private Canadian corporation with 11–50 employees and a second administrative office in Seattle; revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

IACVS

Legal name

International Association of Certified Valuation Specialists

Website

https://iacvs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IACVS is a Toronto-based international professional association, founded in 2001, that certifies business valuation and fraud deterrence specialists through the ICVS credential, serving members in over 50 countries via a federated network of national Charter Member associations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for Associate Members and Observer Members provide recurring revenue. Associate Members pay annual dues and must attest to ethical conduct, continuing professional education requirements, and payment of dues annually.
2. Training and Certification Programs: Revenue generated from ICVS certification training courses (live, self-study, e-learning), ICVS-A (Advanced Studies in Financial Instruments), and CFD (Certified in Fraud Deterrence) programs. Fees include course materials, exam fees, and one-year membership.
3. IACVS Bookstore and Publications: Sale of publications, books, and reference materials through the IACVS Bookstore. Observer Members receive discounts on e-materials and publications.
4. Partner Discounts and Special Rates: IACVS members receive discounts when purchasing products from strategic partners like Business Valuation Resources (BVR), creating referral-based revenue sharing arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The International Association of Certified Valuation Specialists (IACVS) is a professional membership association that issues internationally recognized certifications — primarily the ICVS (International Certified Valuation Specialist), the CFD (Certified in Fraud Deterrence), and the advanced ICVS-A (Advanced Studies in Financial Instruments) — to business valuation and fraud deterrence professionals. Certification preparation is delivered through instructor-led live training classes, self-study, and e-learning courses, with exams administered at the country level through a global network of Charter Member organizations.

Product overview

IACVS offers a unified professional certification and training ecosystem for business valuation and fraud deterrence professionals. The core product is the ICVS (International Certified Valuation Specialist) credential, which professionals can obtain through multiple delivery formats: Live Certification Training (instructor-led courses at training centers globally), Self-Study (self-paced materials), and E-learning (online digital courses). Additional credential programs include CFD (Certified in Fraud Deterrence) and the advanced ICVS-A certification covering financial instruments. IACVS also provides member support through a Technical Resource Database and Bookstore for professional reference materials. The organization operates as a professional association rather than a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ICVS (International Certified Valuation Specialist) Certification Internationally recognized professional credential for business valuation specialists, attesting that the holder has completed systematic training in business valuation and meets international requirements for competency and professionalism. Holders can serve overseas enterprises in cross-border M&A valuation, issue reports for foreign trades and overseas listings recognized by local regulators, and perform purchase price allocation, goodwill impairment testing, and transnational economic dispute valuations.
• ICVS Live Certification Training Instructor-led training course for ICVS certification delivered at training centers in countries such as Malaysia, China, Korea, and Ethiopia, including live virtual Zoom options. Example pricing: $1,500 for live virtual Zoom (including one-year membership and exam fees), with a $1,350 rate for IACVS Members and discounted group rates.
• ICVS Self-Study Self-paced study materials and resources for candidates preparing for the ICVS certification exam, available to valuation professionals worldwide.
• ICVS E-learning Course Online digital course providing remote access to ICVS certification training materials for candidates who cannot attend in-person or live virtual classes.
• CFD (Certified in Fraud Deterrence) Professional certification focused on fraud deterrence and forensic accounting techniques, awarded through IACVS CFD Training Centers to professionals engaged in fraud detection, prevention systems, and forensic accounting engagements.
• ICVS Advanced Studies in Financial Instruments (ICVS-A) Advanced certification program (ICVS-A) covering valuation of complex financial instruments, derivatives, debt instruments, and securitized products, with Python-based financial modeling instruction. Example Ethiopia cohort: $995 total including one-year IACVS membership ($250), exam fee ($150), books, and live instruction.
• IACVS Bookstore and Technical Resource Database E-commerce platform providing IACVS publications, professional reference materials, software listings, and information resources for valuation, litigation support, and fraud deterrence practitioners, with discounts for Observer Members.
• IACVS Associate Membership Annual individual membership for certified valuation and fraud deterrence professionals, with annual dues, mandatory ethical conduct attestation, continuing professional education requirements, and access to member benefits, recertification programs, and the global ICVS community.

Quantifiable outcome

• ICVS designees can issue reports recognized by local regulators for foreign trades and overseas listings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• China Appraisal Society (CAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009IACVS has maintained a good and close cooperative relationship with the China Appraisal Society since 2009. The China Appraisal Society was established in December 1993 and is the largest and most authoritative professional appraisal association in China, accepting guidance from the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Civil Affairs. IACVS has hosted seven ICVS live training classes with CAS support since 2010, and co-hosted one international valuation conference in 2012.
• Chinese Association of Business and Intangible Assets Valuation (CABIAV)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003CABIAV was established in 2003 in Taipei to promote the development of theory and practice of business and intangible asset valuation, integrating with international practices. As of January 2022, CABIAV has trained and certified 586 business valuators and 38 intangible asset valuators.
• C&K Management LimitedmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2000Since its inception in 2000, C&K Management Limited has been dedicated to providing innovative solutions for academic and workplace learning around the world. C&K's training and development programs help some of the world's largest businesses keep their talent at cutting edge. C&K's solutions have proven their effectiveness for more than 500,000 learners from Corporate, Educational Institutions, Professional Bodies, and Government Departments.
• International Institute of Business Valuers (iiBV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartneriiBV, together with its member associations, leads the business valuation profession globally by providing educational opportunities, promoting consistent professional ethics and standards, facilitating knowledge exchange, and encouraging international cooperation. All prominent professional business valuation associations aspire to be part of iiBV.
• MAPPI (Indonesian Society of Appraisers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAPPI (Masyarakat Profesi Penilai Indonesia) and IACVS work together to bring global best practices in valuation of business interests and intangible assets to MAPPI's members. MAPPI has over 4,850 members and is the valuation professional association recognized by the Indonesian Government. Testing and awarding of IACVS's global credential (ICVS) is completed at the country level through MAPPI.
• Business Valuation Resources (BVR)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerIACVS is partnered with Business Valuation Resources to provide BV Updates on valuation issues both globally and in the United States. IACVS members can enjoy a discount when buying products from BVR at a special portal page. BVR has been at the center of the business valuation profession since nearly the beginning.
• Center for International Business Valuation (CfIBV)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center for International Business Valuation (CfIBV) strives to provide internationally accepted training, tools, and techniques to support the quality of business valuation globally. CfIBV owns the Southeast Africa Charter of IACVS and developed the Advanced Studies in Financial Instruments course.
• Duff & PhelpsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuff & Phelps (now part of Kroll) is listed as a strategic alliance. Information about the partnership details will be provided in the future.
• ANEVAR (Romania)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Association of Authorized Romanian Valuers (ANEVAR) is an MOU holder representing Romania. Contact: Dana Ababei at [email protected].
• NIESV (Nigeria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) is an MOU holder representing Nigeria. Contact: Johnbull O. Amayaevbo at [email protected].
• KPCG (Montenegro)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chamber of Appraisers of Montenegro (KPCG) is an MOU holder representing Montenegro. Contact: Slavko Rakocevic at [email protected].
• FIFC (Florida Institute of Finance College)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorida Institute of Finance College (FIFC) is an MOU holder. FIFC partnered with CfIBV and IACVS to host the Art & Science of Business Valuation conference in Ethiopia in December 2019. Contact: Dereje Tessema at [email protected].

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Appraisal Institute: The Appraisal Institute is the largest professional association of real estate appraisers, awarding the MAI and SRA designations. While weighted toward real property, it operates in the same professional valuation credentialing space and competes for the same member persona IACVS targets.
• Center for International Business Valuation (CfIBV): CfIBV is a strategic alliance partner of IACVS that 'strives to provide internationally accepted training, tools, and techniques to support the quality of business valuation globally.' It developed the ICVS-A Advanced Studies in Financial Instruments course and owns the Southeast Africa Charter of IACVS, functioning as both partner and direct peer in business valuation training.
• American Society of Appraisers (ASA): ASA is a leading US-based international appraisal organization that credentials business valuation, machinery & technical specialties, personal property, and real property appraisers. It directly competes with IACVS in the business valuation credentialing category and shares the same target audience of practicing valuators.
• National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA): NACVA is a US-headquartered association that issues the CVA (Certified Valuation Analyst) credential and trains business appraisers, financial analysts, and forensic consultants. It targets the same primary segment as IACVS—business valuation specialists—and offers overlapping certification and training products.
• International Institute of Business Valuers (iiBV): iiBV is a global organization that 'leads the business valuation profession through educational opportunities, ethical standards, and international cooperation.' It is both an IACVS strategic alliance partner and a functional peer competing for the same international business valuation credentialing mindshare.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): RICS is a globally recognized UK-based professional body for property, land, construction, and real-estate valuation. Its MRICS/FRICS designation is a benchmark in valuation practice and overlaps with IACVS's ICVS on valuation methodologies, though RICS is broader and heavier on real estate.
• Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada): CPA Canada is the national accounting credentialing body in IACVS's home market. It represents a comparable professional certification model—membership dues, exams, continuing professional education—and shares some addressable member overlap (Canadian finance and valuation professionals).
• CFA Institute: CFA Institute is a global professional body that administers the CFA Program and CIPM credential for investment professionals. While its focus is investment analysis rather than valuation, it represents a comparable large-scale professional certification and member-based business model in adjacent finance domains.
• Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA): The AICPA-CIMA联合 brand represents two of the world's largest accounting professional bodies. AICPA's ABV (Accredited in Business Valuation) credential directly competes with IACVS's ICVS among US CPAs performing valuation engagements.

Regional players

• China Appraisal Society (CAS): CAS is the largest and most authoritative professional appraisal association in China, established in 1993 under Ministry of Finance guidance. It is an IACVS strategic alliance partner since 2009 but also a competing national credentialing body for Chinese valuation professionals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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 IACVS