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ABV Examination Review Course

 

ABV Exam Review Course

Studying for the ABV Examination

Benefits of the Review Course

Dates and Locations

Key Topics Covered in the ABV Review Course

Registration Fee

How to Register

 

Newly enhanced and closely aligned with the ABV exam, AICPA's ABV Exam Review Course is the only comprehensive program backed by the resources and collective expertise of business valuation professionals associated with the nation's premier membership organization for CPAs, the AICPA.

 

ABV Exam Review Course

The goal of this review course is to prepare candidates for taking and passing the written ABV Exam. Individuals taking the course will receive a comprehensive overview of the business valuation information necessary for taking the exam, test-taking tips and access to numerous review questions. Take-home assignments will aid in handling the exam’s case study questions. ABV candidates who take the review course should be adequately prepared to take the exam.  Learn More>>

Studying for the ABV Examination

Carefully review the Content Specification Outline (CSO) and identify the study materials that will be necessary for your preparation. Refer to the "Suggested Additional Sources of Study" section in the handbook. Expect to refer to many of the suggested materials and to devote a substantial number of hours to independent reading and study even if you have previously taken business valuation courses. You should dedicate a consistent block of time each week to reading and studying. You may want to complete your in-depth reading and study well before the date of the exam to allow time for an optional review course and final preparations.

Special Note: The taking of the AICPA's review courses does not guarantee the candidate of successfully passing the ABV exam. The review course is just that, a review of most of the items on the CSO. It is not meant to teach topics to the candidate for the first time. A significant amount of independent reading and study will be necessary regardless of whether the candidate attends the review course or not.

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Benefits of the Review Course

Here's what you'll get when you attend:

·         Coverage of all major topics on the ABV Examination

·         3 days with some of America's best business valuation discussion leaders

·         Invaluable test-taking pointers

·         Interactive format guarantees maximum participation

·         Cost-effective training unavailable anywhere else

·         Convenient coast-to-coast locations

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Dates and Location

The 2008 ABV Exam will be offered from November 10 - December 13. The review courses will be offered on the dates indicated below and hosted by the corresponding state society. 

State Society

Location

Dates

California Society of CPAs

Los Angeles, CA

October 1st – 3rd

Illinois CPA Society

Chicago, IL

October 15th – 17th

Florida Institute of CPAs

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

October 22nd – 24th

Maryland Association of CPAs

Towson, MD

October 28th – 30th

Texas Society of CPAs

Citiplace Conference Center - Dallas, TX

October 28th – 30th

Registration is offered on each respective state CPA society’s Web site.  It will be available in the near future.

 

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Key Topics Covered in the ABV Review Course

 

Join America's best business valuation discussion leaders, answering over 200 multiple-choice or case study questions on these key topics:

 

The Engagement

This section covers knowledge related to defining the engagement, writing the engagement letter, and following the basic business valuation process.

·         Purposes for Business Valuation/Standards of Value

·         Ownership Characteristics

·         Premise of Value

·         Engagement Letters

 

Professional and Regulatory Standards

 

This section covers knowledge of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) professional standards and guidelines, the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), tax guidelines and federal laws related to business valuations.

 

·         AICPA

·         USPAP

·         Internal Revenue Services (IRS) Authority

·         Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related Securities and Exchange (SEC) rules

 

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

 

This section covers knowledge of sources of data, techniques and methods used to analyze business interests, value drivers, and risk assessment.

 

·         Sources of Data

 

·         Economics

 

·         Qualitative Analysis

 

·         Quantitative Analysis

 

Valuation Analysis

 

This section covers knowledge of the three primary approaches to value and related hybrid approaches. It also covers levels of value, discounts, premiums and the reconciliation of indicated values.

·         Levels of Value Appropriate to the Engagement

·         Valuation Approaches

·         Discounts Premiums and Other Adjustments

·         Reconciliation of Indicated Values

Related Topics

This section covers knowledge of other important topics pertaining to business valuation. These include financial reporting, litigation and dispute resolution services, case law, intellectual property and other intangible assets, family limited partnerships (FLPs), limited liability companies (LLCs), employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), special types of securities and reporting.

·         Financial Reporting

·         Litigation and Dispute Resolution Services

·         Case Law

·         Intellectual Property and Other Intangible Assets

·         FLP and LLCs

·         ESOPs

·         Special Classes of Securities

·         Reporting

·         Landmark Cases

To register, please contact the appropriate State Society.

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Registration Fee 

$1040 for the three day review course 

$630 re-take fee for those who attended review and took the exam in 2007 and were not successful

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How to Register

Call your state society for registration information, and to confirm dates and locations. Please note that dates and locations listed on this page are subject to change. Call the sponsoring state society to confirm this information.

To register, please contact the appropriate State Society.

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