Is CFI FMVA Certification Worth It? CFI FMVA Reviews 2024

The CFI Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) certification has become one of the most popular certification programs from the Corporate Finance Institute, and it is seen as a significant achievement in the industry.

This is what this article will be about, along with details of the program, costs, the benefits of earning a CFI FMVA certificate, cfi FMVA review and reasons why it will help you get a job.

What is CFI FMVA Certification?

CFI‘s Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA®) Certification program on CFI is a series of courses that will help you build financial analysis skills, create effective financial models, and make important financial decisions.

This comprehensive program teaches you 8 essential skills of finance, including:

1. Strategy
2. Accounting
3. Finance
4. Financial Modelling
5. Excel
6. Presentation and Visuals
7. Forecastings
8. Valuation

Overall, CFI FMVA® builds essential skills and gives you the tools for success as a financial professional and you can claim these tools at 50% Off by using latest CFI coupon code.

But who will benefit the most from this course? If you are looking for roles in investment banking, private equity, business valuation, and corporate finance, this is one of the primary skills you need.

What Are The Benefits of Earning a CFI FMVA Certificate?

Now, I will address the main question. Why should you sign up for the CFI FMVA program? What are the benefits of signing up for the program? Here is the answer

1. Career Advancement: The first reason is that the FMVA certification is now recognized by employers and can help you get new career opportunities, such as a raise, a new job, or even a competitive edge in the workspace.
2. Skill Development: The FMVA program will teach you the theory of finance and train your practical skills in financial modeling, valuation, and analysis. These skills are critical and are searched for in candidates.
3. Industry Recognition: While the FMVA is an online course, it is still recognized in the industry and is a valuable asset for anyone in finance.
4. Flexibility: The online, self-paced FMVA program lets you complete the certification on your own schedule, even if you are a working professional. It gives you the flexibility to learn whenever you can and upskill at home.

Now, as a student discount, you will get off up to 50% on this FMVA Certification and you will gain valuable skills that will make your work easier and become an important asset for your company or the company you want to work for.

CFI FMVA Program Details:

• The CFI FMVA is an online series of 54 courses with 3297 lessons.
• It includes 200+ interactive exercises for you to learn and practice your skills.
• It gives you a recognized Blockchain certificate to verify your skills at the end of the course. You need to complete
• It has over 500,000+ 5-star ratings on the official website, making it one of the highest rates programs on CFI.
• The course is taught by four of the best instructors on CFI, including Tim Vipond, the Chair of the Board of CFI Education; Scott Powell, the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of CFI; Duncan McKeen, the Executive Vice President of Financial Modeling at CFI and Jeff Schmidt, the Vice President, Financial Modeling at CFI.

What are the Process and Requirements for Obtaining FMVA Certification?

If you want to sign up for the CFI FMVA Certification Program, here is what you will need to obtain a certification.

Parameter	FMVA Course Requirement
Introductory Courses (9 total)	Optional
Core Courses (57 Total)	17 Required
Elective Courses (27 Total)	3 Required
Case Study	Optional
Blockchain Certificate Minimum Score	70%

What Is The Cost Of A CFI FMVA Certification?

If you want to take the CFI FMVA certification, here are the details of how much FMVA cost you in November 2024. Presently, CFI offers two types of membership plans:

1. Individual Memberships

• Self Study Plan: This plan costs $298.2 per year after a 40% discount, giving you access to more than 5,000 lessons and over 270 courses.
• Full Immersion Plan: This plan includes all resources and personalized guidance for a price of $508.2 per year after a 40% discount.

2. Team Memberships

• Basic Plan: Priced at $399 per learner annually.
• Premium Plan: Priced at $497 per learner annually.
• Custom Plan: You can contact their sales team to design a membership plan that meets your specific requirements.

FMVA Financial Aid

If you want to sign up for the FMVA certification from CFI but the pricing is holding you back, then here is the good news.

CFI aims to make education universally accessible and has a financial aid program to assist those in need of financial support in purchasing CFI courses. CFI offers online training and productivity tools designed for finance and banking professionals.

This CFI FMVA course is designed to help you master essential skills, earn industry-recognized certifications, obtain CPE credits, and access free resources to kick-start or advance your career in finance or banking.

If you are eligible for the FMVA Financial aid you ca get a 50% discount off the original FMVA certification subscription prices and upskill.

Steps to Earn the CFI FMVA Certificate

Follow these simple steps to earn the CFI FMVA certificate:

Step 1. Complete at least 9 Prep Courses to set up your foundation.

Step 2. Complete at least 14 Core courses to build financial modeling and valuation analysis skills.

Step 3. Complete at least 3 Elective Courses (out of 27) to master advanced topics and specialized areas.

Step 4. Take up Case Study Challenges (Optional) to apply your knowledge

Step 5. Take the Final Exam. You have to get a minimum of 70% to earn your certification

Step 6. Finally, get your blockchain digital certificate from CFI.

Why is FMVA Important in the Finance Industry?

The Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) certification is important in the finance industry for several reasons. Taking this course will give you several benefits:

1. Industry Relevant Skills: The FMVA program focuses on practical, hands-on training in financial modeling, valuation, financial analysis, and Excel skills. These skills are directly applicable in day-to-day finance roles, including investment banking, equity research, corporate finance, and financial planning.
2. Credibility and Recognition: The CFI FMVA certification is recognized globally and respected within the finance industry. It shows that you are capable of fulfilling a job role.
3. Strong Foundation in Financial Modeling: Financial modeling is an important component of many finance roles, from analyzing mergers and acquisitions to preparing financial projections for budgeting and planning. FMVA certification provides a strong foundation for creating, understanding, and analyzing financial models.
4. Valuation Training: Valuation is another skill needed in the industry to value an investment, a company, or an asset. FMVA covers various valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow (DCF), comparable company analysis, and more, which will be helpful for anyone in finance.
5. Improved Decision-Making Abilities: CFI FMVA-certified professionals are trained in advanced financial analysis for better decision-making capabilities, which is also important in the industry.
6. Competitive Edge: The finance industry is highly competitive, and professionals need to differentiate themselves from others in the job market. The FMVA certification provides a competitive edge over others.
7. In-Depth Excel Skills: Excel is the primary tool used in financial analysis, and FMVA teaches you Excel. You learn advanced Excel functions and tools to help you build complex financial models efficiently.

Overall, the FMVA certification is a valuable credential for finance professionals.

Can You Get a Job with a CFI FMVA Certificate?

Here is the truth. The CFI FMVA certification is not a guaranteed ticket to a job, but it will definitely enhance your chances. What I mean is that jobs are not grabbed only because you have a certification but because of your skills.

The FMVA program will definitely build your skills. It will make you stand out in the job market and help you land interviews for positions in financial analysis, investment banking, corporate finance, and more.

So yes, you can get a job with a CFI FMVA certificate. I highly suggest that you take the course because it will definitely give you a competitive bridge over other candidates who do not have the certification.

Career Options for FMVA Holders

A CFI FMVA certification review is only complete if I discuss the career opportunities for someone who has acquired the certificate. Keep in mind that the certification itself does not guarantee a job, but it does equip you with the necessary skills to do a job.

The Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA) certification from the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) is designed to provide you with advanced financial modeling and valuation skills, and here are what career opportunities you will have:

1. Financial Analyst: Financial modeling, forecasting, business valuation, and data analysis are required skills for this role, and with the FMVA certification, you will learn all of these.
2. Investment Banking Analyst: Investment banking analysts work on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), initial public offerings (IPOs), and other transactions. The CFI FMVA courses teach you valuation techniques, financial modeling, deal structuring, and more for this role.
3. Corporate Finance Manager: With the CFI FMVA course, you will learn capital budgeting, financial reporting, business valuation, and risk management needed as a corporate finance manager.
4. Equity Research Analyst: Equity research analysts evaluate stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments, and for this, you will need keen knowledge of financial statement analysis, forecasting, and valuation techniques, which you can learn in the CFI FMVA course.
5. Private Equity Analyst: The CFI courses online will give you a competitive edge over others by teaching you skills like LBO modeling, valuation, due diligence, and deal structuring.
6. Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Analyst: M&A analysts identify and execute mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. Again, the CFI FMVA course teaches essential skills like financial modeling, valuation, negotiation, and strategic analysis that will be helpful for this role.
7. Management Consultant: The CFI FMVA course will teach you skills like financial analysis, problem-solving, data interpretation, and strategic thinking, which are very important for this role. It will also open another career opportunity as an FMVA holder.
8. Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Manager: Learn forecasting, budgeting, financial reporting, and variance analysis with the CFI FMVA course and get a job as an FP&A manager.
9. Treasury Analyst: As a Treasury Analyst, learn cash flow forecasting, capital markets, risk management, and financial modeling from the CFI FMVA certification course and have a better chance at this position.
10. Valuation Analyst: Learn valuation methodologies, financial modeling, and industry analysis, and use your skills to grab jobs in the competitive finance market with the CFI FMVA course.

Overall, the FMVA certification opens up diverse career paths in finance, investment, corporate strategy, and analysis.

FMVA holders are attractive candidates for companies as they possess the required skill set to shine in investment banking, corporate finance, equity research, and consulting roles.

Whether you’re looking to enter finance or advance in your career, the FMVA certification will give you a competitive edge in the industry.

Is CFI FMVA Worth It? (FMVA Reviews)

Before I get into the details of CFI FMVA Certification, here are CFI review & testimonials I found on Reddit and on G2 that will give you an idea of weather FMVA worth it or not.

Adrian Young says, “FMVA certification is challenging, robust and interesting that equips an accounting/finance professional with world-class skills set to advance their careers excel in their endeavors!”

Anirudh Ganeshan says, “This course was very detailed and structured. I would definitely recommend this certification for any budding Financial Analyst.”

Benjamin Briner says, “I believe the program fully performs what it promises, bridging the gap between work and higher education. For me, it means an added value that I cannot describe in words. The program focuses on technical knowledge, which is highly valued since, on average, a student only learns theory before starting work.”

Slyvia B says, “CFI provides maximum flexibility to learn, review and improve our skills with high quality finance content.” about the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) program on G2.

S.Rhythmi R. on G2 says, “I thank CFI for providing this wonderful course – FMVA®. I have successfully completed FMVA®. FMVA® has helped me to improve my skills in the finance domain. The customer support of CFI is very much supportive. The features of FMVA®’s course content are also good.

Overall, I noticed that in the reviews that I found online, the CFI FMVA certificate program was praised for

1. Course Content Quality
2. Practical Skill Enhancement
3. Good Customer Service from CFI
4. Resume Enhancement

However, I have noticed that some reviews also mentioned that the course could be interactive with live classes and could have a different advanced level for those who already have the basic knowledge but want to upskill further.

So now, you know what you can expect from the CFI FMVA Certificate program. Apart from this know more about corporate finance skills read our detailed article.

FMVA Alternatives

While the FMVA certification is a comprehensive and respected program for financial modeling and valuation, it may only be for some. If you are looking for FMVA alternatives for a different career path in finance, then there are several alternative certifications and programs that will give you similar financial modeling, analysis, and valuation skills.

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Course

Offered By: CFA Institute

Course Details: The CFA is one of the most prestigious certifications, covering topics such as financial analysis, portfolio management, ethics, and professional standards.

Pros:

•      Globally recognized certification.
•      In-depth knowledge of financial markets and investment analysis.
•      Strong emphasis on ethical standards.

Cons:

• It requires time and has three levels of exams.
• Does not focus on financial modeling ash as FMVA.

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Course

Offered By: Various state boards in the U.S.

Course Details: The CPA course teaches is the gold standard for accounting professionals. The certification focuses on accounting, auditing, taxation, and financial reporting.

Pros:

• Important credential in accounting and finance.
• Focuses on financial reporting and compliance.

Cons:

• Limited focus on financial modeling and valuation compared to FMVA.
• More suitable for accounting roles and less so for finance or investment banking.

Certified Management Accountant (CMA) Course

Offered By: Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)

Course Overview: The CMA focuses on management accounting and corporate finance. It’s best for job roles focusing on decision-making, budgeting, and strategy.

Pros:

• Strong focus on internal financial management and decision-making.
• Best for corporate finance, FP&A, and management roles.

Cons

• Limited focus on financial modeling and valuation techniques compared to the CFI FMVA course.

Financial Risk Manager (FRM) Course

Offered By: Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP)

Course Details: The FRM certification focuses on identifying, analyzing, and reducing financial risk.

Pros

• Strong focus on risk management in financial institutions.
• Well-recognized

Cons:

• More specialized in risk management rather than general finance.

Advanced Financial Modeler (AFM) Course

Offered By: Financial Modeling Institute (FMI)

Course Details: The AFM is focused on financial modeling and is a certification offered by the FMI.

Pros:

• Specialized focus on financial modeling.
• Hands-on, practical certification with exams.

Cons:

• Narrow scope compared to broader certifications like CFA or CPA.

Udemy Financial Modeling and Valuation Courses

Offered By: Udemy

Course Details: Udemy offers various online courses related to financial modeling and valuation at an affordable price. These courses are for beginners or professionals seeking to upgrade their skills in specific areas like financial modeling, Excel proficiency, data analysis.

Pros:

• Affordable and accessible for all skill levels.

Cons:

• Not a formal certification
• Course quality can vary.
• Less structured than formal certifications.

Conclusion (Is CFI Certification Worth It?)

So, is CFI FMVA Certification worth it? In simple words, it definitely is, and I would suggest anyone who is looking to upskill sign up for the course.

The best part of CFI is that if you sign up for a membership plan, you can also access other programs and earn unlimited certificates as long as you have an active membership.

FAQs About Cfi Certification