The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Program

Abstract

The CAIA Association is sponsored by the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) and the Center for International Securities and Derivatives Markets (CISDM)—two organizations providing global leadership for alternative investment professionals by setting the highest standards in alternative investment education, professional conduct, and advocacy programs. The CAIA program is designed to promote and maintain professional standards for those employed or engaged in the alternative investments industry. The program facilitates both personal and professional development through education and certification. A goal of the CAIA program is to become the standard professional credential in the field of alternative investments and to have the CAIA designation serve as an independent and external validation of competence for all participants in alternative investment markets. The designation appeals broadly to hedge fund managers, managed futures advisors, real estate, private equity, and venture capital managers, institutional investors, and other professionals in the area of alternative investments. Like many charter programs in finance and accounting, the CAIA designation is structured as long-distance education and requires candidates to accumulate a level of knowledge necessary to implement various aspects of alternative investment decision-making, both from the buy side and from the sell side. This level of knowledge includes, but is not limited to, asset allocation among traditional and alternative investments, benchmarking, manager, strategy, and asset selection, and legal and qualitative differences between different alternative investment strategies and structures. In order to obtain the CAIA designation a candidate must pass both levels of CAIA exams, hold a bachelor’s or an equivalent degree, fulfill the CAIA Association membership requirements, and apply concurrently for membership in the CAIA Association. The Web Review