Certified Valuation Analyst Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the Certified Valuation Analyst exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
Certified Valuation Analyst exam key facts
- The NACVA Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) proctored exam consists of 400 multiple-choice questions. Source
- The NACVA Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) proctored exam is five hours long. Source
- NACVA sets the CVA passing score within three standard errors of measurement of the mean and does not publish a fixed number. Source
- The NACVA CVA exam fee is $625. Source
- Candidate CVAs may take the exam no more than six times per year and no more than once a month. Source
- Individuals may maintain CVA Candidate status for up to three years. Source
📋 Certified Valuation Analyst Exam Format at a Glance
📚 Certified Valuation Analyst Topics to Study (28)
✍️ Sample Certified Valuation Analyst Questions & Answers
1. What is a buy-sell agreement and how does it relate to business valuation?
A buy-sell agreement governs the transfer of ownership interests when triggering events occur (death, disability, retirement), often specifying how the business will be valued (formula, appraised value) and the terms of purchase.
2. Which empirical data source is most commonly cited for control premiums in acquisitions of publicly traded companies?
The Mergerstat/BVR Control Premium Study compiles control premiums paid over pre-announcement public market prices in U.S. mergers and acquisitions.
3. Which factor would most likely DECREASE the appropriate minority interest discount?
When a company's primary assets are publicly traded securities, minority shareholders can indirectly access liquidity and the value of those assets is readily determinable, reducing the minority discount.
4. What is the adjusted net asset method?
The adjusted net asset method restates each asset (tangible and identifiable intangible) and liability on the balance sheet from book value to fair market value, with the difference representing equity value.
5. Which of the following is a key characteristic of the Income Approach in business valuation?
The Income Approach determines value based on the present value of future economic benefits, such as cash flows or earnings.
6. What is the role of a valuation engagement letter?
The engagement letter establishes the formal agreement between the analyst and client, specifying the subject interest, purpose, standard and premise of value, key assumptions, scope of work, deliverables, timeline, and fees.
🎯 Free Certified Valuation Analyst Practice Tests
📖 Certified Valuation Analyst Guides & Articles
What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for Certified Valuation Analyst
An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:
- A timed, full-length Certified Valuation Analyst mock exam — 400 questions in 300 minutes with a 70% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
- A fixed Certified Valuation Analyst question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
- Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
- A printable Certified Valuation Analyst cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
- Certified Valuation Analyst flashcards built from the same question bank.
- Free Certified Valuation Analyst practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- nacva.com — Score validity, eligibility, time limit, passing score, test delivery, exam format, late registration, retake fee, retake policy, score release · verified Nov 2026