
OCTOBER 19-23, 2026
Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor Certification
October 19-23, 2026 | Earn 40 CPE Credits | Live In-Person
Advance your M&A career with the Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA®) designation. This premier credential equips professionals with the practical tools, technical knowledge, and professional network needed to lead in middle market M&A.
Course Details
- Dates: Monday, October 19- Friday, October 23, 2026
- Time: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM CT
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
Certification Fees
- AM&AA Member: $4,950
- Professional Bundle: $5,595
- Young Professional Bundle: $5,395
Register by Friday, July 31, 2026, for Early Bird pricing.
AM&AA Member: $4,455 | Professional Bundle: $5,035 | Young Professional Bundle: $4,855
What’s Included
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Live instruction from expert faculty
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Materials & E-library access
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Online CM&AA® Exam
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One-year AM&AA membership (for bundles)
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Breakfast & Lunch
Why Attend?
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Advanced M&A credentialing
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Learn from real-world M&A professionals
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Boost dealmaking skills, valuation knowledge, tax insights & more
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Join a national network of advisors & dealmakers
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Elevate your credibility, influence & career opportunities
Who Should Attend?
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CPAs
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M&A Advisors & Consultants
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Attorneys
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Financial Professionals
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Private Equity, Family Offices, Corporate Dev
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Exit Planners & Business Owners
Schedule
Schedule
Each class is approximately 4-hours with a 60-minute break from 12:00-1:00 PM. All times in Central Time (CT).
Location
Location
Location information to be announced.
Hotel Accommodations
Hotel Accommodations
Hotal Accommodations information to be announced.
CM&AA Exam
CM&AA Exam
The CM&AA exam includes 100 questions selected from a bank of 150 and features a mix of multiple choice and true/false questions. Participants will have 4 hours to complete the exam, which must be finished in one sitting.
A passing score of 70% is required, and participants are given up to two (2) attempts during the exam window.
To take the exam, you will need a stable internet connection and access to your course materials, including presentations, recordings, and supplemental resources. The exam link will be emailed directly to participants when the exam window opens.
After submitting the exam, you will be notified if you passed and view a copy of your results. Within a few weeks of passing, participants will receive a digital CM&AA certificate, CPE credit letter, and CM&AA onboarding packet.
Reference Texts / Suggested Reading
Reference Texts / Suggested Reading
The following texts are recommended for participants who would like additional background and deeper insight into key CM&AA topics. These materials are suggested but not required.
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Middle Market M&A: Handbook for Advisors, Investors, and Business Owners (Wiley Finance, 2nd Edition) by Robert Slee, Christian Blees, Kenneth H. Marks, and Michael Nall
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Private Capital Markets: Valuation, Capitalization, and Transfer of Private Business Interests (2nd Edition) by Robert Slee
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Handbook of Financing Growth: Strategies, Capital Structure, and M&A Transactions by Kenneth H. Marks
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Valuation for M&A: Building and Measuring Private Company Value by Chris M. Mellen and Frank C. Evans
AM&AA Membership
AM&AA Membership
For a full overview of the CM&AA curriculum, certification process, and what to expect from each course, please visit our website at amaaonline.com/cmaa. There you can explore the topics covered, meet the instructors, and learn how the CM&AA can help advance your M&A career.
You can also learn more about the AM&AA and the benefits of membership: www.amaaonline.com/membership.
CPE Information
CPE Information
Participants can earn up to 40.0 CPE credits in the field of study: Specialized Knowledge. Each class offers up to 4.0 CPE credits.
To receive CPE credit, participants must attend the live, in-person classes. A minimum of 12.0 CPE credits is required to sit for the exam.
Prerequisites:
Participants should hold an academic degree (such as a PhD, JD, MBA, or Bachelor’s degree) and/or one or more professional designations (CPA, CFA, CVGA, CEPA, or equivalent). Consideration will also be given to those with private lower middle market management, ownership, or advisory experience.
Advanced Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Delivery Method: Group-Based
Refunds and Complaint Resolution:
Refund requests must be submitted in writing within thirty (30) days of initial program registration. Refunds will not be granted after that time, or for programs already in progress or completed.
For more information regarding refund, complaint, or program cancellation policies, please contact us at 312-856-9590.
Official National Registry Statement:
The Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website at www.nasbaregistry.org.
Class schedule is based on instructor availability and may be subject to change.