Private Equity Certificate Due Diligence

While there are only a few private equity certification programs out there, you still have a choice in which one to enroll in.  A private equity certification program is an investment and like an investment I suggest that you complete a rigorous due diligence process before investing your time and money.  Today I am going to give some ideas of what to look for in a certification program and some questions to ask.

Does the organization managing the certification have any prior experience training professionals in finance or alternative investments?  The last thing you want is a training organization that has only worked in unrelated industry such as, for example, providing a computer software certification.  The motivation in this case is almost surely profit, not providing an education to you, the student.  So look at the organization and ask questions like, "Have you trained people in private equity previously?  What training does your organization provide?" 

Is the training program too expensive?  Training programs will often charge what the participant is willing to pay.  Some people enrolling in professional PE certification programs have a large disposable income and can pay more than $1,000 for a certification program.  These professionals often work for large corporations or PE firms and have money to invest in training.  But in my experience, the average certification program participant does not have this level of income and would like to save as much money as possible.  That is how we developed our program, with the student or entry-level professional in mind.  These are the people that are looking to advance or even begin their careers in private equity so the program should be affordable to those who need it.  Other firms, however, will charge what they can get so be sure to shop around before signing up for the first overpriced program you find. 

What is required to complete the certification program?  Some programs require very little of its participants.  While this appealing to some, I've found that the vast majority would like to be challenged and even tested on their knowledge of private equity.  Additionally, any employer evaluating the certification that you put on a resume will see very quickly if the program was at all challenging.  So it's worth it to get a certification that means something, not simply paying to get a certificate that means you did nothing to earn it.

But... many private equity professionals could complete more training and compete better within this competitive industry.

Our team has put together a 100% online private equity training and certification program that provides you with career tools, resume feedback, career coaching, and video training modules. This program is called the Private Equity Certified Professional.
But... many private equity professionals could complete more training and compete better within this competitive industry.

Our team has put together a 100% online private equity training and certification program that provides you with career tools, resume feedback, career coaching, and video training modules. This program is called the Private Equity Certified Professional.