FOR RELEASE
July 1, 2009

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IMCA Raises Standards for CIMA^® Certification Program
Unveils New Process for Future Applicants

DENVER—July 1, 2009—Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA®) implemented changes to the Certified Investment Management Analyst^SM (CIMA^®) certification program today. These changes stem from the findings of a job analysis survey conducted by IMCA in 2007, and are designed to meet third-party accreditation standards.

The CIMA certification program was developed more than 20 years ago and is built upon experience, education, examination, and ethical requirements. Candidates must continue to successfully complete the education portion of the program, offered in conjunction with The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley. However, candidates enrolled after July 1 must also now pass a criterion-based certification examination, which was developed from the findings of the job analysis. The certification examination is designed to objectively test a level of knowledge, skill, and competency needed by an advanced investment professional in the real world.

“IMCA’s board of directors empowered the certification committee to identify improvements and procedural changes for the CIMA certification process more than three years ago,” said Garry Bridgeman, CIMA^®, IMCA’s president. “I am proud to see those recommendations come to fruition and believe that the revised certification process will allow more financial professionals the opportunity to attain the advanced investment education that nearly 6,000 CIMA professionals have already achieved.”

The certification committee, a group of volunteer industry and academic experts, who together possess a wealth of knowledge regarding successful training and certification programs, recommended IMCA conduct the job analysis in 2007 in an effort to better-align the CIMA certification program with third-party accreditation standards. Accreditation by an outside organization assures the public that specific standards have been met in developing the certification program and examination.

“The job analysis showed us that CIMA professionals work in a variety of different roles in financial services, from institutional investment management consultants to business executives within financial services firms,” said Dede Pahl, IMCA’s executive director. “We have seen increased interest from various sectors of the financial services industry as they realize the value and importance of obtaining advanced investment management consulting education. By broadening the experience requirement and offering a more flexible, pay-as-you-go process, we allow more professionals to expand their knowledge of the sophisticated investment techniques covered in the CIMA certification program curriculum.”

Candidates will be subject to a second background check following the completion of the Certification Examination, and also must continue to adhere to IMCA’s Code of Professional Responsibility and Standards of Practice. A 40-hour continuing education credit requirement every two years also remains in place for all CIMA professionals.

For more information regarding the new CIMA certification process click here.

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