Understand key features and differences between private equity, private credit, real estate and infrastructure, commodities, and hedge funds.
As demand for alternative investment strategies increases, the Private Markets and Alternative Investments Certificate can give your career a competitive edge. Grow your knowledge of these growing investment classes with course material built on the globally recognized CFA Program. With this foundational understanding, you'll be ready to meet the needs of today's investors.
Certificate
Receive a shareable digital badge and printable certificate upon finishing all courses and passing the final assessment.
Study time
70-90 hours to complete
12-month access to coursework
Online self-paced
All coursework can be completed online at your own pace.
Members can claim credits toward professional learning goals.
Who should enroll
New entrants to the private markets industry, existing industry professionals, and consultants
Why choose the Private Markets and Alternative Investments Certificate?
Enhanced vocabulary
Speak about private markets and alternative investments with complete confidence.
Practical application
Gain a foundational understanding of the core concepts of the private markets industry and how to practically apply them.
Authoritative content
Focus your expertise with content built on the industry-leading CFA Program and practicing subject matter experts around the globe.
Future-proof knowledge
Learn the key skills you need to become the investment professional of tomorrow.
Insights from experts
Benefit from the knowledge of established practitioners with a Private Markets and Alternative Investments Certificate developed by leaders in investment education.
Enhanced professional profile
Share your achievement on professional networks with a shareable digital badge on completion.
Who should enroll
- People starting a career in the private markets industry who aspire to work for a general partner firm (GP), limited partner (LP), or other alternatives specialists.
- Existing industry professionals such as investors or asset owners who are looking to allocate to private markets or alternative investments.
- Investment Consultants working with general partner or limited partner firms who want to understand the industry landscape and terminology.
Curriculum
Introduction to Private Markets and Alternative Investment
Course 1 | Approx. 15 hours
Discover the different roles played by private markets and alternative investments in multi-asset portfolios.
Private Equity and Private Credit Investments
Course 2 | Approx. 15 hours
Understand the features, investment characteristics, risk and return profiles, and diversification benefits of private equity and private credit investments. Learn how these - plus other factors - drive investors’ interest.
Real Estate and Infrastructure Investments
Course 3 | Approx. 15 hours
Gain valuable insight into the roles played by real estate and infrastructure investments in multi-asset portfolios.
Hedge Fund Investments
Course 5 | Approx. 15 hours
Understand the features of hedge funds including their structures, strategies, risk and return profiles, and diversification benefits of hedge fund investments.
Final Assessment
Approx. 90 minutes
Complete the Private Markets and Alternative Investments Certificate with an online, unproctored assessment, made up of 60 multiple-choice questions. You’ll have two attempts to complete the assessment.
Learn via engaging content and activities
Work towards the Private Markets and Alternative Investments Certificate in a way that fits your learning style and schedule.
Self-paced online learning
Assess interactive lessons including readings, expert videos, and peer discussion forums.
Regular knowledge checks
Each course includes knowledge check assessments to help make sure you understand the critical concepts covered in each lesson.
