From learning to doing — a complete path into finance.
Subscribe, choose your certification track, and earn your Analyst Certified credential. Then join a cohort and intern at a partner firm to build the experience that gets you hired.
Trusted by aspiring finance professionals worldwide
8
Certification tracks
4,800+
Analysts enrolled
94%
Completion rate
40+
Partner firm placements
The IAF Path
Three steps from enrollment to your first finance role.
Every step is designed to move you closer to a professional finance career — not just a certificate.
Get Certified
Subscribe and choose your certification track. Complete the program at your own pace — financial modeling, investment banking, private equity, and more. Earn your Analyst Certified credential upon completion.
Build Experience
Apply what you have learned. Work through real analyst case studies, deal models, and live projects inside the platform. Build a portfolio of work that demonstrates your capabilities to employers.
Launch Your Career
Analyst Certified members can apply to join a cohort and intern at a partner firm. Gain real-world deal experience, build your professional track record, and enter the job market with credentials that actually matter.
Featured Certifications
Our most popular tracks, each leading to Analyst Certified status.
Financial Modeling & Valuation
Build institutional-quality financial models from scratch — the core technical skill required across every area of finance.
Investment Banking
Understand the M&A process, deal structures, and how investment banks advise clients from mandate to close.
Private Equity & LBO
Master leveraged buyout modeling and the private equity investment process from deal sourcing to exit.
Why professionals choose IAF
We don't teach theory for theory's sake. Every program is built around what actually matters in finance.
Practitioner-built
Every course is built by professionals from top-tier firms — not academics.
Applied curriculum
You build real models and produce work you can show in interviews — not just read slides.
Real internships
Analyst Certified members earn cohort access to intern at partner firms — not simulations.
Self-paced
Complete your certification on your schedule. All content is available from day one.
A credential that reflects real ability, not just seat time.
The Analyst Certified designation is awarded upon completing an IAF certification program. It signals that you can do the work — build the models, run the analysis, produce the output — at a standard that finance employers recognize.
Analyst Certified members are eligible to apply for internship cohorts at IAF partner firms, where you will work on real deals alongside experienced professionals and build the track record that opens doors.
Analyst
Certified
Institute of Applied Finance
What our analysts say
“The financial modeling certification gave me skills I use every single day. The level of detail and focus on real-world practice is far ahead of anything else I've taken.”
Daniel Park
Financial Analyst · Private Equity Firm
“I earned my Analyst Certified credential and was placed in a cohort internship within two months. The internship was the most valuable experience in my entire job search.”
Amara Osei
Investment Banking Analyst · Boutique Advisory Firm
“The PE & LBO certification is the real deal. I built a full LBO model from scratch and walked into my private equity interview knowing exactly what to expect.”
Thomas Liu
Private Equity Associate
Free Finance Resources
Guides, templates, and articles written by finance practitioners.
How to Build a DCF Model: A Step-by-Step Guide
A discounted cash flow model is the foundation of fundamental investing. This guide walks through every component — from free cash flow projections to terminal value — with practical examples.
Understanding WACC: Definition, Formula, and Application
The weighted average cost of capital is central to valuation and capital allocation decisions. Here is how to calculate it correctly and avoid common errors.
Comparable Company Analysis: The Complete Framework
Trading comparables are the most widely used valuation method in practice. This guide explains how to select the peer group, spread the data, and interpret the results.
Ready to start your path into finance?
Choose your plan, pick your certification track, and get to work.