Advanced·35 hours

Private Equity & LBO

Analyst Certified upon completion

Master leveraged buyout modeling and the private equity investment process from deal sourcing to exit.

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Student — $199/yr

Professional — $329/yr

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Self-paced — complete on your schedule

Analyst Certified credential upon completion

Cohort internship eligibility unlocked

Downloadable models and templates

About this certification

This certification covers the full private equity cycle: how firms source and evaluate deals, build LBO models, structure transactions, manage portfolio companies, and engineer exits. Built around the skills that PE associates and analysts use every day.

What you will learn

Build a fully integrated LBO model from a blank spreadsheet
Evaluate deal attractiveness using IRR and MOIC targets
Understand PE fund economics and waterfall structures
Analyze portfolio company performance and value creation levers
Structure a credible PE investment memorandum

Curriculum

Module 1: The Private Equity Landscape

Buyout vs growth equity vs venture
Fund structure and LP/GP economics
The deal origination process

Module 2: LBO Modeling

Sources and uses of funds
Debt schedule and tranches
Operating model and EBITDA drivers
IRR and MoM returns analysis

Module 3: Deal Evaluation & Due Diligence

Investment thesis development
Commercial and financial diligence
Management assessment

Module 4: Value Creation & Portfolio Management

Operational improvements
Add-on acquisitions
EBITDA expansion levers
Monitoring and reporting

Module 5: Exit Strategies

Sale to strategic buyer
Secondary buyout
IPO process overview
Exit multiple assumptions

Who this certification is for

Analysts and associates targeting private equity roles
Investment banking professionals looking to move to the buy side
Finance professionals who interact with PE firms on transactions

Analyst Certified

What happens when you complete this certification

You earn your Analyst Certified credential for this track. That credential signals to employers that you can perform the core analytical work expected at this level. It also unlocks eligibility to apply for an internship cohort at one of our partner firms — a structured placement where you work on real deals alongside experienced finance professionals.