Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst

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Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) is a professional designation offered by the CAIA Association to investment professionals who complete two examinations in succession. The "alternative investments" industry is characterized as dealing with asset classes and investments other than standard equity or fixed income products. Alternative investments can include hedge funds, venture capital, private equity, real estate, managed futures and other derivatives, and foreign exchange investments. The CAIA curriculum is designed to provide finance professionals with a broad base of knowledge in altenative investments with a focus on hedge funds, managed futures, and private equity.

The CAIA program is divided into two distinct levels. The Level I curriculum focuses on the fundamentals of alternative investment markets, while Level II concentrates on advanced topics in alternative investments. Both incorporate issues of ethics and professional conduct. The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association is an independent, not-for-profit global organization committed to education and professionalism in the field of alternative investments. Founded in 2002, the Association is the sponsoring body for the CAIA designation. CAIA holders are required to maintain membership in the CAIA Association and adhere to professional and ethics standards. Currently, there are over 1,400 CAIA members.^{[citation needed]}

1 Level I
2 Level II
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Level I

The Level I curriculum is broadly divided into two sections – quantitative methods and an introduction to alternative investments. Candidates study the application of basic analytical tools, as well as the fundamentals of alternative investment vehicles. Candidates learn to differentiate between the various AI trading strategies and performance measurements. Candidates registered for the program are assumed to have an elementary undergraduate understanding of the basic concepts of traditional finance.

The Level I curriculum covers such areas as:

quantitative analysis
regulatory frameworks
trading strategies
performance measurement
credit derivatives

[edit] Level II

The Level II curriculum is also broadly divided into two sections - alternative investments and Current and Integrated Topics. Both sections take a global perspective. Candidates must apply the skills and knowledge from Level I to gain a deeper understanding of issues involved in each of the areas of alternative investments. Current and Integrated Topics is updated annually to reflect the latest industry and research developments, such as new products and advances in risk management techniques.

The Level II curriculum covers such areas as:

Asset allocation
Portfolio management
Style analysis
Risk management
Structured products
Indexation and benchmarking
Current topics and case analyses

As of the September 2007 Level I exam curriculum, the CAIA program no longer covers traditional investments material and focuses exclusively on alternative investments.