Are you thinking about signing up for an online Certified Exit Planning Advisor™ (CEPA) class? It is both an exciting and daunting undertaking to step into the work of an exit planning advisor. Whether you want to discuss exit planning with your current clients, become more engaged on a business owner’s advisory team, or want to become a value advisor, the Exit Planning Institute® (EPI) can help you on your professional journey. Here we’ll walk you through the benefits of CEPA®, what you’ll learn in EPI™’s program, and discuss common thoughts you many have before signing up with insights from our Senior Business Development Manager, Scott Lang.
Why CEPA is Worth It for Advisors
Becoming a CEPA is an investment in your professional development and can enhance your conversations and dealings with business owners. It is Scott’s opinion that “The CEPA certification and the community of professionals that EPI has created is unmatched in the industry”. For Financial Advisors, it could help with optimizing financial strategies and investment plans for a business owner that is getting ready to transition. For CPAs and Accountants, who are often a business owner’s most trusted consultant, this could help with growing value in a business owner’s entrepreneurial journey.
For other advisors, or for those who aren’t interested in being an exit planning advisor, Scott says that “The community that lives at EPI is a gold mine. We have so many advisors that are looking to partner up with advisors of different expertise but still speak the “CEPA” language. The value of the community and the networking is huge. As the CEPA certification has become more noticeable in the market, I think we see some of our national account advisors coming for the education and to be able to have better conversations with business owners.” However you decide to use EPI's program for advisory type, you can be sure that business owners will benefit from your comprehensive knowledge of exit planning that you can tailor to their specific needs.
Answering Common Questions
The CEPA certification provides a comprehensive and structured framework for exit planning. Going through the CEPA online program doesn’t change your expertise, it enhances your ability to engage business owners and have value-added conversations around growth and exit. CEPAs have learned the mindset shift from having a successful company to growing one that is significant. Meaning, one that is valuable, transferable, ready, and attractive at any point, and where the business owner’s business, personal, and financial goals are aligned.
Eligibility
When Scott is talking to people that are considering taking the CEPA course, he says that the questions are focused on “the process of obtaining”.
To be eligible for the online CEPA class, there are professional experience and education requirements.
Professional experiences include:
- Worked a minimum of five years as a full-time professional advisor
- Worked or are currently a full-time business owner
- Have worked in a similar experience
Education requirements include:
- A Bachelor's degree from a qualifying institution
- Equivalent professional work experience
Maintenance
There are additional requirements that must be met in order to maintain your CEPA certification. To maintain your CEPA standing after passing the exam, you must pay a yearly membership fee, either as a Credentialed Member or a Credentialed Plus Member. The cost of your first year of membership is included after you pass the CEPA exam. In addition to the Annual Membership fee, you must renew your CEPA credential every 3 years by meeting our Continuing Education (CE) requirements and adhering to EPI’s Professional Standards and Code of Ethics. CE involves completing a minimum of 40 hours of exit planning related professional development, 20 of which must be from EPI’s programs, courses, and meetings. These include Webinars, Think Tanks, EPI Academy courses, Chapter events and The Exit Planning Summit. In addition, EPI accepts reciprocal CE hours from CPE, CFP, etc. and can be submitted via our online portal or to your Member Experience Representative.
The CEPA Class Online
EPI’s program is designed to cover all aspects of exit planning, ensuring that CEPAs are well-equipped to handle the unique challenges of the businesses they serve. The CEPA course is a week-long executive MBA-style program. Registration includes the five day credentialling program experience, your pre-CEPA onboarding session with our Member Experience team, the CEPA exam fee, the program manual including presentations and exercises, the live faculty Q&A sessions and networking sessions, and the Beyond CEPA implementation session.
In the course, you will learn our Value Acceleration Methodology over five days of online learning. In these five days, you will go through modules on the foundations and fundamentals of exit planning, understanding and managing value, engagement, fulfillment and rhythm, and explore internal and external exit options. After completing the day’s lessons, you will attend a live faculty meet up call for discussions and Q&As. After the week of online learning, you will have one week to take the closed book, proctored online exam. To learn more, download our CEPA Brochure!
2025 CEPA Weeks
In 2025, we will host 11 CEPA Online programs to expand the CEPA community, educate professional advisors, and ultimately provide business owners with a more significant exit from their businesses.
- January 27 - 31
- February 24 - 28
- March 24 - 28
- April 21 - 25
- May 19 - 23
- June 23 - 27
- July 21 - 25
- August 18 - 22
- September 15 - 19
- October 20 - 24
- November 17 - 21
Sign Up Today!
Now that you’ve learned more about the CEPA certification process, what holding that credential can do for you and how it can help expand your business, it’s time to take the next step. Register for an upcoming program here!
Have more questions? Get in contact with an experienced member of our team! They will talk with you about the CEPA class and will answer any questions you may have! Call 216-712-4244
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