Investment Banking Associates

Certification or Licensing

Numerous certifications are available to investment banking associates. The most commonly-requested credential is chartered financial analyst (CFA), which is offered by the CFA Institute. Other popular credentials include the following:

• certified investment management analyst (Investments & Wealth Institute)
• chartered market technician (CMT Association)
• certified corporate financial planning and analysis professional (Association for Financial Professionals)

Some associates earn the certified public accountant designation. To earn this designation, you must complete 150 semester hours of college course work (in nearly all states), pass a qualifying examination, have at least two years of public accounting experience or the equivalent, and hold a certificate issued by the state in which you wish to practice. The Uniform CPA Examination, which is administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), is used by all states.

Many investment banks prefer that associates have or eventually receive their Series 7 (or General Securities Representative), Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law), Series 66 (Uniform Combined State Law), or Series 79 (Investment Banking Representative) credentials from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the self-regulatory arm of the investment industry.