Program Vetting Process:
Exit Planning is simply good business strategy. Exit planning combines the plan, concept, effort, and process into a clear, simple strategy to build a business that is transferable through strong human, structural, customer, and social capital. The future of you, your family, and your business are addressed by exit planning through creating value today.
Formally, CEPA® is an acronym for Certified Exit Planning Advisor. Participants who successfully complete the executive MBA style program, and pass the closed-book proctored exam, receive the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) credential.
In reality, a CEPA® is a holistic business advisor that helps a business owner align their business, personal and financial goals while building transferable value into their company so that the owner is always prepared to capitalize on a transition of their company, planned or unplanned.
CEPA is currently only offered online. If you'd like to recommend a future in-person CEPA program location to our team, please reach out to Jesse Hudson: jhudson@exit-planning-institute.org
As a professional advisor, credentials and professional designations provide you with a wealth of industry-specific knowledge. Credentials allow you to advance your career and make you stand out in a market of advisors with similar backgrounds. The Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) credential is the leading credential in the exit planning and business value growth industry, with over 6,000 CEPAs in the marketplace.
Pre-CEPA Program:
Yes, you must read Walking to Destiny: 11 Actions an Owner Must Take to Rapidly Grow Value and Unlock Wealth prior to attending the CEPA credentialing program. You will receive a physical copy in your CEPA box that is sent to you prior to the program, as well as have access to a digital copy inside your EPI Member Center account.
- Before your CEPA Online program, read Walking to Destiny, written by EPI CEO, Christopher Snider, to get a general understanding of the Value Acceleration Methodology, on which we base the curriculum.
- Schedule your one-hour Pre-CEPA call to walk through the CEPA program, discuss exam logistics, and meet other CEPA candidates in your program.
- Log into your Member Center to access all files needed for the CEPA program and ensure there are no issues ahead of your CEPA program.
CEPA Program Logistics:
The CEPA credentialing program is a 5-day, online program that follows a “Layered Learning” model. The three components of the program are a virtual classroom, self-study exercises and case study work, and daily Faculty Meet Ups.
Developed by nationally recognized experts in the field of exit planning and value acceleration, the CEPA credential is an executive MBA-style program that includes 17 modules taught by industry experts. The program takes place over five days, Monday-Friday. You will then have one week after the program ends to complete your exam.
Yes, within one week of completing the program you must take the exam. The exam is 150 multiple choice questions and is administered virtually through an online proctoring service. Further instructions for completing the exam will be provided prior to your CEPA program. Your exam results will be sent to you once the full exam window closes. A 70% or higher is required to pass the exam.
No, it is included in the cost of the program.
If you would like additional help studying for the exam, we recommend purchasing the CEPA Exam Prep course. It is an on-demand course built to strengthen and reinforce the core competencies required to pass the CEPA exam.
If you do not pass your exam on the first attempt, it can be retaken two additional times (3 exam attempts total) before having to retake the CEPA program. After you retake the program, EPI CEO, Chris Snider, will reach out and schedule a phone call to go over the exam, specifically areas where you struggled, and help prepare you to re-take the exam. Your Member Experience representative will help you schedule a re-take of your exam.
Post-CEPA Program:
The Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) credential must be renewed every three (3) years via continuing education. To maintain your earned credential, you must complete (1) ongoing adherence to professional conduct requirements and (2) continual professional development activities or a combination of professional development activities and contributions to the profession; as outlined below:
- Meet Minimum Continuing Education Requirements: Renewing certification holders must have completed a minimum of 40 hours of exit planning related professional development. EPI accepts reciprocal CE hours from CPE, CFP, etc. EPI, however, does not accept ethics as CE.
- 20 of the above hours need to be from the Exit Planning Institute in the form of programs, courses, and meetings. These include the Exit Planning Summit, EPI Academy, Chapter Events, Think Tanks, Webinars, etc.
- 20 of the above hours need to be from the Exit Planning Institute in the form of programs, courses, and meetings. These include the Exit Planning Summit, EPI Academy, Chapter Events, Think Tanks, Webinars, etc.
- Maintain Professional/Ethics Standards: Renewing certification holders must agree in writing that they will adhere to the EPI Professional Standards and Code of Ethics, and they must re-attest that they have not been convicted of a felony related to the practice of exit planning.
In addition to the requirements stated above, in order to maintain the CEPA credential, an Annual Membership fee must be maintained. In the case the Annual Membership fee is not maintained, the CEPA credential will be de-activated and membership terminated. An applicant will be ineligible for renewal if their Annual Membership fee is past due.
Exit Planning Institute offers two membership options. The first option is Credentialed Plus. Credentialed Plus is $995 and includes not only the CEPA credential, but access to CEPA ThinkTanks, the Monthly Member Round Up, and the full EPI Member Center with exclusive content and tools. The second option is Credentialed. Credentialed is $395 and includes only the CEPA credential. The first year at the Credentialed Plus level is included in your program fees.
No, EPI does not have a proprietary software program. To better serve our CEPAs, EPI endorses several software providers through the Alliance Partner Program.
Becoming a Certified Exit Planning Advisor allows you to differentiate yourself from your competitors, gain better access to business owners, and grow your referral network of professional advisors. You will become more engaged on a business owner’s advisor team, have deeper and more holistic conversations with business owners, and received hundreds of marketing and business development tools tailored for owners.