The National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA) will develop a course to help certified public accountants (CPAs) prepare for the qualifying exam for the certified in financial forensics (CFF) credential.

"Approximately 4,300 CPAs have qualified for the CFF credential since the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) began offering it in 2008," said James Metzler, AICPA vice president – small firm interests. "As more CPAs seek the CFF credential and forensic accounting continues to grow as a practice discipline, the AICPA is committed to ensuring that its members are the most prepared and well-trained professionals in the forensic accounting field. The new exam is a key element of our commitment."

NACVA will offer a five-day course covering the eight areas of the CFF credential’s body of knowledge: computer forensic analysis; family law; valuation; calculation of economic damages; financial statement misrepresentation; bankruptcy; insolvency and reorganization; and fraud prevention, detection and response. The courses should launch in late 2010, following the first CFF exam, according to a statement.

"The forensic accounting discipline relies significantly on the expertise and skills of the CPA," said Parnell Black, CEO of NACVA. "We are honored to have been selected by the AICPA to offer training to its members who are preparing to sit for the exam as a step toward acquiring the CFF credential."