Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA®)
Comprehensive training (in-person or remote)
Become an expert in alternative investments with tailored support
- Comprehensive support for levels I and II
- Master Hedge Funds, Private Equity, Real Estate and Structured Products
- A Top Finance advisor will monitor your progress until you take the exam.
- Our trainers are all certified and regularly evaluated.
- Our training courses are based on official Kaplan Schweser materials.
- A success rate of 78% in November 2025 for Top Finance candidates (vs. 40% worldwide)
90% of companies can get their employees' training funded.
Click here to find out more.
The CAIA: The global benchmark for
alternative investments.
The CAIA is the only globally recognized certification that focuses specifically on alternative asset classes (Hedge Funds, PE, Real Assets).
For your career
Stand out in a booming market. Allocations to alternative assets are increasing, and experts capable of analyzing them are rare and in high demand.
For your employer
Technical expertise to build diversified portfolios, understand liquidity risks and navigate complex structured products.
They succeeded with Top Finance
Testimonials from candidates who validated their CAIA. Thanks to our structured support.
"The Schweser mock exams put me in real exam conditions."
“Live sessions and the bootcamp gave me confidence.”
“Questions, analytics, targeted review: maximum efficiency.”
“Clear schedule, reminders, and corrections to keep up the pace.”
European leader in CFA preparation
The numbers speak for themselves.
participants recommend our programs*
employees and self-taught learners certified over 15 years
success rate at CAIA Level I (vs ~50% worldwide)
Continuous Training + Kaplan Materials + Dedicated Coaching
Our promise: if you follow our method, you will obtain your CAIA.
Weekly training
Intensive preparation Level I & II (approximately 200 hours of work estimated per level).
You will attend online or in-person training sessions (32 hours). You will have access to the best and most up-to-date resources available.
- Expert speakers in alternative assets
- Focus on Private Equity, Hedge Funds, Real Assets
- Practice with "constructed response" questions (Level II)
Our consultants are CAIA certified and industry practitioners.
Condensed training course over 4 days during the week
Kaplan Schweser 2026 Materials
The world leader in CAIA preparation (Exclusive Partnership).
- SchweserNotes™ CAIA
- SchweserPro™ QBank (Question Bank)
- Mock Exams
- Online Resource Library
Personalized support from Top Finance
The alternative is complex. Don't face these concepts alone.
- Coach dedicated to your progress
- Tracking of MCQ scores
- Success guaranteed: Training refunded in case of failure*
*subject to attendance and completion of tests.
Certified training content for 2026
Access Kaplan Schweser's official eBooks for the CAIA.
All the knowledge you need to master illiquid assets and alternative strategies.
We also offer the full range of Kaplan Schweser resources for CAIA.
Interactive MCQ Bank
Hundreds of questions specific to alternative investments to test your knowledge.
Mock Exams
Practice under real-world conditions to manage time and the specific format of the CAIA.
Performance tracking
Identify your strengths (e.g., Real Estate) and your weaknesses (e.g., Hedge Fund strategies).
Video Library
Video courses to delve deeper into the complex concepts of unlisted assets.
SchweserNotes™ CAIA
The Kaplan Schweser reference manuals, concise and exam-oriented.
QuickSheets
The essentials at a glance. All the key formulas and ratios for your final revisions.
A 4-day weekday training course to prepare for your CAIA certification
You can participate in the sessions either in person in Paris or remotely.
One single, all-inclusive formula for success: CAIA certified teachers, revision materials and the Kaplan Schweser platform.
What you get
Prices
Supports included. Payment in installments possible.
Certification and career opportunities
The global certification for alternative investment professionals.
Our offer:
- A comprehensive training program to pass the CAIA certification
- In-person or remote, flexible hours
- Unlimited access to certified resources (updated 2026)
- Support up to the exam
+ Administrative support to get this training funded by your employer
Have your CAIA training funded by your company.
90% of companies can use their training budget via OPCOs.
For the employee
For the employer
Top Finance takes care of everything: setting up the HR/OPCO file.
TO SIMULATE A FUNDING APPLICATION, CLICK HERE
The CAIA association recommends approximately 200 hours of study per level . This is less than the CFA, but the subjects are highly specialized and require a thorough understanding of alternative investment mechanisms.
You can take the exams without any prerequisites. However, to obtain the final qualification, you must have a university degree (Bachelor's) and more than one year of professional experience in finance, or four years of experience if you do not have a degree.
The CFA covers all areas of finance (equities, bonds, ethics). The CAIA focuses 100% on alternative investments (hedge funds, private equity, real assets, commodities). It's the ideal complement for those seeking specialization.
The learning materials include SchweserNotes course manuals , an online question bank ( QBank ), practice exams, and summary sheets (QuickSheets). This is the standard for passing the exam.
CAIA holders primarily work in pension funds, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, private banks, and asset management firms specializing in alternative assets.
Yes, Top Finance offers 100% distance learning with access to digital resources, course videos and personalized support from our CAIA experts.