AMHERST, MASS, April 2, 2007 - The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association® (CAIAA)-an independent, not-for-profit international organization that provides a charter program for professionals in alternative investments-has opened registration for the September 2007 CAIASM Level I and Level II examinations.  For the first time, September's exam will focus entirely on alternatives, with the segments that formerly covered traditional investments now considered prerequisite knowledge for all CAIA candidates.

Since its inception in 2002, more than 4000 individuals have enrolled in the CAIA program, the only professional financial designation for the alternatives industry, with the number of participants nearly doubling annually.  CAIA enrollees represent more than 60 countries and thousands of financial institutions, and include fund managers and administrators, investment advisors, consultants, security analysts, lawyers, accountants and educators.  The CAIA designation has quickly become the global hallmark of excellence in this rapidly growing field. 

"With the rapid evolution of the alternatives industry, we have seen a significant increase in individual as well as institutional demand for our program," said Craig Asche, executive director of CAIAA.  "The autumn exams will be the first to treat traditional investments as a prerequisite, thereby enabling the entire curriculum to be devoted to exclusively alternatives.  We believe the growth of both complexity and breadth of alternative strategies necessitates this change, which will serve our candidates greatly."

For more information about the CAIA program, exam enrollment, fees, dates and more, please visit www.caia.org.

About The CAIA Association
The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association® is an independent, not-for-profit global organization committed to education and professionalism in the field of alternative investments. Founded in 2002, the Association is the sponsoring body for the CAIA designation.  Recognized globally, the designation certifies one's mastery of the concepts, tools and practices essential for understanding alternative investments and promotes adherence to high standards of professional conduct.