AMHERST, Mass.—The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association, global sponsor of the only designation for alternative investments expertise, today introduced a web-based assessment tool designed to help CAIA members stay current on alternative investments research and practices. Effective November 2011, the association's 5,000 members worldwide will be required to complete the CAIA Self-Evaluation Tool (SET) once every three years to maintain use of the CAIA designation.

"The CAIA Self-Evaluation Tool (SET) is an important first step in providing formalized, ongoing educational opportunities to our members to ensure that they remain aware of important developments in industry research and practices," said Maia Porter, Director of Member Services, CAIA Association. "As a credentialing association, it is our responsibility to maintain the integrity of the CAIA designation by helping our members identify areas in which they need to bring their knowledge up to date. And, as regulatory authorities introduce new requirements for professional designations, our focus on meeting industry standards for ongoing education is critical."

The CAIA Self-Evaluation Tool was developed specifically for CAIA members by the team of experts responsible for the globally recognized CAIA program. According to Hossein Kazemi, Ph.D., Program Director, CAIA Association, the 2011 SET features 20 multiple-choice and constructed-response questions based on the CAIA Level II curricula. "We designed the SET to inform members about recent academic and industry research in the alternative investment area and, at the same time, to enable them to evaluate their own knowledge of alternative investments research and practices using the CAIA curriculum as the benchmark. The 2011 SET questions touch upon recent developments in hedge fund benchmarking, risk management, and performance persistence in private equity funds. We have also included questions dealing with structured products and the recent financial crisis because we believe that the crisis provides valuable lessons about risk management and the downside of complexity."

To facilitate learning, the evaluation tool includes an answer key. Upon answering all 20 questions, members immediately receive the correct answers and expanded feedback, accompanied by links to reference materials specific to each question. The reference materials are part of the newly developed CAIA Member Library, available exclusively to CAIA members. Through the library, members have access to articles in the CAIA Association's Level II Core & Integrated Topics book and other resources.

Members have access to the SET year-round through CAIA.org.

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About the CAIA Association

The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) 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, the alternative investment industry's only specialized educational standard. Recognized globally, the designation certifies one's mastery of the concepts, tools and practices essential for alternative investment practitioners and promotes adherence to high standards of professional conduct. For more information visit caia.org.