John C. Heaton
Myron S. Scholes Distinguished Service Professor of Finance and Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation - Family Office Initiative Director
John C. Heaton
Chicago Booth CIMA® Education Program—Online
Prepare for the CIMA® exam with in-depth coverage of important investment concepts.
Next Session
January 7-April 8, 2026
View All Dates
Location/Format
Online
Investment Fee (in USD)
$5,995 USD
Questions? Connect with our enrollment advisors.
Next Session
January 7-April 8, 2026
View All Dates
Location/Format
Online
Investment Fee (in USD)
$5,995 USD
Questions? Connect with our enrollment advisors.
The Chicago Booth CIMA® Education Program brings together top faculty, experienced practitioners, and a comprehensive curriculum designed to help you achieve CIMA certification and excel in your day-to-day investment practice.
The Chicago Booth CIMA Education Program is a CIMA Certification Registered Education course that offers an online, blended learning experience for your convenience. This flexible format allows you to work at your own pace and provides you the opportunity to engage with Booth faculty through a live, recorded virtual classroom environment.
When you enroll in the program, you'll also gain access to a complimentary CIMA Certification Exam Prep Workshop—an intense preparation workshop now offered in your choice of live-online or in-person (Chicago) instruction.
The Chicago Booth CIMA Education Program provides learnings that go beyond test preparation and covers important investment concepts at an in-depth level. Our approach provides you with clear instruction, real-world examples, ample practice, and access to a curriculum designed for success.
Program highlights:
- A combination of live online, on-demand, and in-person (optional) instruction.
- A personalized study schedule, reading list, and checklist to keep you on a successful path.
- On-demand lectures strategically released to optimize your learning process.
- A strong team of Chicago Booth faculty and experienced practitioners have designed and will deliver the program.
A true hybrid program, the Chicago Booth CIMA Education Program offers a combination of live online preparation and review sessions, on-demand recorded content sessions, and a recommended workshop.
1. Online, live instruction (required)
These sessions are recorded for offline viewing, but we highly recommend you attend these live sessions to stay on our recommended study schedule.
- Foundations: We start the program with four live online foundation sessions which cover the nuts and bolts of what you need to know to progress through the program. We will develop the theories and work through practice problems together.
- Weekly review and practice problem solving: In these sessions, we will review the main concepts covered in the weekly recorded lectures, connect the current to prior lectures, apply the concepts in real-time through practice problem solving, provide answers to your questions, and keep your study on track.
2. On-demand instruction (required)
- Watch video lectures taught by a mix of tenured faculty and practitioners who are experts in their field. These videos capture each instructor’s unique style and are formatted into a series of short, digestible segments for maximum impact.
3. Workshop (recommended): Your choice of in-person instruction or online instruction
- For additional test prep, you have the option to attend the Chicago Booth Certification Exam Prep Workshop as a free add-on to the Chicago Booth CIMA Education Program. You will review exam topics, connect topics to the formula sheet, and perform practice problems. This session is a supplement, not a substitute, for our CIMA Education Program.
Booth Community
You'll receive access to a private LinkedIn group for CIMA past participants.
CE Credit
This program is approved for 28 hours of CE credit for CFP® certification. The Investments & Wealth Institute is a CE Quality Partner of CFP Board and the sponsor of the education.
*INVESTMENTS & WEALTH INSTITUTE® is a registered mark of Investment Management Consultants Association Inc. (“IMCA”) doing business as The Investments & Wealth Institute (“The Institute”). CIMA® and CERTIFIED INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ANALYST® are registered certification marks of IMCA d/b/a The Institute. As described in the CIMA Candidate Handbook, completion of an executive education program offered through a Registered Education Provider does not result in attainment of the CIMA certification nor does it award use of the certification marks. Completion of an executive education program results in a candidate becoming eligible to sit for the CIMA Certification Exam and thereafter to complete the remaining steps for certification
Who Should Attend
CIMA certification is beneficial for experienced financial professionals from a variety of backgrounds and business models, including financial advisors, investment consultants, analysts, wealth management professionals, national and regional broker-dealer representatives, and bank/trust employees. The Booth program is open to CIMA candidates in good standing.
Faculty Teaching This Program
At Booth, our distinguished faculty exemplify dedication and expertise, bringing deep passion to their teaching. Their steadfast commitment extends beyond traditional instruction, focusing on empowering every Executive Education participant, across all programs and global campuses, to achieve their professional and leadership goals.
Kathleen Fitzgerald
Clinical Professor of Strategic Management
Kathleen Fitzgerald
Veronica Guerrieri
Ronald E. Tarrson Distinguished Service Professor of Economics and Willard Graham Faculty Scholar
Veronica Guerrieri
Lubos Pastor
Charles P. McQuaid Distinguished Service Professor of Finance and Robert King Steel Faculty Fellow
Lubos Pastor
Devin G. Pope
Steven G. Rothmeier Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics and Robert King Steel Faculty Fellow
Devin G. Pope
Pietro Veronesi
Deputy Dean for Faculty and Sherman and Vivian Chao Distinguished Service Professor of Finance
Pietro Veronesi
Ira S. Weiss
Clinical Professor of Accounting and Entrepreneurship
Ira S. Weiss
John Nersesian
CFP®, CIMA®, CIS, CPWA®, Head of Advisor Education, PIMCO
John NersesianPractitioner Insights
The Chicago Booth CIMA® Education Program brings together top faculty, experienced practitioners, and a comprehensive curriculum designed to help you achieve CIMA certification and excel in your day-to-day investment practice.
Investments & Wealth Institute Scholarship Fund
Investments & Wealth Institute helps eligible individuals who are passionate about growing their career through advanced education. To learn more, please visit the Investments & Wealth Institute website.
Program Outline
- Time Value of Money
- Calculating Realized Returns
- Statistics
- Probability, Risk, and Return
- Module 5: Portfolio Theory
- Module 6: Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Multifactor Models
- Module 7: Behavioral Finance, Market Efficiency, Market Anomalies
- Module 8: Performance Measurement, Tax Efficient Strategies, Socially Responsible Investing
- Module 9: Applied Economics, Global Capital Markets History and Valuation
- Module 10: Fixed Income
- Module 11: Alternative Investments
- Module 12: Hedge Funds, Portfolio Construction and Consulting Process
- Held once per week during Modules 5-12
- Candidates must pass a final exam online before taking the CIMA Certification Exam
- A free add-on to the Chicago Booth CIMA Education Program
- Intensive review for the CIMA Certification Exam
- Workbooks are mailed prior to the workshop
Learn more about the benefits of CIMA by attending an online information session:
Booth Info Session: Introduction to the Chicago Booth CIMA Education Program and Certification Exam Preparation
Join Kathleen Fitzgerald, Chicago Booth Clinical Professor of Strategic Management, to learn more about the CIMA curriculum and the Chicago Booth CIMA Education Program experience. You’ll have an opportunity to interact with faculty and prospective participants.
- Upcoming dates forthcoming
IWI Webinar: An Overview of the CIMA® Certification
Join the Institute’s Program Enrollment Counselors and special guest Kathleen Fitzgerald, Chicago Booth Clinical Associate Professor of Strategic Management, as they discuss key finance topics and benefits of earning the Certified Investment Management Analyst® certification. All sessions are held at 10 AM CT.
Upcoming Topics:
- TBD
Today’s complex and global financial world requires sophisticated solutions from competent, ethical advisors in retail and institutional capacities. Against this backdrop, CIMA certification signals that an investment professional has completed a rigorous program to achieve a high level of competency, professionalism, and investment expertise. Since April 2011, CIMA certification has been recognized as one of a handful of financial services credentials in the US to meet an international standard for personnel certification (ISO 17024) and earn accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
How do I earn CIMA certification?
- Step 1: Submit a certification program application, with fee, and pass a comprehensive background check performed by Institute staff. The application is valid for two years from the date it is accepted by the Institute. The application is reviewed to verify that the applicant meets the program requirements. Applicants will either be accepted into, or denied from, the program.
- Step 2: Complete the Chicago Booth CIMA Education Program and pass the Booth final assessment.
- Step 3: Pass the Certification Exam after successful completion of the executive education component. The Certification Exam is administered at local testing centers. A candidate may sit for this examination as often as necessary, but retesting fees apply, and there is a 30 day wait period between exam attempts.
- Step 4: Demonstrate a minimum of three full years of verified professional experience in financial services or related industry, pass a second background check, complete a license agreement and agree to adhere to the Institute’s Code of Professional Responsibility and Rules and Guidelines for the Use of the Marks.
If you have not yet begun the CIMA certification process or would like more information about the Investments & Wealth Institute's advanced certification qualifications, please contact the Institute directly at (303) 770-3377 or visit www.investmentsandwealth.org.
When can I take the CIMA Certification Exam?
Candidates who have completed the education program must sit for the Certification Exam within a 90 day scheduling window. If you are unable to sit for the exam in this specified window, a rescheduling fee is required to open a new 90-day exam scheduling window. You may sit for the exam as often as necessary, but retesting fees apply, and there is a 30-day wait period between exam attempts.
Chicago Booth CIMA Education Program
What materials are provided?
You will gain access to multiple resources including live online sessions, lecture videos and notes, online quizzes, numerous practice problems, and background readings including online access to two textbooks: Investments (13th ed.) published by McGraw-Hill and The Investment Advisor Body of Knowledge published by Wiley.
How do I join the live sessions online?
You will need to be able to access and use Zoom, including Zoom chat. These sessions are recorded for offline viewing, but we highly recommend you attend live to stay on our suggested study schedule.
How many hours of study per week can I expect?
There is a considerable amount of material covered in this course, and you can expect to spend an average of 10-15 hours of work per week. We provide you with a course checklist and roadmap for success as we move through the material. After successfully completing the program, you should also plan to spend additional time studying for the CIMA Certification Exam. The Chicago Booth CIMA Certification Exam Prep Workshop is designed to help you prepare for this exam. In total, it takes most candidates 4-6 months to complete the certification process.
What if I don’t pass the Booth final exam online?
If you do not pass on the first try, you may take it again, but we recommend that you study for one week in between attempts. The maximum number of attempts is five. If you do not pass within five attempts, we will have a discussion about how to proceed.
How long will I have access to the course?
You have access to the program materials for one year from the course start date so long as you have passed the Booth final exam by the deadline. We highly recommend, though, that you complete the Certification Exam well before the one-year period. From our experience, the more time that passes after the education program finishes, the less likely it is that a candidate will complete CIMA certification.
Will I receive a certificate of completion from Chicago Booth?
Yes, we will provide a certificate of completion after you have passed the Booth exam and successfully completed the Chicago Booth CIMA Education Program. In addition, we will provide a digital badge that serves as a certified online credential of your accomplishment and recognition of your achievement and can be shared among social networks, such as LinkedIn.
Is the education program approved for CE credit?
Yes, this program is approved for 28 hours of CE credit for CFP® certification. The Investments & Wealth Institute is a CE Quality Partner of CFP Board and the sponsor of the education.
Past Participant Insights
-
“I found the Booth course to be very beneficial, not just for passing the certification exam, but also for helping me understand investment management concepts better, which is directly applicable to my day-to-day job duties.”
—Taylor Johnson, Investment Specialist, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. -
“Kathleen is an amazing teacher. I've taken many classes in many different settings and it's rare to find a teacher as enthusiastic, caring, and knowledgeable as Kathleen. It was obvious from the beginning that she wanted us to all succeed and she wanted to make sure that we understood all the material, not just what we needed to know for the exam. She created a warm and welcoming environment—not an easy task in a remote learning setting. She was patient, kind, and funny—never once making anyone feel uncomfortable for asking a question. She took the time to make sure we understood the material and how to apply it and has a knack for explaining difficult concepts! Upon completing the program, I took and passed the CIMA exam. I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn in such an amazing environment with a wonderful group of talented and intelligent professors!”
—Mary J. Thompson, CFP®, Founder, ReFrame Financial Planning
Upcoming Sessions
January 7–April 8, 2026
May 6–August 23, 2026
Fee: $5,995 USD
Learn More and Register
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Download the program brochure for in-depth insights on who should attend, a schedule preview, past participant profiles, location highlights, networking opportunities, and what to expect. When doing so, you’ll also receive an editable justification letter to help you make the case to your employer for your attendance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about Chicago Booth Executive Education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions