SIPA Certification
A three-level scheme that certifies understanding of the methodology, taxonomies, products and analytics published by Scientific Infra & Private Assets — from first-principles foundations through to performance and allocation analytics.
This certification assesses whether a candidate can state the problem SIPA addresses in private-asset valuation and benchmarking, explain the models and standards used, and apply the analytics to fund performance and asset-allocation questions. All curriculum content is drawn from the SIPA documentation library — methodology and valuation notes, index reports, factsheets, benchmarking research, taxonomy standards and use-case papers.
Each level pairs a required reading with a graded assessment: multiple-choice questions test recall and discrimination of concepts, and open-ended questions test explanation and application. Levels are cumulative — each level assumes command of the levels below it — though a candidate already working in a relevant function may attempt a higher level directly.
The valuation problem; the anchoring solution; product and taxonomy orientation. Primary audience: new users, all functions.
TICCS/PECCS; the factor model and shadow pricing; IFRS 13; index construction. Primary audience: product, research, risk.
IRR limits; PME vs PtME; Direct Alpha; alpha decomposition; SAA/CMA. Primary audience: LPs, fund selectors, allocators, risk teams.
Each level is assessed with two instruments:
Your name and email are required so a certificate can be issued on a pass, and so the SIPA team can follow up with any questions. Full results for every submission are sent to our certification administrator.
| Component | Weight | Pass threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple-choice section | 50% | ≥ 70% correct |
| Open-ended section | 50% | ≥ 60% of available marks |
| Overall | 100% | ≥ 85%, with both sections above their floor |
The scheme covers both SIPA product lines: unlisted infrastructure (infraMetrics, TICCS) and private equity (privateMetrics, PECCS). Where a concept applies to only one line, the reading states so. The asset-pricing model, IFRS 13 alignment, index-construction logic and Direct Alpha framework are shared across both lines; the taxonomies and some factor definitions differ.
Ready to test your knowledge of SIPA's methodology?
Start with Level 1