ANSI Accredits Investment Management Consultants Association under Personnel Certification Accreditation Program

NEW YORK, April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The American National Standards Institute  (ANSI), a private non-profit organization that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment systems, is pleased to announce the accreditation of the Investment Management Consultants Association(SM) (IMCA®) under ANSI's Accreditation Program for Personnel Certification Bodies. IMCA was established in 1985 to deliver premier investment consulting and wealth management credentials, and world-class educational offerings.

The ANSI accreditation has been granted to IMCA's Certified Investment Management Analyst(SM) (CIMA®) certification program. With the education program currently provided through the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business Aresty Institute, the CIMA certification program is designed specifically for financial professionals who want to attain a level of competency as an advanced investment consultant. CIMA certification demonstrates that a financial consultant has successfully completed a rigorous education program and met experience, ethics, and examination certification requirements.

Since the inception of ANSI's Personnel Certification Accreditation Program in 2003, the Institute has accredited 33 personnel certification bodies for 79 scopes in a range of industry sectors under the international standard ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024. IMCA is the first in the finance industry to distinguish its professional credentialing programs from others in the field through ANSI accreditation.

"ANSI commends IMCA for achieving accreditation and demonstrating its commitment to the continual improvement of its credentialing programs," said Dr. Roy Swift, ANSI senior director of personnel credentialing accreditation programs. "This achievement marks the culmination of a multi-year effort to demonstrate compliance to a rigorous internationally recognized accreditation process. Accreditation by ANSI creates a valuable distinction for IMCA's credentialing programs. This value extends through the service network – from certification body, to certification holder, to employer, to the public served."

"IMCA is committed to growing and protecting the value and integrity of CIMA certification. As an organization we felt ANSI accreditation was the most effective means to that end. For IMCA, obtaining ANSI accreditation will strengthen the CIMA certification by building upon its 23-year history and preparing for the demands of the future. ANSI accreditation provides assurance to consumers, regulators, and those holding and seeking the designation that we have taken the necessary steps to prove that we have a solid certification," said Sean R. Walters, CAE, CEO/executive director at IMCA.

The ANSI accreditation process is designed to increase the integrity, confidence, and mobility of certified professionals. ANSI's accreditation program is based on the American National Standard (ANS) and international standard ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024, Conformity assessment - General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons. ANSI is the only personnel certification accreditation body in the U.S. to fulfill the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011:2004, Conformity assessment - General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies, which represents the highest internationally accepted practices for accreditation bodies.

About ANSI
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American quality of life by promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations. The Institute represents the diverse interests of more than 125,000 companies and organizations and 3.5 million professionals worldwide.

The Institute is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and is a U.S. representative to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).

About IMCA
Based in Denver, Investment Management Consultants Association(SM) (IMCA®) was established in 1985 to deliver the premier investment consulting and wealth management credentials and world-class educational offerings – membership, conferences, research, and publications. Certified Investment Management Analyst(SM( (CIMA®) certification is the premier credential for advanced investment advisors and consultants, and the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) certification is an advanced credential created specifically for wealth managers and advisors who work with high-net-worth clients on the life cycle of wealth: accumulation, preservation, and distribution.

SOURCE American National Standards Institute