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Recertification Requirements 

The CABB Certified Business Broker (CBB) is a privileged designation that identifies an experienced and dedicated Business Broker. The title distinguishes its holder as a seasoned, professional who has a solid educational background, proven accomplishments in completing business transactions and is an active member of CABB. Recertification of the CBB Designation is required. To maintain the credential, CBB must complete the current requirements by the 4th anniversary of the award and each 4 years thereafter.

Recertification of the CBB designation is required every 4 years.

Please submit your CBB application and supporting documents once you've completed ALL items. Please submit all your documents in ONE FILE to cabb@cabb.org.

  1. Membership in CABB and Agreement to uphold the Association Code of Ethics.
  2. Completion of CABB 501 during the 4-year eligibility period. This course is typically offered virtually 2 times a year so please plan accordingly based on your expiration date.
  3. Completion of CABB 250 Legal Aspects course.
  4. Earning a total of 4 credits selling California-based businesses (representing the seller) that have closed within the 4-year certification timeline. For example, if the CBB credential expires on Dec 31, 2023, then the submitted transactions must have been closed between Jan 1, 2020-Dec 31, 2023. 
    Download Transaction Submittal Form
    • Credits can be earned as follows:
      • $100,000 - $2 Million Business Transaction Value – Representing seller (1 credit)
      • Above $2 Million Business Transaction Value – Representing seller (2 credits)
      • Managing Broker – 0.5 Credits per transaction for an agent-run deal, that you oversaw (i.e. 8 transactions equal 4 credits)
    • Closed Transactions must meet one of the following criteria:
      • Minimum Gross Transaction amount (purchase price) of $100,000 or
      • Minimum Gross Success Fee/commission of $10,000
  5. Attendance at 2 industry conferences in the past 4 years (CABB, IBBA or M&A Source), minimum of 1 CABB Conference. For example, if the CBB credential expires on Dec 31, 2023, then the conferences must have been attended within Jan 1, 2020-Dec 31, 2023.
    (Proof of attendance at IBBA and M&A Source Conferences must be provided)
  6. Completion of the CBB Renewal Application and $50 Application Fee.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Incomplete recertification applications will not be reviewed.
  • Only attendance at CABB, IBBA or M&A Source conferences is eligible for the conference requirement.
  • CBB Recertification applicants must complete the above requirement and renew prior to their expiration date to continue using the designation or must remove claim of credential from all promotional and marketing materials until successfully renewed.

Click here to view the CABB CBB Policy Manual.

Download the PDF Recertification Application for CABB CBB.

Click here to submit the $50 CBB Application Fee.

*As a reminder, you need to be logged into your Member Dashboard to submit the $50 application fee.

ONE YEAR - ONE-TIME BRIDGE EXTENSION

A one-time, one-year bridge extension may be requested if a CBB credential is about to expire, and the holder is not able to complete all the renewal requirements on time. The application and fee should be submitted no later than December 31 of the expiring year.

A one-time extension eliminates one (1) year of requirements eligibility. All requirements must be completed during a 4-year period from the new expiration date. For example, if your CBB credential expires on December 31, 2023 and you are approved for a one-year extension, your new CBB expiration date will be December 31, 2024. Submitted requirements must be within January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2024.  

Requirements:

  1. Membership in CABB and Agreement to uphold the Association's Code of Ethics
  2. Payment for $50 Extension Fee 
  3. Register and pay for a CABB 501 course in the year the credential is expiring, although the course may be taken in the future.

    A member may only use the bridge extension once in the lifetime of the program.

*You can view your CBB Status on the member dashboard.

Download the PDF Application for CBB Extension.

Click here to submit the $50 CBB One-Time Bridge Extension Fee.

The CBB committee is made up of volunteers and does its best to process all applications in a timely manner. Please follow all instructions and provide all necessary documentation as requested.  Incomplete applications will result in delays or denial. Once the final application is submitted to the committee for final review, it can take up to 30 days for approval. CABB will update the CBB forms and applications from time to time to clarify program requirements. 

CABB will update the CBB forms and applications from time to time to clarify program requirements. 

CBB EXPIRATION OR LAPSE

If a member's CBB credential is not renewed by its expiration date, for any reason (such as recertification was not applied for or renewed in time, CABB membership was not renewed in time, professional or personal circumstance), the CBB will have lapsed and will no longer be no longer valid. The member must immediately remove any claim of being designated a CBB or any use of the CBB logo from all of their promotional and marketing materials, including business cards, email signatures, websites, advertising, social media, etc.

If the lapsed member would like to renew/recertify their CBB designation and it is within 12 months of their expiration date, they can submit a written request with detailed information about the cause of the lapse to the CBB Committee, in the form of an email to cabb@cabb.org, along with a completed CBB Renewal Application. The committee will review the member’s situation and may approve that the member can be renewed as a CBB within that year. This will allow the member to recertify their CBB designation without interruption to their standing as a CBB (which may affect eventual qualification for the Lifetime CBB designation). This approval decision will be at the sole discretion of the CBB Committee.

If more than 12 months have passed since the member’s lapse in their CBB designation, or if the CBB Committee does not approve a reinstatement that the member has requested, the member will need to fully reapply for the CBB Designation. This will effectively restart their CBB designation at year one (which may affect eventual qualification for the Lifetime CBB designation).

REVOCATION OR TERMINATION

The Certified Business Broker (CBB) designation of any member may be terminated by the Association’s Board of Directors for the following reasons:

  1. Failure to remain a current member in good standing with CABB.
  2. Violation of the Association's bylaws and/or rules and regulations, or Code of Ethics.
  3. Misrepresentation, either intentional or otherwise, of experience or other qualifications.
  4. The rendering of a guilty verdict by a trier of fact of proper jurisdiction (court or arbitration) for charges which, in the opinion of the Association's Board of Directors, reasonably establish the CBB's noncompliance with those standards required by CABB.

Any CBB whose designation is terminated shall immediately return his/her CBB certificate and any other related items (pins, plaques, etc.). In addition, all stationery, business cards and other renderings mentioning the CBB designation must be immediately destroyed and all use of the CBB designation on websites, social media, email signatures, etc., must be terminated. And, lastly, it is specifically understood that the member or former member may not verbally or in print make ANY reference to "former CBB," "past CBB," or the like.