FP&A | Excel Modeling Specialization Updates
This article outlines the changes and updates made to the FP&A Excel Modeling Specialization.
🗓️ Changes Effective July 26, 2026
Overview
Effective July 27, 2026, Driver-Based Forecasting will be required to earn the FP&A Excel Modeling Specialization.
Driver-Based Forecasting Added to FP&A Excel Modeling Specialization
A new course, Driver-Based Forecasting, is being added to the FP&A Excel Modeling Specialization. Starting July 26, 2026, this course will be required to earn the specialization certificate.
What's changing
Driver-Based Forecasting is being added as the final course in the FP&A Excel Modeling Specialization. It builds on the modeling, analysis, and variance skills covered throughout the specialization by teaching learners how to connect financial outcomes to their operational drivers.
The course covers:
- Identifying and structuring business drivers
- Building driver trees to organize relationships between inputs and outputs
- Validating driver relationships using quantitative analysis
- Building multi-driver forecasting models in Excel
- Applying scenario and sensitivity analysis to support planning and decision-making
Who is affected
Currently enrolled learners
If you are already working toward the FP&A Excel Modeling Specialization certificate, you have until July 26, 2026, to complete the specialization under the current curriculum. After that date, Driver-Based Forecasting will be required to earn the certificate.
New learners
If you enroll in the FP&A Excel Modeling Specialization on or after July 26, 2026, Driver-Based Forecasting will be part of your required curriculum from the start.
Why was this course added?
The specialization is designed to prepare learners for the full scope of FP&A work. Driver-Based Forecasting extends the technical skills built throughout the program into real-world decision support, helping learners explain what's driving performance, test assumptions, and have more forward-looking conversations with business stakeholders.
🗓️ Changes Effective June 30, 2025
Overview
Effective June 30, 2025, the FP&A Specialization has been fully redesigned to deliver a sharper, more relevant learning experience aligned with the practical needs of today’s FP&A professionals. The refreshed FP&A Excel Modeling Specialization will introduce clearer, action-based course titles, eliminate introductory content, and consolidate overlapping topics.
The updated curriculum equips learners with the technical capabilities and practical fluency required to build, analyze, and communicate robust financial models in a corporate environment by emphasizing hands-on modeling, variance analysis, and financial statement integration.
More Targeted Content: Replaced generic prep and introductory material with tightly focused, role-relevant modeling content.
Updated Course Titles and Structure: Clearer, action-oriented naming (e.g., “FP&A Modeling Formatting & Revenue”) improves discoverability and reflects real-world FP&A workflows.
Stronger Emphasis on Modeling and Variance Analysis: Introduced a new suite of modeling and variance modules that reflect day-to-day responsibilities in modern FP&A roles.
Impact on Learners
- Learners working to earn their FP&A Specialization under the existing requirements must complete all coursework before June 30, 2025. Once the restructuring is implemented, learners must complete the updated curriculum to earn their FP&A Excel Modeling Specialization certificate of completion.
- Learners who complete the program before the restructuring will retain their FP&A Specialization certificate of completion.
- To be eligible to earn the FP&A Excel Modeling Specialization certificate of completion, learners who earn their FP&A Specialization certificate of completion before June 30, 2025, will need to complete the new course FP&A Modeling 3-Statements.
Course Name Changes
| Former Name | New Name |
|---|---|
| FP&A Professional Excel Forecast Model Design | FP&A Modeling Design |
| FP&A Professional Formatting & Revenue Forecasting | FP&A Modeling Formatting & Revenue |
| FP&A Professional Headcount Forecasting & Analysis | FP&A Modeling Headcount Analysis |
| FP&A Professional Contractor Forecasting & Analysis | FP&A Modeling Contractor Analysis |
| FP&A Professional Debt and Capex Forecasting & Analysis | FP&A Modeling Debt and Capex Analysis |
| FP&A Professional Financial Statement Aggregation & Analysis | FP&A Modeling Financial Statement Aggregation |
| FP&A Professional Dashboard Visualizations & Analysis | FP&A Modeling Dashboard Visualizations |
| FP&A Professional 3-Statement Modeling | FP&A Modeling 3-Statements (added as a new, refined course) |
| FP&A Professional Model Build & Configuration | FP&A Variance Build & Configuration |
| FP&A Professional Model Roll Forward & Analysis | FP&A Variance Roll Forward & Analysis |
| FP&A Professional Model Protection & Presentation | FP&A Variance Protection & Presentation |
Courses Removed
The following ten courses have been removed from the updated FP&A Excel Modeling Specialization to reduce redundancy and sharpen focus on core FP&A modeling skills.
- Financial Analysis Fundamentals
- Introduction to 3-Statement Modeling
- The Role of the FP&A Professional
- FP&A for New Analysts
- Budgeting and Forecasting
- Data Visualization & Dashboards – The Basics
- Advanced Excel Formulas & Functions
- Fundamentals of Data Analysis in Excel
- Power Query Fundamentals
- Power BI Fundamentals
- Workflow Best Practice for Analysts
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