ECA Study Program
- Registration Closed
Ace Your CEP Level 1 Exam with Peer and Expert Support
Get direct insight into testing material from industry experts while building a valuable peer network to equip you for exam success.
Each week, you'll grab your in-depth study guide and meet with your small, peer-led group to go over the week's CEP Level 1 exam topic and learn from each others' questions and interpretations. Then you'll attend a weekly webinar on the topic, designed around the questions you and your peers submit.
- Grab your in-depth study guide and get ready to dive into:
- Plan design, analysis, and administration
- Taxation
- Corporate and Securities Law
- Accounting
Ideal Development Opportunity For
- Those planning to take the ECA (CEP Level 1) exam in 2025
Enrollment Fee
- Members: $150
- Non-Members: $200
PLEASE NOTE: Non-members will need to create an NASPP.com account to register. Click the "Log In" button in the upper right corner and follow the on-screen instructions to establish your account.
All registrations are non-refundable.
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Contains 2 Component(s) Recorded On: 03/19/2025
We will introduce the program, establish study groups, and review the syllabus and study guides.
Introduction, establish groups, receive syllabus & study guide
Barbara Baksa
Executive Director
NASPP
ECA Exam Study Materials
This page lists the required study materials for the ECA exam. We will be using these material to prepare you for the exam and you will complete readings from them during each week of the course.
If You ARE Registered for the Spring 2025 ECA Exam
If you are registered for the spring 2025 ECA exam, PDF versions of the exam study materials are included in your exam registration. You should have received instructions from the CEP Institute explaining how to access the materials.
If You are NOT Registered for the Exam
If you aren’t registered for the exam, you’ll need to purchase the exam study materials on your own. The table below lists the materials and where you can purchase them.
Material
Author
Source
Price
Kaye Thomas
$24
Alison Wright and Pam Chernoff
$60
Various
$60
Equity Alternatives: Phantom Stock, SARs, Restricted Stock, Performance Awards, and More
Various
$60
CEP Institute
Free
* NCEO book prices quoted are for individuals who aren’t members of the NCEO. The NCEO member price is $40 per book.
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Contains 2 Component(s) Recorded On: 03/26/2025
This week will focus on types of equity compensation vehicles and plan design and administration.
Open forum to ask questions to a designated panel of experts and learn from your peers' questions on topics such as:
- Different equity compensation vehicles and requirements
- Processes and procedures to accomplish equity compensation goals
- Insight into shareholder concerns and considerations
Barbara Baksa
Executive Director
NASPP
Michelle Tomasetti
Partner
Infinite Equity
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Contains 2 Component(s)
This week will focus on provisions in equity plan documents.
Open forum to ask questions to a designated panel of experts and learn from your peers' questions on topics such as:
- Standard and unique equity compensation plan provisions and documents and their effects on the company
- The XYZ equity plans included in ECA study materials
Barbara Baksa
Executive Director
NASPP
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Contains 10 Component(s)
This week will focus on the taxation of equity awards
Open forum to ask questions to a designated panel of experts and learn from your peers' questions on topics such as:
- Internal Revenue Code Sections 83, 421, 422, 423, and 424
- Requirements for equity arrangements to receive preferential tax treatment
- Recognition of income for equity awards
- Tax collection and deduction rules applicable to companies and to recipients of equity compensation
Barbara Baksa
Executive Director
NASPP
Emily Cervino
Head of Industry Relationships and Thought Leadership
Fidelity
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Contains 2 Component(s)
This week will focus on the corporate structure and securities laws that are applicable to equity plans
Update! Due to the Zoom outage, the Week 5 Q&A session has been rescheduled for 1:00 PM Eastern on Thursday, April 17.
Open forum to ask questions to a designated panel of experts and learn from your peers' questions on topics such as:
- Characteristics and structure of public and private companies
- Registrations requirements for equity plans
- Registration exemptions available to privately held companies
- Reporting and disclosure requirements for equity plans
- Insider reporting under Section 16
Barbara Baksa
Executive Director
NASPP
Mike Stevens
Partner
Alston & Bird
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Contains 2 Component(s)
This week will focus on how equity awards are accounted for in the granting corporation's financial statements.
Open forum to ask questions to a designated panel of experts and learn from your peers' questions on topics such as:
- Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (ASC 718)
- International Financial Reporting Standards No. 2 (IFRS 2)
- Valuation of equity awards
- Expense recognition for equity awards
Barbara Baksa
Executive Director
NASPP
Elizabeth Dodge
Principal
Equity Plan Solutions
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Contains 3 Component(s)
This week will provide one last opportunity to review any area of the exam curriculum.
Revisit any of the topics covered previously and ask anything to get the clarity you need to be confident.
Barbara Baksa
Executive Director
NASPP
