

Learn how to Successfully Integrate Acquired Businesses
The Certified Acquisition Integration Manager (CAIM) program
AMAA members and their clients receive a 20% discount
Building in-house skills for acquirers
Training, certification, and mentoring for you to deliver the value of your M&A through successful integration
It is said that 70% of acquisitions fail. This is not completely accurate; it is the integration of the businesses that fails. Delivering what was envisioned when the deal was put together is difficult and prone to failure.
Businesses that do not successfully integrate acquisitions waste the opportunity of value creation. With every subsequent acquisition, the pain of not integrating becomes greater, as the burden of multiple processes, tools and operational methods prevents growth.
Lower-mid and mid-size businesses are often torn: they know they need external expertise, but want to retain the skills within their teams.
Businesses need to develop in-house teams that can integrate current and future acquired businesses.
Intista has training and certification solutions to address these and other problems associated with acquisition integrations. Learn more below.
Training is self-paced, but if you want to join a cohort, here is our schedule
Course Level
This is an intermediate level course.
Prerequisites
A basic understanding of the steps involved in acquiring a business:
- What is M&A Due Diligence and where it fits into the acquisition timeline
- Acquisition terminology such as "Deal Closing" or "Deal Team"
Download detailed information on delivery methods and pricing
It was absolutely awesome. Before starting, I knew some of this, but honestly it opened my eyes to a lot of stuff. After completing it, I found it was something that I really can use.
I enjoyed and learned a lot from the course, even with extensive experience working with M&A transactions and the specific needs they present. The CAIM course was well thought out and organized, with enough detail to illustrate the nuances between different deals, yet clear by focusing on what really matters and ultimately most important.
Intista's M&A Integration Certification provided me with clear, hands-on knowledge of how actual acquisitions work as an aspiring Accounting student leaning towards the financial world. Its structure facilitated comprehension of subjects and increased my self-assurance in discussing M&A and post-deal integration.
Intista has developed training to prepare lower middle market professionals in the crucial process of acquisition integration management. The content, spreadsheets, and documents included in the program provide a foundation of best practices to achieve a successful integration
Two of the LCAB team took the CAIM training and are doing awesome things integrating our companies. They both cite the program as a huge catalyst
What a thorough and brilliant course design. The weekly modules are excellent - great content, the right intensity and length, and tons of training aids to use in the real world. Beyond the online component, the virtual cohort meetings are a great place to discuss content and expand your network.
A very useful and well-structured training program. It gives an overview of the integration process in just the right amount of detail for those involved in or about to embark on an integration. If you are involved in acquisitions for the first time or specialize in one element of the process, this course provides you with a clear roadmap.
I’ve been involved in several acquisition integrations in previous roles. Some integrations accomplished the corporate goal while others were abject failures. This course gave me insight into the intricacies of the integration process and offered a deeper understanding of the steps involved for a successful integration. Success involves so much more than two companies coming together under the same banner.
I highly recommend Intista's integration training. The training is comprehensive, based on years of integration experience and data-backed insight and very relevant to my integration work.
The best thing I learned was an overall framework and process for integrations. From this baseline, I can then adjust based on unique circumstances. But I now have a very good starting point.
The amount of knowledge and wisdom in this course cannot be met by anyone else.
... very responsive and helpful at every point of the course. I felt very supported.
Intista's Sales Integration Checklist is a great tool to use when bringing two separate teams together, with all its supporting elements in place. There are other tools for merging sales teams, but this is the best there is for mid-size M&A integration. I recommend that you download and use this tool when planning next steps.
As soon as M&A is done, everyone thinks that the job is over. Actually, the job starts there.
The CAIM is really helpful to understand the entire integration perspective, best practices, what works, what doesn't work, and the different types of integration.
I thought the course was well-presented and informative, with real-world experiences and stories of actual integration assignments. Acquisition integration is important to value retention and creation. As such, the acquirer should use a skilled and well-trained interaction professional.
I was really realizing the need to distinguish myself.
[The CAIM] was just so much value. It just hit so many value points for me, and what I was looking for. It was very well structured, very well thought out. It's very clearly communicated, and [gives] access to Steve and his knowledge, in the Masterminds.
Exceeded expectations. Substantial spreadsheets and checklists to support integration activity.
The CAIM allows us to do [the integration] in house... and still have complete control of the process
I've done a lot of strategy and execution work with companies looking to grow and was looking for a good framework to use to help get a tricky M&A business integration back on track after a year of challenges faced by the leadership team. Going through the CAIM program and getting access to the great tools and resources has helped me to get this integration on track and build the framework for the next acquisition in the coming year.
[Intista] made the platform very easy to follow. The way [it] organizes the content to align with the actual integration process, I think it was very easy to follow. It is a great product that is highly customizable and has the structure that is needed for anyone who [wants to] jump in on it at any time.
The [course] exceeded my expectations. I think we were all 'experienced' coming into the class, but we all walked away with a much better understanding of the process which should help us collaborate better with corporate development on future integration work.
I would really recommend [it for] people who are already in the field of M&A Integration, or for those who are interested in pivoting to this field to consider the course. There are a lot of fundamental learnings one can get from this course, [including] the structure, processes, and results of integration...”
I loved it: the information, the way that everything is explained. The way that it flows all the way to the end. It is so well explained. It helps you concentrate and guide your process.
The class was comprehensive, and very practical. There's a lot of these that are theoretical and academic, and this is anything but that.
Certified Acquisition Integration Manager (CAIM)
What is included?
- Online training to take you through the entire integration: from the reasons for acquiring, to the execution and delivery of the projects
- Templates and checklists to download, including lists of necessary departmental integration tasks
- Uses our unique integration approach specifically designed for small businesses, the SSIM™ (the Small business Simple Integration Method)
- Ask an expert after you have graduated. Get the answers you need for your integration from our experts at our Integration Mastermind sessions
Applicable for people in these teams
- Integration Management Office (IMO)
- Steering Committee
- Workstreams
- Employee Onboarding
- Communications
All lessons are self-paced, On Demand and compatible with all mobile devices.
Get Recognized as an Expert
Demonstrate that you have the knowledge to be an acquisition integration manager
- Managers and colleagues recognition of your certification
- Gaining the knowledge and skills of acquisition integration increases your value to your employer
- Helps build your case for workplace compensation or promotion
Career Development
Transferable skills for your next career move
- Transfer your competence to future career contacts
- Helps you stand out from other applicants to future hiring managers
Digital Badges
Our badges are Open Badges compliant
- Digitally verifiable
- Can be shared on social media and with your community
Renewable Certification
Intista certifications have a two-year lifespan
- Recertification demonstrates your experience and understanding of acquisition integrations
- Find out more about the recertification, here
What Lessons are in the CAIM™ training?
Training contains 10 lessons of self-paced on demand content, compatible with all mobile devices.
Integration Mastermind Sessions
Meet online monthly with integration experts and ask them any questions you may have.
Get the answers you need for your integration from our experts at Intista's Integration Mastermind sessions
Why you should become a Certified Integration Manager
Having a certification will help you when you are seeking a promotion or will help you stand out from other applicants to a hiring manager
Why businesses want Certified Acquisition Integration Managers
With fixed cost training fees, you know the cost of skill-building for your business
If you already acquire and integrate, avoid the cost of inefficient methods in: staff retention, faster onboarding, improved productivity, staff engagement
Certified employees perform faster, are more engaged, and have better work outcomes*. Organizations that invest in employee training demonstrate their faith in employees and morale improves, creating more engagement, and improving productivity
*Global Knowledge's 2021 annual IT Skills and Salary Report found recruitment and retention as their leading problem, being addressed by dramatic increases in employee training. In the report, 80% of responders identify the benefits of certification include faster performance, higher engagement, and better work outcomes
Single subscription, for Self-Paced or Cohort Study
$1,995 Year 1
$250 Renewals
including recertification
Registration Fee Includes:
Upon registration, your affiliation with the AM&AA is verified to be either:
- A current member of the AMAA
- The client of a current member
Thinking about confidential discussions?
- Learn about our Private Classes
- Available in 3 delivery formats, including classroom learning
Prerequisites
- No prerequisite knowledge or advanced preparation is required to be successful with this course.
- Program Level: Intermediate
- Deliverables: QAS Self Study
Preferred Qualifications
- Hold an academic degree
- One or more professional designations (such as CPA, CFA, PMP, CIPD, CCMP, CVGA, CEPA, CMI or equivalents). Consideration is also made for professionals who have experience in the M&A, Transformation or Change Management industries
Cancellations
- Requests for refunds must be made in writing within 15 days of purchasing the course.
- No refunds will be granted after the qualified assessment has been completed. For complaints or concerns, please contact info@intista.com
As Us About Bulk Discounting!
Spring 2026 Cohort Class details
This training and certification is a combination of online, self-paced study and live (remote) cohort meetings.
A balance of self-paced and live learning
- Study 1.5 to 3.5 hours of self-paced online learning
- Cohort meetings are 45 minutes each week to review what was learned, and discuss any related topics or details that attendees have questions about
The kickoff meeting is April 10th, 2026. Begin studying any time before the first review meeting on April 17th.
Meetings schedule:
- Kick Off: Friday April 10th, 2026, 11am EDT, 4pm BST, 5pm CEST
- Welcome and kickoff
- Friday April 17th, 11am EDT, 4pm BST, 5pm CEST Week 1 review
- Lesson 1: Getting off the Ground
- Lesson 2: Different Ways to Integrate
- Friday April 24th, 11am EDT, 4pm BST, 5pm CEST Week 2 review
- Lesson 3: The Integration Organization
- Lesson 4: Integration Objectives
- Friday May 1st, 11am EDT, 4pm BST, 5pm CEST Week 3 review
- Lesson 5: Finance in Integrations
- Lesson 6: Staff Retention after an Acquisition
- Friday May 8th, 11am EDT, 4pm BST, 5pm CEST Week 4 review
- Lesson 7: Onboarding Acquired Staff
- Lesson 8: Preparing for Day 1
- Friday May 15th, 11am EDT, 4pm BST, 5pm CEST Week 5 review
- Lesson 9: Communication During Integrations
- Friday May 22nd, 11am EDT, 4pm BST, 5pm CEST Week 6 review and Final Assessment
- Lesson 10: Creating Acquisition Integration Projects
- The Final Assessment
After registering, you will receive a calendar invitation to the weekly review meetings
Frequently Asked Questions
This special class works in a group activity to reinforce the learning and discuss areas in detail. The objective is to understand the practicalities of delivering acquisition integrations.
Students will study 2 lessons per week and meet on a Friday morning to discuss. The 5 meeting will discuss 1 lesson and the Final Exam, which is a scenario-based quiz.
Yes. You will be able to show your digital badge, with 3rd party authentication that validates you are a Certified Acquisition Integration Manager
During Mastermind you will have the opportunity to learning from other professionals who are (or have) gone through similar processes on their own. Traditionally, skills in the profession were accumulated through experience gained over a series of integrations.
The Integration Mastermind is an online opportunity for integration managers of all levels to pass on their knowledge through discussion topics, anecdotes, and lessons that they have learned over the years. Most of the daily work of an acquisition integration manager is very specific to each integration, but the skills and methods are valuable to colleagues.
Each lesson has an assessment that tests you on topics taught within that module. You must pass each of these to get access to the Final Assessment. This assessment poses realistic scenarios that an Acquisition Integration Manager could be asked to resolve in practice.
No. However, to recertify as an Acquisition Integration Manager, you must demonstrate continued experience or learning in the M&A integration field. Attend Mastermind sessions can be part of that.
See here for the Recertification Process.
Want to have confidential discussions in class?
- Learn about our Private Classes
- Available in 3 delivery formats, including classroom learning










