What Professional Certifications Can Qualify an Individual as an Accredited Investor?
As of a 2020 amendment to the SEC's definition, individuals can qualify as accredited investors based on certain professional certifications, regardless of their income or net worth. The initial certifications approved are the Series 7 (General Securities Representative), Series 65 (Licensed Investment Adviser Representative), and Series 82 (Private Securities Offerings Representative) licenses.
The SEC may designate other certifications in the future. This change acknowledges that financial sophistication is not solely determined by wealth.