CFA : How to Pursue CFA

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program is a professional credential offered by the CFA Institute (formerly AIMR) to investment and financial professionals. A candidate who successfully completes the program and meets other professional requirements is awarded a "CFA charter" and becomes a "CFA charterholder."

Curriculum

The curriculum for the CFA program is based on a Candidate Body of Knowledge established by CFA Institute.  The curriculum comprises the topic areas below, and, as mentioned, there are three exams ("levels") that test the academic portion of the CFA program. All three levels have a strong emphasis on ethics, while the material differences among the exams are:

§  The Level I study program emphasizes tools and inputs, and includes an introduction to asset valuation, financial reporting and analysis, and portfolio management techniques.

§  The Level II study program emphasizes asset valuation, and includes applications of the tools and inputs (including economics, financial reporting and analysis, and quantitative methods) in asset valuation.

§  The Level III study program emphasizes portfolio management, and includes strategies for applying the tools, inputs, and asset valuation models in managing equity, fixed income, and derivative investments for individuals and institutions.

Enroll & Register

Before you enroll in the CFA Program and register for your first exam:

1. Entrance requirements:

·         Have a bachelor's (or equivalent) degree

o    or be in the final year of your bachelor's degree program at the time of registration*

o    or have four years of professional work experience (does not have to be investment related)

o    or have a combination of professional work and college experience that totals at least four years. Part-time positions do not qualify, and the four-year total must be accrued prior to enrollment.

Candidates take one exam per year over three years (assuming a pass on the first attempt). Fees of June 2013 for each exam range from $1080 to $1635, depending on the date on which the candidate registers to take the exam.

Exams are challenging, with 38% passing the Level I, 42% passing Level II, and 52% passing Level III exam in June 2012. It should be noted that Level II and III pass rates apply to candidates that must have already passed the prior level. From 1963-2012 950,221 candidates have sat for the Level I exam, with 152,035 candidates ultimately going on to pass the Level III exam, representing a weighted average completion rate of 16%. From 2003-2012, the completion rate was 14%. Completion rates may be skewed lower due to candidates' voluntarily dropping out of the CFA program and recent candidates that have yet to sit for the Level III exam. Pass percentage of Last five attempts are given below:

Year	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
2012 Pass %	38%	42%	52%
2011 Pass %	39%/38%	43%	51%
2010 Pass %	42%/36%	39%	46%
2009 Pass %	46%/34%	41%	49%
2008 Pass %	35%	46%	53%

The June 2013 exam will be given on Saturday, 1 June 2013, except in Tel Aviv, Israel (denoted by an asterisk (*)) where it will be given on Sunday, 2 June. 

In India CFA Exam Centres are Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune.

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