The Chartered Financial Analyst ® (CFA®) Program - administered by CFA Institute-offers you a graduate level curriculum and examination program designed to expand your working knowledge and practical skill relating to investment decision making. Each of the program’s three level builds on the preceding one and, and each conclude with a full day (six hours) examination. Candidate must pass one examination before advancing the next higher level, but are permitted to repeat an examination if they fail to pass.

The CFA® Program curriculum

The CFA program curriculum is drawn from a board Candidate Body of Knowledge TM (CBOKTM) that reflects the investment profession’s current theory and practice with emphasis on asset valuation and portfolio management. The primary purpose of CFA Program is to provide a fundamental knowledge of global investment management principles. Over the course of program, the curriculum covers he entire discipline of investment valuation and portfolio management.

To keep the curriculum current, CFA Institute periodically surveys chartered holders to determine the skills and knowledge essential to investment-related functions. The results are analyzed and integrated into one of the CBOK’s four major areas. Which are further divided into ten primary curriculum topics. These are further divided into study sessions.

CFA Program topics by functional area                                   

Registration and enrollment

Qualifications for candidacy

• Prospective CFA candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent OR be a college/university senior (in the final year of studies) scheduled to receive a beholder’s degree OR meet experience requirements (below).

• Prospective candidates without a degree may qualify if they have four years of acceptable professional work experience OR a combination of four years of college/university and professional work experience. (Experience need not be investment related. Summer, part-time, and internship positions do not qualify.)

Registration process

• If you are a prospective candidate, you may register for your level I exam once you have paid your initial enrollment fee to CFA Institute. In addition to initial fee, you are required by CFA Institute to pay a registration fee for each exam.

• You may register for only one exam at a time, and can not register for a subsequent exam until you have received your passing result for the prior level result.

• Early registration can save your money because CFA Institute imposes a graduate fee schedule that increase over time. To assist you in getting started, consult the accompanying checklist and recommended timelines.

• The most important step: start early.

Important Note: Candidates are expected to have a basic knowledge of typical, college-level introductory material in economics and basic accounting. If you do not meet this expectation, CFA Institute provides a list of suggested preliminary readings.

CFA® Charterholder requirements.

CFA Institute has established the following requirements for securing your CFA chartered.

• Successful completion of level I, II and III CFA Examinations.

• At least four years of acceptable professional work experience related to the investment decision making process, which may be accrued prior to, during, or after completing your examinations.(Visit cfainstitute.org for details about work experience requirements.)

• Become a member of CFA Institute and apply for membership with a CFA Institute society. (See “Member Resources” at cfaistitute.org.)

• Agree to comply with, among other things, the CFA Institute conditions, requirements, policies and procedures defined in CFA Institute Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Code of Ethics, and Standards of  Professional Conduct.

Once a charted holder, you submit a Professional Conduct Statement and pay membership dues annually.

Get started today.

To help you begin your CFA exam preparation, Stalla has developed the accompanying chart of key planning tasks and deadlines. Visit stalla.com for more information and guidance on how you can prepare for peak information and guidance on how you can prepare for peak performance on your CFA exam.

Exam topics.

The topics emphasized on each exam are similar but very in focus and depth by program level. The major topics of focus and approximate weights by percent for each topic area are shown in the accompanying chart. The depth of your mastery of the curriculum will also be tested differently at each level.