Chartered Financial Analyst, in short CFA is one of the most coveted certifications which is meant for professionals looking for a job in CORE finance domains.

The Core Finance domains include Portfolio Management, Valuation, Corporate Finance, Equity Research and Investment Banking.

All the above are also known as High End or Elite Finance Job roles.

CFA Exam Eligibility Requirements

To enroll in the CFA Program and register for your first Level I exam, you must have an international travel passport and one of the following:

  • Undergraduate education: The candidate must have a bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree or be in the final year of your bachelor’s degree program; or
  • Work experience: Four years of professional work experience (does not have to be investment related); or
  • A combination of professional work experience and education that totals at least four years (part-time positions do not qualify, and the four-year total must be accrued prior to enrollment).

Jobs and Careers after CFA

Following are the Major Profiles that you can aim for, after getting the Charter

  • Portfolio Manager – A Portfolio manager would manage and invest the funds of the client (Both individuals or entities) in a way to generate a required rate of return, keeping in mind the risk appetite of the client.
  • Equity Research Analyst – As the name specifies, an Equity research analyst conducts research on Industry specific Equity stocks and determines if they are worth investing in, by projecting their future values.
  • Mergers and Acquisition Analyst – As the name suggests, a Mergers and Acquisition analyst (M&A analyst) plays a role when there is a Merger of two companies, or when there is an acquisition
  • Credit Analyst – As the name specifies, a credit analyst is analyses the credit worthiness of an individual or an organization. In effect, he determines whether to extend credit to a particular entity or not.

CFA Exam Curriculum

Given below is the detailed breakup of the syllabus for CFA Exam, along with weights (Percentage) assigned to each topic.

TopicsLevel ILevel IILevel II
Ethical and Professional Standards15%10-15%10-15%
Quantitative Methods10%5-10%0%
Economics10%5-10%0%
Financial Reporting and Analysis15%10-15%0%
Corporate Finance10%5-10%0%
Portfolio Management6%5-15%40-55%
Equity Investments11%10-15%10-15%
Fixed Income Investments11%10-15%10-15%
Derivatives6%5-10%5-10%
Alternative Investments6%5-10%5-10%

CFA Exam Dates

ParticularsLevel ILevel IILevel III
May 202118-24 May 202125 May – 1 June 202125 May – 1 June 2021
Aug 202113-30 Aug 202131 Aug – 4 Sept 20211 – 8 Sept 2021
Nov 202116-22 Nov 202126-30 Nov 202123-25 Nov 2021

CFA Exam Pattern

ParticularsLevel ILevel IILevel III
Format 100% MCQ100% MCQ50% item set, 50% MCQ
No. of question 240 MCQ120 MCQ10 item set 60 MCQ
Topic focus Investment toolsAsset valuationPortfolio management
DurationTwo exams on same day of three hours eachTwo exams on same day of three hours eachTwo exams on same day of three hours each

Exam Center Locations

244  Countires across the globe – Including Major countries such as India, USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada etc.

Check out the test locations in your country on the official website of CFA institute

CFA Exam Scholarships

At present, following scholarships are offered by CFA Institute:

  • Access Scholarship: For those who may be unable to afford the full price for the CFA Program enrollment and exam registration.
  • Women’s Scholarship: For women who do not qualify for other scholarships and have not yet registered for their next exam. 
  • Student Scholarship: For students who attend one of our Affiliated Universities.
  • Professor Scholarship: For full-time college or university professor.
  • Regulator Scholarship: For full-time, qualified employees of non-profit entities.
  • Media Scholarship: For full time employees of media organizations.

Salary of a CFA Charterholder  

Salary of a CFA Charterholder Varies across countries, Industries and Designations. The Average Salary of a CFA charterholder in Major countries is as follows – 

  • India – Rs 914K
  • United States – $89K
  • United kingdom – £49,355
  • Singapore – S$98K
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE) – AED 207K

Source : Payscale

Frequently asked Questions (FAQs) –

What is the Salary of a CFA?

Salary of a CFA Charterholder Varies across countries, Industries and Designations. According to Payscale, the Average Salary of a CFA Charterholder is $89,000 in US and Rs.9,14,000 in India.

What are the Job opportunities after CFA?

The CFA charterholders majorly work in profiles such as Credit Analysis, Equity Research, Mergers and Acquisitions, Portfolio Management etc.

How to get the CFA charter?

A CFA Charter is offered by the CFA Institute to a candidate who has successfully passed all the three levels of CFA exam, and has at least four years of professional investment experience.

What is the fees for CFA exam?

Initial enrollment fees for CFA Exam is $450 USD. The additional fees for each Level of CFA is $700 USD for Early Registration, $1,000 USD for Standard Registration and $1,450 USD for Late Registration.

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