Enhance your career prospects through certified training covering private equity, private wealth management and real estate. In this topic, you’ll explore quantitative concepts and techniques used in financial analysis and investment decision-making. We present descriptive statistics for conveying important data attributes, such as central tendency, location, and dispersion, and introduce characteristics of return distributions.
Level III specialized pathways
- Connect and discover new opportunities by becoming part of our active global community and professional societies.
- Stand out by developing expertise in sought-after skills in the global financial industry.
- We’ll provide you with a framework to support ethical decision-making and examine CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct and Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®).
- Become equipped to make complex investment decisions with access to proprietary, high-quality learning materials and study tools.
You’ll also learn about the use of basic equity valuation models and global equities, which are important for meeting longer-term growth and diversification objectives. Enhance your exam preparation with an optional practice pack (paid), featuring additional practice questions and mock exams from CFA Program authors. Access the official program curriculum and study tools like practice questions, mock exams, flashcards, and more. By submitting this form, I agree and consent to receive communications and updates about CFA Institute products and services. I have reviewed and acknowledged the Privacy Notice along with the Terms and Conditions therein. Candidates may also purchase the optional practice pack, which provides additional practice questions and mock exams.
- You can also download the Learning Ecosystem app to your mobile device.
- Here are the key things to do alongside studying the CFA exam curriculum and completing your Practical Skills Module.
- These are Private Wealth, Private Markets, and Portfolio Management.
- The CFA Program curriculum and exams are shaped by our practice analysis process, which gathers insights from top industry professionals to ensure that the content reflects current investment practices.
- The CFA Program is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete and excel in today’s complex and evolving investment industry.
CFA Program Level I exam guide
Yes – we have recently introduced specialized pathways for the Level III CFA exam, so you can choose a path that aligns with your interests and career aspirations. These are Private Wealth, Private Markets, and Portfolio Management. Each pathway has a ‘common core’ of curriculum, supplemented by specialized content. You will be notified about your CFA exam result within 5-8 weeks after your exam window closes.
Real-life Practical Skills Modules (PSM)
Your digital badge shows your commitment to professionalism and continuous learning as you help build a strong and vibrant community of finance professionals. Here’s how it compares to other respected credentials in the investment management industry. To earn the CFA Charter, you must pass all three CFA exams, complete 4,000 hours of relevant professional work experience over a minimum of three years, and become a CFA Institute member. Assess your experience and download the CFA Charter factsheet for detailed requirements and steps. In all CFA exam levels, there will also be time allocated to a tutorial of the exam software, a break, and a survey at the end.
multiple choice questions
The core of the CFA Program curriculum teaches you the fundamentals of investment tools, valuing assets, portfolio management, and wealth planning. But the best way to develop your knowledge is to put it to the test. In this topic, we explain the fundamentals of portfolio and risk management, including return and risk measurement and portfolio planning and construction. We examine the needs of individual and institutional investors along with the range of available investment solutions.
CFA exam policies
To learn more about different finance careers, see investment industry career paths. Within the financial system, there are many people-facing roles that provide services to facilitate successful saving and investing for both individuals and companies. Explore below to get familiar with the finance industry and investment management jobs for CFA Charterholders.
Your result will be either “pass” or “fail”, along with a score report (CFA exam Level I and II only). Develop, implement, and manage an institutional investor portfolio, drawing from lessons learned in the CFA curriculum and using advanced Excel skills. Build a three-statement financial model showcasing an understanding of business issues, design best practices, and technical skills. Equip yourself with the skills to thrive in the evolving finance industry with a Chartered Financial Analyst credential. A USD 250 rescheduling fee will apply if you need to reschedule your exam appointment within your exam window. Choose exam level and preferred exam period to view available registration windows.
Private debt continues growing amid gathering headwinds
Broaden your knowledge of sustainable investing with learning topics that cover ESG, climate investing, and sustainable investment strategies. Yes – the CFA Program curriculum is available as a set of six volumes. Registered candidates can purchase these by signing in to candidate resources and selecting the print curriculum option. Learn about the analysis of fundamental concepts of supply and demand for individual consumers and firms. This section of the curriculum concludes with coverage of the business cycle and its effect on economic activity.
Learning programs
The Learning Ecosystem (LES) is cfa job opportunities your all-in-one mobile and desktop study companion, with a wealth of information and tools to aid your CFA exam preparation. Total exam fees for all three levels of the CFA Program range from USD 3520 – 4,600, depending on whether you register during the early or standard registration window. The fees displayed on our website do not include local taxes – if these need to be collected, they will be added during the payment process. We want to empower more people to advance their careers and reach the highest standards of professional excellence. Our scholarships help us achieve that by making the CFA charter more accessible.
The capital asset pricing model is used to identify optimal risk in portfolios. You’ll also examine primary financial statements and be provided with a general framework for conducting financial statement analysis. In this part of the curriculum, you’ll build the conceptual framework for understanding the basic derivatives and derivative markets. You’ll then be introduced to essential features and valuation concepts for forward commitments such as forwards, futures, swaps, and contingent claims.
The focus of this topic is ethics, related challenges to ethical behavior, and the role ethics and professionalism play in the investment industry. We’ll provide you with a framework to support ethical decision-making and examine CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct and Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®). Here, you’ll explore the characteristics of equity investments, security markets, and indexes and explain how to analyze industries, companies, and equity securities.
The CFA charter is a globally recognized mark of distinction and is highly sought after by top financial institutions. In fact, the CFA charter is preferred by nearly 90% of executive and senior level investment management positions. There are three main job types in finance that a CFA Charterholder might do.
Once completed, you can become a globally recognized Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) – a prestigious distinction that differentiates you in the competitive finance industry. This topic defines and explores alternative investments, including hedge funds, private equity, real estate, commodities, and infrastructure. You’ll learn about the characteristics they have in common and the use of alternative investments for diversification and higher returns. Explore the curriculum, practice questions, mock exams, adaptive study plans, games, flashcards, and Practical Skills Modules. The CFA Program Learning Ecosystem has been updated for the February 2026 exam. We continuously evolve the CFA Program curriculum through a process called practice analysis.
Plan your route to the test center in advance so you can avoid any delays. We also recommend familiarizing yourself with the hardware and software prior to the exam. Part of the process for registering your CFA exam is scheduling an exam date. It’s important to note that exam appointments at testing centers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Here are the key things to do alongside studying the CFA exam curriculum and completing your Practical Skills Module.
