The head to toe guide to get a CFA ® Charter

A CFA Charter! Doesn’t that sound good? I would love to be certified with a title like that. It isn’t every day you have such good salutations and credentials added to your name. A course that is so easy to pursue, and which offers you a great career in finance. Well, well… it might seem very confusing but as a matter of fact it is very easy to understand.

I will explain it to you.

A CFA charter is a certification provided by the CFA Institute that signifies that you have one of the most recognised and respected investment designation in the world.

Step 1: Gather all the knowledge you can about the program. (Don’t worry I am not going to make you work so hard I will tell you all about it.)

Eligibility: The very first thing that you need to know is that whether you are eligible to take the exams or not. To be eligible for the exams you must:

• Have an international travel passport and

• An undergraduate education: A Bachelors (or equivalent) degree. You can be in your final year too while registering for the exam. OR

• Work experience: Four years of professional work experience. OR

• A combination of both: Education and professional work experience that meets the minimum of 4 years. (Part time jobs and positions do not qualify).

EXAMS: There are three levels of exams namely, level 1 level 2 and level 3.

• Level I CFA®: It focuses on Investment Tools whose learning focus lies on knowledge and comprehension. It consists of 240 multiple choice questions split among 3 hour sessions. It has no negative marking for an incorrect answer. It takes place twice a year in June and December.

• Level II CFA®: It focuses on Asset Valuation whose learning focus lies on application and analysis. It consists of 120 multiple choice questions with no negative markings. It takes place in June

• Level III CFA®: It focuses on Portfolio Management whose learning focus lies on synthesis and evaluation. : It consists of 8-12 essay type questions that are conducted in the morning and 10 multiple choice questions that are conducted in the afternoon. The candidate is to appear for both. It takes place in June.

Jobs that you can go for: It is very important to know what the end result of this certification is. It bags one of the best jobs in the world. It gives you designations such as:

• Portfolio Manager

• Research Analyst

• Chief Level Executive

• Consultant

• Financial Advisor

• Corporate Financial Analyst

• Risk manager

• Relationship Manager

Step 2: Be ready to take the exams in English.

Step 3: Become a member of the CFA Institute. Enrol yourself for the CFA program by paying a one-time enrolment fee of US $450 (INR: 28,309.70).

Step 4: You have to pay a fee when you register yourself for the first level of exams. It is always better to register yourself well in time for the examinations. Keep yourself updated on the CFA exam Dates.

Level I

CFA® examination Fees: The exam registration fee does not have a constant value. It has three stages:

Step 5: Find a good training provider that covers the CFA course and trains you to achieve the CFA charter.

Note: To get the CFA Charter you need to have four years of professional work experience in the investment decision-making process (accrued before, during, or after participation in the CFA Program).

Step 6: Prepare well for the exams dedicating at least 300 study hours for each level. Be thorough with the whole course once before a month, after which start your revisions.

Step 7: Clear the CFA level 1 exams in either June or December. And apply for the level 2 exams instantly.

Step 8: Study and prepare well for the CFA level 2 exams dedicating at least 300 hours of study. Clear the level 2 exams in June. After which you should apply for the level 3 exams.

Step 9: Clear the level 3 exams in June.

Step 10: Join the CFA Institute as a regular member.

In 10 simple steps, you can attain the CFA Charter. Now all you need to do is make up your mind. Check out some of these exam tips which will help you in your exams. All the best!