Become a CFA Charterholder

To earn a CFA charter, you must have four years of qualified investment work experience, become a member of CFA Institute, pledge to adhere to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct on an annual basis, apply for membership to a local CFA member society, and complete the CFA Program.

The CFA Program is organized into three levels, each culminating in a six-hour exam. Completing the Program takes most candidates between two and five years (there is no limit to the number of times you can take each exam), but you can take as long as you need to complete the program.

The Program reflects a broad Candidate Body of Knowledge™ (CBOK) developed and continuously updated by active practitioners to ensure that charterholders possess knowledge grounded in the real world of today’s global investment industry.