The CFA® Program
If you’re serious about a career in finance, the CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst®) program can help you achieve your place among the elite in the profession.
Administered by CFA Institute, the CFA® Program offers you a graduate level curriculum and examination program intended to expand your working knowledge and practical skills relating to investment decision-making. Successful completion of the program and its requirements will earn you the CFA designation, one of the profession’s most valued credentials.
Program levels
The CFA program is divided into three “levels,” each of which builds on the preceding one and concludes with a full-day (six-hour) examination. Candidates must pass one examination before advancing to the next higher level, but may repeat an examination if they fail to pass.
Program curriculum
The CFA Program curriculum is drawn from a broad Candidate Body of Knowledge™ (CBOK™), that reflects the investment profession's current theory and practice with emphasis on asset valuation and portfolio management. The primary purpose of the CFA Program is to provide a fundamental knowledge of global investment management principles.
Curriculum topics
As a postgraduate program, the course work and examinations go beyond a fundamental, introductory level and are designed for those who are prepared for master’s-level work. CFA Program topics by functional area include:
- Ethical and professional standards
- Tools and inputs
- Quantitative methods
- Economics
- Financial statement analysis
- Corporate finance
- Asset valuation
- Equity investments
- Fixed income
- Derivative investments
- Alternative investments
- Portfolio management
For more details, including CFA Program registration and enrollment information, click on any of the links to the right.
