CFA 2025 Registration (Ongoing): Last Date, Steps to Apply, Scheduling & Rescheduling Deadline

CFA registration form can be submitted online. Students must have the following list of documents that will be required when filling the CFA registration form:

1. Valid International Travel Passport
2. Proof of education (copy of diploma, marksheet, any other relevant documents)
3. Work experience (letter of employment, salary slips, any other relevant documents)
4. Credit card/ debit card/ internet banking details

The registration fee for the CFA exam is USD 940 for early registration and USD 1,250 for standard registration. The one-time enrollment fee is USD 350. Candidates who register for the exam can pay the CFA application fee online as well as offline through the following methods:

• Credit cards:
  • American Express
  • Diners Club
  • Discover
  • JCB
  • MasterCard
  • UnionPay
  • Visa
• Alipay
• Offline payments with an Invoice (available up to 40 days before the close of registration)
  • Personal, corporate, or bank checks (i.e., certified check, cashier’s check)
  • Money or postal orders
  • ACH or wire transfer

The authorities have introduced a new payment method for candidates residing in India. CFA Institute has partnered with education loan provider Eduvanz to offer EMI option for candidates who are interested in registering for the CFA exam (interest rate to be applied). This EMI payment option can only be availed by applicants residing in India, using the “Pay by Invoice” option during the checkout process, and submitting the invoice along with the EMI payment method*. The “Pay by invoice” option is available up to 40 days before the close of registration.

Once the candidates have made the payment, they will receive a receipt of the payment on their registered email ID. Candidates can also download the payment receipt by logging in to the official website. The candidates must note that all the payments are to be made in dollars. 

Yes, there are additional fees beyond the application fee for the CFA exam. These fees include the one-time programme enrollment fee of USD 350 (approximately INR 28,574) and the exam registration fees, which vary depending on the level of the exam and the registration deadline.

The exam registration fees for the CFA exam are as follows:

• Early registration fee: USD 940 (approximately INR 77,193.83)
• Standard registration fee: USD 1,250 (approximately INR 1,02,651.38)
• Rescheduling fee: USD 250 (approximately INR 20,410)

The application fee for CFA exam can be paid online as well as offline. Candidates can pay the application fee using a credit card, Ali Pay or EMI through the Pay by Invoice option. Candidates must note that the CFA application fee can only be paid in US dollars. 

The CFA exam is conducted at 400 locations globally. Candidates can follow the steps mentioned below to know how to choose the CFA test centre location according to their preference:

1. Register for the CFA exam
2. Schedule the exam appointment
3. View the test centre options along with available seating
4. Choose your preferred test centre location as per the planned CBT test centre locations
5. Once the location is confirmed, keep checking daily for new appointments that could be added.

Candidates should note the appointments must be scheduled by the deadline (typically 60 days before the start of the exam window). If the candidate does not see available appointments in their desired exam location, they can continue to check back through the scheduling function for availability to be added in the coming days. Appointments are based on a first-come, first-served basis.

CFA Institute has a refund policy for the CFA registration fee. However, the refund amount can depend on when the candidate withdraws the registration. If the withdrawal request is made before the early registration then it may be accepted. But even in this case, the processing fee will not be refunded. But, if the refund request is made after the early registration deadline, students may get a partial refund only. In this case, the standard registration window should still be open.

If the candidate withdraws the registration after the registration window has closed, then they will not be eligible to claim a refund of the CFA application fee. Students also have the option of requesting a deferral. 

No, the CFA application form can only be filled online on the official website CFA Institute. There is no option to submit the CFA form in offline mode. Candidates will have to create an account on CFA website once the registrations begin and fill the CFA registration form through that candidate account. Candidates must also note that no other website hosts the CFA application form other than the official website of CFA Institute. The CFA registration fee can be paid online through Credit cards, such as American Express, Diner’s Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, UnionPay, or Visa or offline through wire transfer, ACH, check money order, or postal order. Receipt of payment of the fees will be emailed to the candidates.

Candidates have to simply follow the instructions to pay the fee. Candidates must note that fee payment is mandatory for CFA form filling. Until the fee is paid successfully, the form will not be accepted. Thus, candidates must check the fee payment acknowledgement slip after making the payment.

The CFA deferral policy is for the registered candidates who cannot sit for their scheduled exam and want to move to a new exam window. The CFA institute provides two kinds of deferrals to the candidates:

1. Emergency Deferral: To avail this deferral students need to fulfil a set of eligibility criteria. If they match the criteria then they will be given an emergency deferral for their scheduled exam without any cost. Candidates need to provide documentation to support the claim for an emergency deferral.
2. Paid Deferral: The paid deferral can be availed once per paid exam for USD 399 up until the deadline. When the candidate purchases a deferral, they may postpone their exam appointment for up to 12 months, depending on their exam level and appointment availability. 

The following test locations for the CFA exam will be opened from November 2025 session:

• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Rabat, Morocco
• Maputo, Mozambique
• Mbabane, Swaziland
• Gurgaon/Gurugram, Haryana, India
• Nashik, Maharashtra, India
• Manipal, Karnataka, India

No, you cannot apply for the CFA Level 2 exam before completing and passing the CFA Level 1 exam. The CFA Program has a strict sequential order. This progression ensures that candidates have a solid understanding of the foundational concepts covered in Level 1 before advancing to the more complex and specialised material in Levels 2 and 3.

Here is the eligibility criteria for CFA Level 1: Bachelor's degree or equivalent. An exemption can be made where you can write the level 1 if you a) are in the final year of your undergraduate programme, b) have four years of professional experience, or c) have a combination of both, equating to at least four years. Hence, you need to complete your graduation first in order to be eligible for the CFA Exam.

Candidates appearing for the CFA exam must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

• They must hold an international travel passport
• They should live in the participating country since CFA institutes are not operational in some countries
• They should have at least 3,000 hours of qualified work experience or a combination of education and work experience for a total of four years.
• They should either be in the final year of the bachelor’s degree or have completed the degree
• They should pass the English proficiency test for reading comprehension and to formulate answers related to complex financial scenarios

The CFA exam is conducted in various cities across the world. Some of the cities in India where the CFA exam is conducted are listed below: