CFA Exam Dates 2026 (Out): Check Registration, Admit Card & Result Dates

The CFA syllabus covers topic areas related to investment management, financial analysis, ethics, and professional standards. Main topics are:

1. Ethics and Professional Standards

2. Quantitative Methods:

3. Economics:

4. Financial Reporting and Analysis

5. Corporate Finance

6. Fixed Income

7. Equity Investment 

8. Derivatives

9. Alternative Investments

10. Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning

These main topic areas are present across all three levels of the CFA exam. The complexity increases with each passing level. 

Follow steps mentioned below to learn how to fill out CFA application form.

• Visit official website of CFA institute
• Click on application link or copy https://login.cfainstitute.org/LoginApplication.
• Create a login account with candidate’s email ID.
• candidate will be asked to enter their name, email ID, and password, and enter a security question.
• After they’ve created an account, they can log in and fill up form.
• They can pay enrollment fee online through Credit cards: American Express, Diner’s Club, Discover, JCB,  MasterCard, UnionPay, or Visa
• CFA registration fee can also be paid offline through wire transfer, ACH, check money or postal orders. Receipt of payment of fees will be emailed to candidates.

CFA programme is a rigorous one. Students should have a good preparation plan to clear CFA Level 2 exam. Students should devote at least 300 hours on an average for each level of the CFA exam

Candidates who have appeared for the CFA Level 1 exam and have received their result can apply for the Level 2 CFA exam. The CFA Level 2 exam for the May exam registration window is open and the last date to apply is February 12, 2026. For August session, the last date is May 6, 2026. 

November CFA Level 2 registration last date is August 11, 2026.  

Following test locations for CFA exam were opened from November 2025 session:

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

• Open CFA website
• Login to CFA account
• Select CFA program
• Proceed past initial scheduling tools
• Search by preferred city. 
• Select a date range. Students should choose a wide date range

Each level of the CFA exam has its own criteria and passing score. CFA institute sets a MPS which changes with each cycle for the newly registered candidates. Some years test takers will receive an overall CFA score of 65% and fail, and in some years they may receieve a score of 62% and pass. The scoring plays a role in deciding the overall pass score in CFA exam. In general, an overall score of 70% and above will help you pass the CFA exam.

1. Level I Pass Rate: 40% to 45%. 

2. Level II Pass Rate: 40% to 45% as well.

3. Level III Pass Rate: 50% to 60%.

After passing the Level 3 of the CFA exam, candidates should register officially with the CFA Institute as the CFA Charterholder. This will open doors to various opportunities. Students can opt for jobs such as Investment manager, hedge fund manager, investment banking analyst, corporate financial analyst, stock analyst, etc. 

Students can also opt for further certifications such as Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA)

CFA Level 2 format is unique as compared to other levels:

1. CFA Level II has item sets, known as vignettes which checks students abilities to apply knowledge rather than just recall facts and definitions. 
2. Exam will be conducted in morning and afternoon sessions.
3. Each session will be for 2 hours and 12 minutes, with an optional break.
4. Each set will have 4 or 6 MCQs.
5. Total duration will be 4 hours and 24 minutes
6. Level II CFA exam includes 21 item sets in total.
7. Level II exam builds upon knowledge tested in Level I. It focuses on application of that knowledge to specific real world scenarios