What is CFA?: Course Fees 2026, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

CFA full form is Chartered Financial Analyst. It's a professional certification degree which teaches students about investment analysis and other topics on finance.

CFA is offered by CFA Institute which is a US organization.

CFA degree - 

• Provides students with skills and knowledge to advance their careers in Finance
• Prepare students for today's finance market

CFA was earlier known as Association for Investment Management and Research, CFA Institute (AIMR). Through its tests and certifications, CFA Institute ensures that there are financial experts who have a high standard of excellence. CFA Institute offers an Investment Foundations Program and a Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement.

CFA curriculum comprises both academic theory topics, as well as, field practice which can be obtained via relevant work experience. CFA course helps candidates gain knowledge on investing and making money in stock market, industries, companies, and also at an individual level. 

CFA full form in Commerce is Chartered Financial  Analyst a programme that equips students to be successful and moral working professionals. CFA curriculum contains chapters on finance and related topics including Economics, Financial Report Analysis, Private Equity, Derivatives, Alternative Investment opportunities, Portfolio Management, Wealth Planning, and so on.

After passing CFA exam for three-course levels, one is designated a CFA or Chartered Financial Analyst. fees of CFA course vary from INR 11,000 to INR 3.5 lakh.

Yes you need a international travel passport to register for CFA exam.

Passport needs to be original without any scope for falsification ans make sure it is not expired. Your credentials should be same as given on your CFA Institute account.

Work experience is a mandatory requirement for obtaining the CFA charter. You need to have at least 4,000 hours of work experience and/or higher education that was acquired over a minimum of three years. If you plan to combine both to achieve the minimum hours and years, it is assumed that higher education takes 1,000 hours per year.

Professional work experience does not need to be only investment related. Paid internships/articleships are also accepted.

The average CFA salary in India differs based on the experience and the certification level obtained by you. I guess that the estimated CFA level I salary is around INR 4 LPA to 6 LPA, and if you complete CFA level II your salary will increase to around INR 7 LPA to 12 LPA. The highest CFA level III attracts hefty salary packages of more than INR 12 LPA.

The job market always offers more specialised roles and increased responsibilities to higher CFA level holders. The salary package also differs based on the specific job role, location and years of experience.

If candidates wish to become a CFA and want to sit for the exam, they must first check if they are eligible for it or not. Failure of fulfilling the eligibility will lead to cancellation of candidature.

Candidates can see a general outline of the CFA eligibility below - 

• Have UG degree. Candidates who are in the last year of their UG course can also apply. 
• Work experience of 4,000 hours or 3 years during registration.

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

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.

Candidates can prepare for the CFA certification course by reading many reference materials which can be seen mentioned below -

Note - Info is taken from other sources and can be different. 

Major subjects of CFA include Ethical and professional Standards, Quantitative Methods, Economics, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Corporate Finance, Equity Investments, Portfolio Management, Alternative Investments, Derivative and also Fixed Income.

You can have a look at detailed syllabus structure on official website.

You need minimum 300 to 350 hours to complete the CFA syllabus for each level of the CFA exam.

The exams are little difficult and there is competition because of the future career benefits that follow after the successful completion of the CFA course.

The avg. CFA fee in India can be between INR 11,000 to INR 3.5 Lakh.

Around 52 CFA institutions are there in India. Some popular ones are Financial Planning Academy, IMS Pro School, etc. are some best options. 

Candidates can see the job profiles that candidates can go for below: 

Corporate Financial Analyst

Investment Banking Analyst

Risk Manager

Portfolio Manager 

The skills that they have are in good demand.

After CFA, candidates can choose many jobs in the market like Junior Analyst, Chief Investment Officer, Investment Banker, etc. The avg salary they can earn can be upto INR 50 LPA.

Candidates can see some of the job options with high salary below -

Note: The salary is taken from Ambitionbox.com.

First, there is an educational benefit; you will learn a great deal and add a great credential to your CV. Then, there is a boost to your reputation. People in business know time and dedication it takes to earn charter. When they see you have earned it, they will likely believe you have ability, dedication, ethical grounding, and analytical skills necessary to do job in question.

There also may be financial benefits. You may see your salary increase after you've become a CFA or you may surpass other applicants who don't have this designation when competing for a new job.

operative word here is "may." Hard work, skill, luck, dedication, political savvy, and character have just as much to do with one's success in investment profession as education, so don't view charter as your golden ticket to financial paradise.

Candidates should know that salary can be different based on jobs, company, experience, etc. Average salary of a Chartered Financial Analyst is INR 4 LPA in India. 

Candidates should also know that with good experience and skills their salary can also change.

In India CFAs earn better than CAs as avg. salary for CAs is INR 7 to 15 LPA but for CFAs it is INR 9 to 40 LPA.

But it can vary based on the location, experience and also job.   

CFA full form is Chartered Financial Analyst. It is basically a globally recognized professional designation offered by CFA Institute (USA) formerly known as Association for Investment Management and Research or AIMR.

CFA program focuses on investment management, covering topics like:

• Portfolio management
• Financial analysis
• Ethics
• Economics
• Accounting

It has three levels of exams (Level I, II and III) and candidates must also have relevant work experience to earn charter.

CFA is ideal for careers in investment banking, asset management, equity research, and financial consulting. It is known for its difficulty but also for prestige it brings in finance world.

The duration of CFA course is  3 years to 4 years. It includes completing all the 3 leavels also with a study time of 300 hours per level. 

Candidates should know that they should have a minimum of 4,000 hours of work experience completed in minimum 3 years. 

You can work while studying as well so no need to worry at all.

CFA is a professional course that helps students in many ways. 

Some of main reasons to go for this course are below - 

• High Pay: CFA courses can provide exposure to students and enable them to get placements at a good package. CFA experts can earn between INR 4 Lacs to INR 15 lakh annually and earn even more in international market. 
• Career Growth: CFA professionals can get a placement at high positions in financial sector and also shape their careers by working in multi-national companies.
• Job Opportunities: investment market is expanding rapidly. Hence, there will also be an increase in job scope.
• Entrepreneurial Skills: CFA enables students to gain technical knowledge required in industry. People also take expert advice from finance professionals before commencing a business.

For Investment Banking an MBA from a top school is better for getting in because it teaches students broad business skills and strong networking while CFA gives deeper and technical financial analysis skills.

Think of MBA as a business toolkit with great connections and CFA as specialized financial expertise that makes you a technical pro in finance. 

You can have a look at the table given below for better clarity -

Applicants who want to work in financial services industry in various positions like Portfolio Managers, Risk Professionals, Financial Advisers, and so on should take CFA certification course. Chartered Financial Analyst program also lets individuals transition from traditional studies such as BCom, MCom, and so on to a professional course that provides better career opportunities.

Candidates who aspire to become entrepreneurs or start their professions as financial advisors can also enrol in CFA certification courses.

CFA Program is a professional credential offered by CFA Institute to Investment and Financial professionals. To enroll in CFA Program and register for your first Level I exam, you must have: An international travel passport and one of following:

• Undergraduate education: A Bachelor's (or equivalent) degree or be in final year of your Bachelor's degree program (you must have completed your Bachelor's degree program in order to register for Level II exam), or 
• Work experience: Four years of professional work experience (does not have to be investment related), or 
• A combination of professional work experience and education that totals at least four years (part-time positions do not qualify, and four-year total must be accrued prior to enrollment). 

Chief Financial Officer Qualifying Examination (CFO) Course prepares candidates for a career as a CFO. course is designed to ensure candidate can demonstrate required level of proficiency for financial reporting rules. CFO Qualifying Examination Course is available exclusively through CSI. 

While ACCA is more suitable for students who love challenges and want to excel in accounting careers. CFA, on other hand, is a good option for students who wish to develop skills in finance, equity, and investment.
Both Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) are prestigious global certifications. CFA is awarded by CFA Institute, and ACCA is offered by global body - Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. 
Salary packages for both courses are highly competitive. However, CFA professionals relatively earn more than ACCA professionals.

Candidates who are interested in investment analysis and portfolio management, want a global career or are ready to invest in further exams can opt for CFA. But if they wnat accounting and auditing, want a strong domestic career base and also value wide options of career options they can go for CA.

Candidates can find comparison table below to have a general understanding of differences between CFA and CA.

Note: Info is taken from other sources and can be different.

Managing studying time is more important to qualify CFA. For working banking professionals, CFA is one of best courses to pursue. However, it is a certification programme which offers good career prospects on basis of professional requirement.

You can register for the CFA Level I exam while you're in your final year of graduation and make sure that the exam window is within the 23-month duration of your graduation month. But, if you're asking about the CFA Level II exam, graduation is definitely a mandatory requirement for registration.