The head to toe guide to get a CFA ® CharterApril 23, 2015 career, CFA, CFA Charter, CFA Course, cfa exam, CFA exam dates, CFA Exam fees, CFA Fees, CFA level 1, cfa level 2, CFA Level 3,CFA membership

A CFA Charter! Doesn’t that sound good? I would love to be certified with a

title like that. It isn’t every day you have such good salutations and credentials

added to your name. A course that is so easy to pursue, and which offers you

a great career in finance. Well, well… it might seem very confusing but as a

matter of fact it is very easy to understand.

I will explain it to you.

A CFA charter is a certification provided by the CFA Institute that signifies that

you have one of the most recognised and respected investment designation in

the world.

Step 1: Gather all the knowledge you can about the program. (Don’t worry I

am not going to make you work so hard I will tell you all about it.)

Eligibility: The very first thing that you need to know is that whether you are

eligible to take the exams or not. To be eligible for the exams you must:

• Have an international travel passport and

• An undergraduate education: A Bachelors (or equivalent) degree. You can

be in your final year too while registering for the exam. OR

• Work experience: Four years of professional work experience. OR

• A combination of both: Education and professional work experience that

meets the minimum of 4 years. (Part time jobs and positions do not qualify).

EXAMS: There are three levels of exams namely, level 1 level 2 and level 3.

• Level I CFA®: It focuses on Investment Tools whose learning focus lies on

knowledge and comprehension. It consists of 240 multiple choice questions

split among 3 hour sessions. It has no negative marking for an incorrect

answer. It takes place twice a year in June and December.

• Level II CFA®: It focuses on Asset Valuation whose learning focus lies on

application and analysis. It consists of 120 multiple choice questions with no

negative markings. It takes place in June

• Level III CFA®: It focuses on Portfolio Management whose learning focus

lies on synthesis and evaluation. : It consists of 8-12 essay type questions

that are conducted in the morning and 10 multiple choice questions that are

conducted in the afternoon. The candidate is to appear for both. It takes place

in June.

Jobs that you can go for: It is very important to know what the end result of

this certification is. It bags one of the best jobs in the world. It gives you

designations such as:

• Portfolio Manager

• Research Analyst

• Chief Level Executive

• Consultant

• Financial Advisor

• Corporate Financial Analyst

• Risk manager

• Relationship Manager

Step 2: Be ready to take the exams in English.

Step 3: Become a member of the CFA Institute. Enrol yourself for the CFA

program by paying a one-time enrolment fee of US $450 (INR: 28,309.70).

Step 4: You have to pay a fee when you register yourself for the first level of

exams. It is always better to register yourself well in time for the examinations.

Keep yourself updated on the CFA exam Dates.

Level ICFA® examination Fees: The exam registration fee does not have a constant

value. It has three stages:

Stage USD (US $) INR( )₹Early $630 ₹ 39,633.58

Standard $825 ₹ 51,901.12

Late $1210 ₹ 76,121.64

Step 5: Find a good training provider that covers the CFA course and trains

you to achieve the CFA charter.

Note: To get the CFA Charter you need to have four years of professional

work experience in the investment decision-making process (accrued before,

during, or after participation in the CFA Program).

Step 6: Prepare well for the exams dedicating at least 300 study hours for

each level. Be thorough with the whole course once before a month, after

which start your revisions.

Step 7: Clear the CFA level 1 exams in either June or December. And apply

for the level 2 exams instantly.

Step 8: Study and prepare well for the CFA level 2 exams dedicating at least

300 hours of study. Clear the level 2 exams in June. After which you should

apply for the level 3 exams.

Step 9: Clear the level 3 exams in June.

Step 10: Join the CFA Institute as a regular member.

In 10 simple steps, you can attain the CFA Charter. Now all you need to do is

make up your mind. Check out some of these exam tips which will help yo