Do you know that there are over 200,000 CFA charter-holders worldwide across 160+ countries? Read this blog to know all necessary details about the CFA courses such as eligibility and syllabus.
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The Chartered Financial Analyst course (CFA) offers the designation that is a globally recognized professional certification awarded by the CFA Institute, signifying expertise in investment analysis, portfolio management, and financial markets and is highly sought after in the investment industry.
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The benefits of pursuing a CFA course and gaining a CFA designation are:
Thus, this was all about the CFA designation and its benefits. Moreover, to become a master of any course, it is beneficial to get familiar with the CFA course syllabus and pattern. Thus, read the next section to know about the same.
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The exam pattern of the CFA course is prescribed by the CFA institute. The exam is conducted in a computer-based mode across various centers. Moreover, there are three levels in this exam, CFA level I, II & III. So, let us discuss the syllabus of this exam based on each level.
Go through the table below to learn the CFA course syllabus for the level 1 exam.
|
Topic |
Weightage (Percentage) |
Sub-topics |
|
Ethical and Professional Standards |
15-20 |
Global investment performance standards, Standard of Professional Conduct |
|
Quantitative Methods |
6-9 |
Discounted Cash Flow Applications, Time, Value and Money, Statistical Concepts and Market Returns |
|
Economics |
6-9 |
Firm and Market Scheme, Demand and Supply Analysis, Aggregate Output, Prices, Economic Growth |
|
Financial Reporting and Analysis |
11-14 |
Income statement, Drafting Balance Sheet, Financial Reporting Mechanics and Standards |
|
Corporate Issuers |
6-9 |
Cost of Capital, Capital Budgeting, Corporate Ownership Structures, Business Models |
|
Portfolio Management |
8-12 |
Basics of Portfolio Planning and Construction |
|
Equity Investments |
11-14 |
Market Efficiency, Security Market Indices, Market Organization and Structure |
|
Fixed Income |
11-14 |
Fixed Income Markets, Fixed Income Securities, Introduction to Fixed Income Valuation |
|
Derivatives |
5-8 |
Derivative Markets and Instruments |
|
Alternative Investments |
7-10 |
Mutual Funds and Real Estate |
Refer to the table below to know the syllabus of the Chartered Financial Analyst Course level 2 exam.
|
Topic |
Wieghtage |
|
Ethical and Professional Standards |
15 |
|
Quantitative Methods |
15 |
|
Economics |
10 |
|
Financial Reporting and Analysis |
15 |
|
Corporate Finance |
10 |
|
Portfolio Management |
10 |
|
Equity Investments |
15 |
|
Fixed Income |
15 |
|
Derivatives |
5 |
|
Alternative Investments |
5 |
The table below shows the syllabus of the Chartered Financial Analyst Course level 3 exam.
|
CFA Course Syllabus Level 3 | |
|
Behavioral Finance |
Capital Market Expectations |
|
Asset Allocation & Related Decisions in Portfolio Management |
Derivatives & Currency Management |
|
Fixed-Income Portfolio Management |
Equity Portfolio Management |
|
Alternative Investments for PM |
Private Wealth Management |
|
PM- Institutional Trading, Performance Evaluation, and Manager Selection |
Cases in Portfolio Management and Risk Management |
|
Ethics and Related Topics | |
These are the level-wise exam syllabi for the CFA course. You can check the topics and prepare for the exam accordingly. Moreover, read the section below to learn about CFA exam eligibility and fees.
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Here, you will read about the CFA course fees and eligibility criteria. Thus, you can take the exam as long as you:
1. Have a bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree, or be in the final year of your bachelor’s degree at the time of registration, or have four years of qualified, professional work experience or a combination of work/college experience that totals four years.
2. Meet the professional conduct admission criteria.
3. Have a valid international travel passport.
4. You can take the CFA exam in English.
Now, here, you will read the detailed breakdown of the CFA course fees. It is important to know that the amount is paid in US Dollars.
These are the fees and eligibility-related details of the Chartered Financial Analyst course. You can study this course in some of the top global universities for more benefits. Thus, use our university finder tool, which uses AI to evaluate your profile and show the most suitable results. Furthermore, opting the global universities opens the door success to and better career opportunities after a CFA. Therefore, read about them in the next section.
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After pursuing the CFA course, there are multiple high-paying job roles available for the candidates. These are:
1. Investment Banking: CFA charter-holders can work as investment bankers, managing fundraising and corporate finance.
2. Risk Management: They can work in the risk management field, evaluating financial risks and developing strategies for the same.
3. Research Analysis: You can work in analyzing the stocks, bonds, and other investments, providing insights for investment decisions.
4. Portfolio Management: They can develop and implement investment strategies, managing the investment portfolios for the clients.
5. Wealth Management: CFA professionals can help clients with wealth management strategies, including planning and investment advice.
This was all about the CFA course. Here, you read about the designation of the Chartered Financial Analyst, further followed by the pattern and syllabus of this course. Moreover, the eligibility criteria and fees are also mentioned in this blog. So, it is beneficial for the students to pursue this course for a successful career. However, if you face any issues or have further confusion, then reach out to our study abroad consultants for expert guidance. They will help you with issues related to overseas education and will make your dream of studying abroad a reality.
Useful Tool: Course Finder
The full form of CFA is Chartered Financial Analyst.
The CFA program typically takes 3 to 4 years to complete, including studying for and passing all three levels, and accumulating the required 4,000 hours of relevant work experience over a minimum of 36 months.
The pass rates for the CFA exams vary by level, with Level I having a 10-year average of around 41%, Level II around 45%, and Level III around 52%.
After completing the CFA course, you can pursue diverse careers in finance, including investment banking, portfolio management, equity research, risk management, and financial consulting.
Neither a CFA nor an MBA is inherently better. It totally depends on the individual and their career aspirations and interests.
Yes, the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation is globally recognized, opening doors to opportunities in investment management roles worldwide.
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