The CFA Charter is the gold standard for investment professionals. To earn a CFA charter, an individual must:
The CFA Program is extremely rigorous. It is organized into three levels, each culminating in a six-hour exam. Completing the Program takes most candidates between two and a half and five years and covers some 8,000 pages of material. On average, a successful charter candidate will spend 5 years in the Program. The Program is self-paced, so candidates who successfully complete the program show tremendous discipline, commitment and a thorough knowledge of the profession. The Program reflects a broad Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) developed and continuously updated by active practitioners to ensure that charterholders possess knowledge grounded in the real world of today’s global investment industry. The CFA Program has been compared to the rigor of a master's degree. Many have even said the letters “CFA” can mean more than the letters “MBA.” Over the past two decades, the CFA charter has overtaken the MBA as the “must-have” credential in the investment business. Click here to read more about the value of a CFA Charter.
Investors are well-served by seeking out investment advisors holding the CFA designation. An investment advisor who has the CFA Charter has completed an extensive knowledge-based curriculum with practical experience in the industry. But, perhaps even more importantly, the CFA Charter is synonymous with the highest ethical standards of behavior. The financial crisis created an environment of mistrust and doubt around the investment profession. The CFA designation brings along with it a symbol of trust. Each year, CFA charterholders reaffirm in writing their adherence and commitment to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
Functional cookies , which are necessary for basic site functionality like keeping you logged in, are always enabled .
Allow analytics tracking. Analytics help us understand how the site is used, and which pages are the most popular. Read the Privacy Policy to learn how this information is used.