CFA Registration: How Smooth is the Process in 2024

Q: When can I register for CFA level 1?

Here are the CFA level 1 registration days: Examination window Early registration Normal registration August 26/10/21-09/02/22 10/02/22-03/05/22 November 01/02/22-03/05/22 03/05/22-09/08/22 Please note that the February and May level 1 exam registration windows have expired.

Hi everyone, welcome to another exciting and well-packaged CFA registration article.

Today’s article will discuss everything about CFA registration, including registration deadlines, examination fees, and much more.

We guarantee that your CFA exam registration journey will run smoothly without any hitches by the end of this exciting and interactive piece.

In particular, we will closely look at the following:

Step-by-step CFA registration process

The advantages of early exam registration

CFA registration and exam dates

If you’re wondering how do I register for CFA, then continue reading.

Let’s jump in!

Table of Contents

Introduction to CFA Registration

If you’re planning on tackling the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification exam, then knowing the CFA exam date, registration window, and deadline is critical.

Having a grip on the important exam dates and timelines will allow you to better prepare and schedule the exams into your busy calendar.

Unfortunately, thousands of CFA applicants miss the CFA exam annually by not correctly following the CFA registration procedure and lacking information on exam dates.

The CFA exam schedule is tight, and ignoring the exam window will spell disaster for your CFA certification dreams.

Additionally, not knowing the CFA registration process and resources may lead you to miss out on some fantastic CFA benefits like scholarships.

Fortunately, today’s article will act as a definitive guide to your registration journey by providing a simple step-by-step registration process, important CFA exam dates, and much more.

Step by step CFA registration guide

The first step to the CFA accreditation journey is exam registration which some candidates may find challenging.

This article will provide a comprehensive but straightforward registration process that will get you registered quickly without any fuss.

Here is the step-by-step process on how to register for CFA level 1.

1. Check that you meet the registration criteria

The CFA designation is a prestigious title with stringent requirements.

Before registering for the CFA program, you must satisfy the following minimums:

Educational

You need a bachelor’s degree or be in the final year of a degree program in an accredited University to register for the CFA program.

The CFA registration window must be 11 months or less before the graduation month for university students.

Experience requirements

You need at least four thousand hours of relevant professional work experience in a paid internship, personal business, or a professional setup.

Please note that the work experience doesn’t have to be investment-related.

Alternatively, you can have both higher education certification and the required experience.

Have a valid passport

According to the CFA institute, every CFA program applicant must have a valid international travel passport.

You will need to produce a valid passport together with an access slip to enter an examination center.

Live in a participating country

Check the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) policy document to confirm that your country of residence is not blacklisted by the US due to sanctions or other reasons.

Blacklisted countries like Syria, Cuba, and North Korea cant participate in the CFA program.

English Fluency

CFA exams are only offered in English.

CFA candidates must prove their proficiency in English before registration.

Satisfy the professional conduct admission requirement

All CFA applicants are required to fill out and satisfy a professional conduct statement form before registering for the CFA program exam.

If you meet the basic registration minimums, you can proceed to the second registration step.

Registration

There are two main ways to register for the CFA exam.

Online Registration

All candidates need to open an account and register for the CFA level 1 enrollment on the official CFA Institute website at cfainstitute.org.

The CFA institute registration will allow you to create an applicant’s account and continue with the CFA exam application process.

For online CFA enrollment, follow these steps.

Step one

Visit the official CFA Institute website and click on the “program” tab.

Step two

Select the register option in the drop-down menu.

Step three

Once on the registration page, scroll down to the “enroll and register” link.

Step four

After accessing the link, log in with your registered email.

If you don’t have an account, hit the “create account option”.

Step five

Access your account and fill in all relevant fields including address details, preferred exam center, passport number, and employment status.

Ensure that you check all the required policy boxes.

Step six

Pay the required CFA exam registration fee as stipulated by the CFA Institute.

Please note that there is a one-time registration fee if you’re applying for the CFA level one exam.

Step seven

After paying all the required fees, self-schedule your exam appointment and exam day within the CFA exam window.

Self-scheduling also allows you to choose your preferred test center.

Registration Form

You can sign up for CFA via mail if you prefer.

In this case, the registration process is still the same.

Create an account on the CFA official website
Print all the necessary application form
Fill out all the CFA forms and post them via mail to the official CFA institute address

The CFA recommends using courier services when submitting registration forms to avoid loss and efficient tracking of the package.

Please note that when applying for the CFA exam program you also have an opportunity to apply for CFA scholarships.

These scholarship programs help financially challenged applicants who believe they have the skills, potential, education, and experience required to make a good CFA charter holder.

There are five types of CFA scholarships which include:

1. Women’s scholarship

2. Professor scholarship

3. Student scholarship

4. Regulator scholarship

5. Access scholarship

Advantages of early CFA registration

In every CFA exam cycle, you get two options to register for the CFA exam; the early bird and standard registration times.

Using early bird registration is a favorite for many CFA applicants due to the benefits it offers over standard registration.

Here are a few benefits of CFA early registration.

1. It’s cheaper

Early CFA exam registration is an excellent investment decision that will save you hundreds of dollars.

The standard registration fee is USD1000, while the early registration fee is USD700 for each CFA exam level.

The USD900 difference in the three exam levels is significant considering that the CFA program is quite costly.

By saving some money on the CFA exam registration, you can use the excess as a rescheduling fee or purchase study tools that you will need to prepare for the CFA exam properly.

2. Prepare more adequately for the exam

Early CFA exam sign-up means that you’ll have access to the excellent CFA institutes exam learning tools earlier than regular chartered financial analyst registration candidates.

The CFA curriculum is quite extensive with diverse topic areas, and having early access to the CFA learning aids will help you prepare for the exam more effectively.

3. Confidence boost

Early CFA admission is critical for boosting your confidence.

You mentally commit to the exam process through early registration CFA, which significantly changes your mental frame.

Research from 300 hours.com shows that early registration candidates generally perform better than regular registration candidates in the CFA exams.

Let’s switch gears and look at CFA registration dates, and deadlines.

CFA registration dates and deadlines

The CFA institute runs an annual CFA exam register which sets the examination dates and deadlines.

The CFA register comprises exam windows, exam dates, and registration deadlines that guide applicants in their registration journey.

CFA level 1 exam dates

Here are the complete CFA level 1 exam dates, including deadlines and exam windows.

The best thing about the CFA exam is choosing the exam window that works for you during your CFA sign-up.

Here are the exam registration dates for 2022:

Month	May	August	November
Early registration	01/11/2021	26/10/21-09/02/22	01/2/22-03/05/22
Standard registration	02/11/21-08/02/22	10/2/22- 03/5/22	03/5/22-09/08/22
Registration deadline	08/02/22	03/05/22	09/08/22
Scheduling window	20/07/21-08/02/22	26/10/21-03/05/22	01/02/21-17/08/21
Scheduling deadline	16/02/22	25/05/22	17/08/22
Rescheduling deadline	16/04/22	23/07/22	15/09/22
Exam date	17-23, May 2022	23-29, August 2022	15-21 November 2022

CFA level 2 exam registration dates

The CFA level 2 registration depends on how well you perform in the level 1 exam results.

The CFA level 2 register only contains candidates who show proficiency in their level exams.

Failing to meet the minimum exam pass rate for level 1, means that your CFA level 2 sign-up will be on hold until you pass CFA level 1.

Check out the CFA level 2 exam timetable below:

Month	August	November
Early registration	26/10/21-01/02/22	03/05/22
Standard registration	26/10/21-03/05/22	01/02/21-09/08/21
Registration deadline	03/05/22	09/08/22
Scheduling window	26/10/21-25/05/22	01/02/21-17/08/21
Scheduling deadline	25/05/22	17/08/22
Rescheduling deadline	30/07/22	22/10/22
Exam date	30/08/22-03/09/22	22-26, November 2022

The final paper in the three-level CFA examination is the CFA level 3 exam.

CFA level 3 examination dates

For investment professionals pursuing the CFA certification, the CFA level 3 exam is vital since it mainly deals with applying investment principles in everyday business operations.

Check out the CFA level 3 exam timetable below:

Month	May	August
Early registration	04/11/21	09/02/22
Standard registration	20/07/21-08/02/22	01/12/21-03/05/22
Registration deadline	08/02/22	03/05/22
Scheduling window	20/07/21-16/02/22	01/12/21-25/05/22
Scheduling deadline	16/02/22	25/05/22
Rescheduling deadline	23/04/22	30/07/22
Exam date	24-26, May 2022	30/08/22-06/10/22

Continue reading for the answer to how much is CFA registration fee?

CFA program costs

The total CFA program costs vary depending on your exam registration timing.

You have two options to register for the CFA exam; early and standard registration.

The two options have different fees and different registration deadlines.

Early registration cost breakdown

One-time enrollment fee – USD 450
Level 1 registration fee – USD 700
Level 2 registration fee – USD 700
Level 3 registration fee – USD 700

Standard registration cost

One time enrollment fee – USD 450
Level 1 registration fee – USD 700
Level 2 registration fee – USD 700
Level 3 registration fee – USD700

Conclusion

Earning the CFA inscription on your CV is a game-changer.

Not only does the CFA charter open doors to better career opportunities, but you’re guaranteed higher remuneration.

Research from 300hours.com shows that a CFA charter-holder will earn at least 53% more than a CFA level 1 candidate.

Other research shows that CFA charter-holders generally earn more than non-CFAs.

The first step towards achieving this vital industry certification is to register for the CFA exam.

CFA exam registration allows you access to excellent learning resources from the CFA Institute and the opportunity to sit the exam.

We hope that our comprehensive guide will help make your registration experience both pleasant and successful.

Continue reading for our in-depth answers to some of our reader’s Frequently Asked Questions.

Cheers

FAQs

How long is CFA registration valid?

Your CFA account records will last indefinitely after signing up for the CFA exam.

This provides you with ample time to attempt the CFA exam, which has a pretty low pass rate.

You’ll need to pay a rescheduling fee to sit for an exam out of your exam registration year.

Does CFA registration include books?

Registering for CFA grants you access to a free CFA exam curriculum ebook with all ten subjects.

You will also access the CFA learning ecosystem that contains study sessions, study plans, practice questions, and mock exams.

At a fee of $299, you can access the curriculum in hard copy.

When does CFA registration open?

Exam window Level I exam Level ii exam Level iii exam
February Normal registration 13/05/21-26/10/21 13/05/21-26/10/21
May Normal registration 20/07/21-08/02/22 20/07/21-08/02/22
August Normal registration 26/10/21-03/05/22 26/10/21-03/05/22 01/12/21-03/05/22
November Normal registration 01/02/22-09/08/22 01/02/22-09/08/22

When can I register for CFA level 1?

Here are the CFA level 1 registration days:

Examination window Early registration Normal registration
August 26/10/21-09/02/22 10/02/22-03/05/22
November 01/02/22-03/05/22 03/05/22-09/08/22

Please note that the February and May level 1 exam registration windows have expired.

How much is CFA registration?

As per official CFA institute rates, CFA registration for the three exam levels will cost between USD2550 and USD3450, depending on the registration time.

Early registration costs USD700 per level and a one-time enrollment fee of USD450.

Normal registration costs USD1000 per level plus a USD450 one-time enrollment fee.

What comes with CFA registration?

Registering for the CFA course grants you access to a free e-book of the complete CFA curriculum.

You can also access the CFA institute’s learning ecosystem that contains excellent study materials, mock exams, tutorials, practice questions, study plans, and a list of CFA-approved prep course providers.

What is CFA exam eligibility?

CFA exam eligibility refers to requirements candidates must satisfy to sit the CFA exam.

CFA exam eligibility includes:

– a bachelor’s degree/ final year of a degree program
– 4000 hours of work experience OR degree plus work experience
– have a valid international travel visa
– English fluency
– live in a participating country

How to cancel the CFA exam?

According to the CFA institute’s exam guidelines candidates have until five days before the exam window to withdraw their exam application.

These are the exam withdrawal steps:

– Access the CFA website
– Click the “manage your exam” tab
– Select the “withdraw from exam option”
– Click the “confirm” checkbox
– Select “withdraw from the exam”

How to pay for CFA level 1?

The official CFA level 1 exam and registration fee payment options include:

– Credit cards – Visa, Express, DinersClub, Discover, JCB
– Cheques (business, personal, corporate)
– Alipay
– Money or postal orders
– ACH/ wire transfer
– Invoice (early registration only)
– Use the “Pay By Invoice” method when not using a credit card or Alipay

How long does registration take for CFA?

Online CFA exam registration is instant once you fill out the application form correctly and pay all the CFA registration fees.

The registration period for candidates applying via a registration form depends on the postage period.

The CFA Institute recommends online applications because they are faster and more secure.

How to apply for CFA?

To apply for the CFA program, follow these steps:

– Visit the official CFA institutes registration page and click “program”
– Select the register option
– Click on “enroll and register”
– Login or create a new account
– Fill in the required information
– Pay the required CFA fees
– Schedule your exam

How much is the CFA registration fee?

According to the official CFA registration rates, CFA program registration may cost anything between $2550 to $3450 without any additional learning resource cost.

Early registration costs $2100 plus a one-time enrollment fee of USD450, while standard registration costs $3450, including the one-time registration fee.

How much is CFA early registration fee?

According to the CFA institute’s official CFA exam fees, early registration costs USD700 across all the exam levels.

To qualify for early bird rates, you need to beat the CFA early registration deadlines.

Additionally, the one-time enrollment fee of USD 700 is constant, whether on standard or early registration.