Is Earning the CFA Designation Worth it?

If you consider starting your journey to earn a CFA designation, you might wonder if the investment is worth the potential benefits. Becoming a charter holder requires dedication and commitment because you need to put in at least 300 hours of study for each level and pass all three levels. In addition, the CFA Institute indicates that you should put in four years of work experience in a relevant role and adhere to their code of ethics.

The CFA curriculum is challenging, with less than half level I and II candidates passing their exams. The pass rates in 2019 as provided by the CFA Institute were 41% for level I June sitting and 42% in December. Additionally, the level II pass rate was 44%, and level III was 56%—Furthermore, only one out of five candidates who begin their journey complete all three levels.

To determine whether earning the CFA charter is the right move, you should consider the benefits and challenges of pursuing a CFA designation.

Benefits of earning the CFA designation

CFA is the international gold standard for finance and investment professionals

If your goal is to advance your career in finance or investment, earning a CFA designation is an excellent investment. You enjoy global career mobility since it is recognized internationally as the gold standard for investment and finance professionals. There are more than 167,000 CFA charter holders all over the world.

The qualification is the same for all candidates globally. Consequently, your CFA charter is recognized by employers regardless of where you earned it.

Earning a CFA designation will enhance your financial career

A CFA designation will enhance your career in the financial industry whether you are already employed or want to make a change. The most popular career choices for CFA charter holders according to the CFA institute are;

➢ Financial advisors
➢ Risk managers
➢ Relationship managers
➢ Corporate financial analysts
➢ Research analysts
➢ Portfolio managers
➢ Chief level executives

Additionally, the CFA designation complements other professionals who specialize in financial services and want to broaden their expertise in the field.

CFA enhances your knowledge in finance

The CFA exams are hard to pass because the curriculum equips you with extensive graduate-level knowledge of finance. Additionally, the CFA Institute regularly updates the learning material to ensure that it remains relevant. Consequently, having a CFA designation indicates that you have the in-depth financial knowledge and technical skills that potential employers need.

CFA level I curriculum is broad and covers all relevant areas in finance. As the candidates progress to level II, the curriculum is more specialized and in-depth. Level III requires candidates to combine topic areas and have the skills to apply this knowledge to real-life situations.

CFA charter holders have unique networking platforms

The CFA Institute offers the program globally, and as a result, there are more than 164,000 CFA charter holders from 164 countries. In addition, CFA societies present a unique opportunity for you to network with other CFA charter holders.

Additionally, CFA charter holders enjoy higher salary increments compared to non-holders. Having an internationally recognized designation also gives you a better chance of working for global firms with better pay.

Challenges of earning a CFA designation

Earning the CFA designation is challenging, and the curriculum requires you to put in many hours. You will need to dedicate at least 300 hours to studying for each CFA level. Additionally, you should put in 4,000 hours of professional experience in a relevant role.

Although having a CFA charter gives you an edge over other candidates, it does not guarantee you a job, and you have to work hard like everybody else.

Start your journey to earning a CFA designation with Analystprep.com

If you want to enjoy the benefits of earning a CFA designation, you can start your journey today. To enroll in the CFA professional course, you should hold a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent or be in the final year of your undergraduate studies. You are also eligible to register for the CFA program if you have at least 4,000 hours of relevant work experience or 4,000 hours of the combined university and professional experience.

In addition, you should provide proof of 4,000 hours of full-time work experience in a position involving decision-making on investments or a product that contributes to the decision-making process. The work experience can be from before or after you did the CFA exam.

You should ensure that you are enrolled in the CFA program before you schedule an exam appointment. The exam is not on one set date; instead, there is an exam window.

To register for your CFA exam, follow two simple steps;

Step 1: Enroll for the CFA exam using the CFA website.

Step 2: Complete the registration process and process your payment. Select the “schedule your exam” option in your CFA Program tile. You will get to the Prometric scheduling tool to present you with available testing centers, dates, and times. You should receive a confirmed date and time after successful scheduling. Ensure that you complete this step before the scheduling deadline.

You can visit the CFA Institute website to download the scheduling tool instruction sheet.

Enroll in study packages from Analystprep.com and give yourself the best chance for success. Enrolling in study packages from Analystprep.com will provide additional study resources. We offer practice questions and mock exams to help you identify weak areas that you should improve on.