CFA 2025 Registrations: Check Dates & Steps to Apply for CFA Exam, Scheduling & Rescheduling Deadline

There is no fixed time limit on the validity of the CFA Registration. Candidates will get access to the digital curriculum once your registration is complete. It is refundable within 14 days of payment. Candidates who wish to appear for the CFA exam, can register on the official website of CFA institute by filling up the registration form. The candidates must note that there is no option of offline form filling hence, they must apply online.

The registration fee for the CFA programme exam is USD 940 for early registration and USD 1,250 for standard registration. The one-time enrollment fee is USD 350. The CFA registration fee can be paid online through Credit cards, such as American Express, Diner’s Club, Discover, JCB,   MasterCard, UnionPay, or Visa or offline through wire transfer, ACH, check money order, or postal order. Receipt of payment of the fees will be emailed to the candidates.

Now, the CFA candidates residing in India can also pay the CFA fee through EMIs. CFA Institute has partnered with education loan provider Eduvanz to offer EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) option for candidates who are interested in registering for the CFA programme (interest rate to be applied). This EMI payment option can only be availed by applicants residing in India, using the “Pay by Invoice” option during the checkout process, and submitting the invoice along with the EMI payment method. The “Pay by invoice” option is available up to 40 days before the close of registration. However, availability of EMI payment is subject to approval and documentation requirements of Eduvanz.

CFA application form is available on the official website of CFA institute. Candidates can fill and pay the application fee by creating a login ID. The CFA exam schedule is announced on the official website for each level exam. Given below is a brief description on how to fill the CFA application form: 

• Visit the official website of the CFA institute
• Click on the application link
• Create a login account with your email ID.
• You will be asked to enter your name, email ID, and password, and enter a security question.
• After you’ve created an account, you can log in and fill up the form.
• Enrollment fee payment can be done online through Credit cards: American Express, Diner’s Club, Discover, JCB,   MasterCard, UnionPay, or Visa
• Or offline through wire transfer, ACH, check money order, or postal order. Receipt of payment of the fees will be emailed to the candidates.

CFA registration form can be submitted online. Students must have the following list of documents that will be required when filling the CFA registration form:

1. Valid International Travel Passport
2. Proof of education (copy of diploma, marksheet, any other relevant documents)
3. Work experience (letter of employment, salary slips, any other relevant documents)
4. Credit card/ debit card/ internet banking details

The registration fee for the CFA exam is USD 940 for early registration and USD 1,250 for standard registration. The one-time enrollment fee is USD 350. Candidates who register for the exam can pay the CFA application fee online as well as offline through the following methods:

• Credit cards:
  • American Express
  • Diners Club
  • Discover
  • JCB
  • MasterCard
  • UnionPay
  • Visa
• Alipay
• Offline payments with an Invoice (available up to 40 days before the close of registration)
  • Personal, corporate, or bank checks (i.e., certified check, cashier’s check)
  • Money or postal orders
  • ACH or wire transfer

The authorities have introduced a new payment method for candidates residing in India. CFA Institute has partnered with education loan provider Eduvanz to offer EMI option for candidates who are interested in registering for the CFA exam (interest rate to be applied). This EMI payment option can only be availed by applicants residing in India, using the “Pay by Invoice” option during the checkout process, and submitting the invoice along with the EMI payment method*. The “Pay by invoice” option is available up to 40 days before the close of registration.

Once the candidates have made the payment, they will receive a receipt of the payment on their registered email ID. Candidates can also download the payment receipt by logging in to the official website. The candidates must note that all the payments are to be made in dollars. 

Yes, there are additional fees beyond the application fee for the CFA exam. These fees include the one-time programme enrollment fee of USD 350 (approximately INR 28,574) and the exam registration fees, which vary depending on the level of the exam and the registration deadline.

The exam registration fees for the CFA exam are as follows:

• Early registration fee: USD 940 (approximately INR 77,193.83)
• Standard registration fee: USD 1,250 (approximately INR 1,02,651.38)
• Rescheduling fee: USD 250 (approximately INR 20,410)

The application fee for CFA exam can be paid online as well as offline. Candidates can pay the application fee using a credit card, Ali Pay or EMI through the Pay by Invoice option. Candidates must note that the CFA application fee can only be paid in US dollars. 

The CFA Institute has a refund policy in place for CFA exam registration fees. However, the refund amount and timing of the refund can vary depending on when you withdraw your registration. If the candidate withdraws the registration before the early registration deadline then, they may be eligible for a refund of the application fee except the processing fee. 

If the candidate decides to withdraw the registration after the early registration deadline then they will be eligible for a partial refund, but the processing fee may be higher than for early withdrawals. The condition here is that the standard registration window should be still open.

If the candidate withdraws the registration after the registration window has closed, then they will not be eligible to claim a refund of the CFA application fee. The withdrawal deadline and refund policy for each exam window are typically published on the CFA Institute's official website and in the exam-related materials.

In some cases, if the candidate cannot take the exam in the registered window, they may have the option to transfer their registration to a future exam window. This option may be available for a fee, and the availability can vary by location and exam level.

No, the CFA application form can only be filled online on the official website CFA Institute. There is no option to submit the CFA form in offline mode. Candidates will have to create an account on CFA website once the registrations begin and fill the CFA registration form through that candidate account. Candidates must also note that no other website hosts the CFA application form other than the official website of CFA Institute. The CFA registration fee can be paid online through Credit cards, such as American Express, Diner’s Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, UnionPay, or Visa or offline through wire transfer, ACH, check money order, or postal order. Receipt of payment of the fees will be emailed to the candidates.

Candidates have to simply follow the instructions to pay the fee. Candidates must note that fee payment is mandatory for CFA form filling. Until the fee is paid successfully, the form will not be accepted. Thus, candidates must check the fee payment acknowledgement slip after making the payment.

No, you can only apply for one CFA exam level at a time. The institute does not allow candidates to apply for multiple exam levels simultaneously. You will need to complete and pass one level before moving on to the next one. However, if you have already registered for an exam and would like to reschedule or cancel your registration, you can do so by visiting the CFA Institute's website and following the instructions provided.

Each level of the CFA exam builds upon the knowledge and skills acquired in the previous level. This sequential approach ensures that candidates have a strong foundation before advancing to more complex topics. It's important to note that you must meet the specific eligibility requirements for each level and pay the applicable exam registration fee for each level separately. So, to progress through the CFA exam, you need to pass each level one at a time, starting with Level I.

No, you cannot apply for the CFA Level 2 exam before completing and passing the CFA Level 1 exam. The CFA Program has a strict sequential order. This progression ensures that candidates have a solid understanding of the foundational concepts covered in Level 1 before advancing to the more complex and specialised material in Levels 2 and 3.

The CFA deferral policy is for the registered candidates who cannot sit for their scheduled exam and want to move to a new exam window. The CFA institute provides two kinds of deferrals to the candidates:

1. Emergency Deferral: To avail this deferral students need to fulfil a set of eligibility criteria. If they match the criteria then they will be given an emergency deferral for their scheduled exam without any cost. Candidates need to provide documentation to support the claim for an emergency deferral.
2. Paid Deferral: The paid deferral can be availed once per paid exam for USD 399 up until the deadline. When the candidate purchases a deferral, they may postpone their exam appointment for up to 12 months, depending on their exam level and appointment availability. 

The CFA exam is conducted in various cities across the world. Some of the cities in India where the CFA exam is conducted are listed below:

Candidates appearing for the CFA exam must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

• They must hold an international travel passport
• They should live in the participating country since CFA institutes are not operational in some countries
• They should have at least 3,000 hours of qualified work experience or a combination of education and work experience for a total of four years.
• They should either be in the final year of the bachelor’s degree or have completed the degree
• They should pass the English proficiency test for reading comprehension and to formulate answers related to complex financial scenarios

Here is the eligibility criteria for CFA Level 1: Bachelor's degree or equivalent. An exemption can be made where you can write the level 1 if you a) are in the final year of your undergraduate programme, b) have four years of professional experience, or c) have a combination of both, equating to at least four years. Hence, you need to complete your graduation first in order to be eligible for the CFA Exam.