What is CFA: Full Form, Duration, Admission 2025, Colleges, Syllabus, Salary & Scope

CFA full form is Chartered Financial Analyst. It's a professional certification program that teaches students about investment analysis and other areas of finance. The CFA program is offered by the CFA Institute, a US-based organization. The CFA program is designed to:

• Provide students with the skills and knowledge to advance their careers,
• Demonstrate a candidate's skills and knowledge,
• Prepare students for today's market.

CFA was earlier known as the Association for Investment Management and Research, CFA Institute (AIMR). Through its tests and certifications, the CFA Institute ensures that there are financial experts who have a high standard of excellence. The CFA Institute offers an Investment Foundations Program and a Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement.

The CFA curriculum comprises both academic theory topics, as well as, field practice which can be obtained via relevant work experience. The CFA course helps candidates gain knowledge on investing and making money in the stock market, industries, companies, and also at an individual level. 

CFA full form in Commerce is Chartered Financial  Analyst a programme that equips students to be successful and moral working professionals. The CFA curriculum contains chapters on finance and related topics including Economics, Financial Report Analysis, Private Equity, Derivatives, Alternative Investment opportunities, Portfolio Management, Wealth Planning, and so on.

After passing the CFA exam for three-course levels, one is designated a CFA or Chartered Financial Analyst. The fees of the CFA course vary from INR 11,000 to INR 3.5 lakh.

Yes. You need a valid international travel passport to register for the CFA exam. The passport needs to be original, without any scope for falsification, make sure it is not expired, and your credentials should match with those in your CFA Institute account.

Work experience is a mandatory requirement for obtaining the CFA charter. You need to have at least 4,000 hours of work experience and/or higher education that was acquired over a minimum of three years. If you plan to combine both to achieve the minimum hours and years, it is assumed that higher education takes 1,000 hours per year.

Professional work experience does not need to be only investment related. Paid internships/articleships are also accepted.

The average CFA salary in India differs based on the experience and the certification level obtained by you. I guess that the estimated CFA level I salary is around INR 4 LPA to 6 LPA, and if you complete CFA level II your salary will increase to around INR 7 LPA to 12 LPA. The highest CFA level III attracts hefty salary packages of more than INR 12 LPA.

The job market always offers more specialised roles and increased responsibilities to higher CFA level holders. The salary package also differs based on the specific job role, location and years of experience.

Not at all, there is no such stream restriction for pursuing CFA. You can opt for CFA if you hold a bachelor's degree in any stream. A strong hold over the concepts of finance, statistics, or economics can serve as a strong foundation for the CFA journey, but it is not a compulsory requirement.

Holding a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent), enrolling in their final year of college, having four years of relevant professional work experience, or four years of combined work and college experience, fulfills the admission requirements for professional conduct. Hope this helps.

Follow the steps mentioned below to learn how to fill out the CFA application form.

• Visit the official website of the CFA institute
• Click on the application link or copy https://login.cfainstitute.org/LoginApplication.
• Create a login account with the candidate’s email ID.
• The candidate will be asked to enter their name, email ID, and password, and enter a security question.
• After they’ve created an account, they can log in and fill up the form.
• They can pay the enrollment fee online through Credit cards: American Express, Diner’s Club, Discover, JCB,  MasterCard, UnionPay, or Visa
• The CFA registration fee can also be paid offline through wire transfer, ACH, check money or postal orders. Receipt of payment of the fees will be emailed to the candidates.

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 major subjects of CFA include Ethical and professional Standards, Quantitative Methods, Economics, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Corporate Finance, Equity Investments, Portfolio Management, Alternative Investments, Derivative, and Fixed Income. You can have a look at the detailed syllabus structure on the official website.

You need at least 300 to 350 hours to complete the CFA syllabus for each level of the CFA exam. The exams are quite difficult, and there is cutthroat competition because of the future career benefits that follow after the successful completion of the CFA course.

Candidates can prepare for the CFA 2025 certification course by reading many reference materials mentioned below-

Note- The information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

It is estimated that joining CFA colleges in India can be affordable as most of the colleges have a total tuition fee of less than INR 1 lakh. Listed below are some of the colleges along with their total tuition fees:

The average CFA fee in India ranges between INR 11,000 to INR 3.5 Lakh. There are around 52 CFA institutions in India. Among them, Financial Planning Academy, IMS Pro School, etc., are some best options.

You cannot do that without passing the CFA Level 1 exam. The CFA programme goes step by step. This is done to make sure that you have a good knowledge of the foundational concepts covered in Level 1 before moving on to Levels 2 and 3.

One of the most well-known financial courses in India is CFA, which leads to positions as a Corporate Financial Analyst, Investment Banking Analyst, Risk Manager, Portfolio Manager, and Research Analyst. The skills that these professionals possess are in greater demand.

Some of the highest paid CFAs are as follows:

• Junior Analyst: INR 6 Lacs to INR 10 Lacs per year
• Chief Investment Officer: INR 40 Lacs to INR 1 crore+ per year
• Investment Banker: INR 10 Lacs to INR 30 Lacs per year
• Portfolio Manager: INR 18 Lacs to INR 40 Lacs per year

First, there is an educational benefit; you will learn a great deal and add a great credential to your CV. Then, there is a boost to your reputation. People in the business know the time and dedication it takes to earn the charter. When they see you have earned it, they will likely believe you have the ability, dedication, ethical grounding, and analytical skills necessary to do the job in question.

There also may be financial benefits. You may see your salary increase after you've become a CFA or you may surpass other applicants who don't have this designation when competing for a new job.

The operative word here is "may." Hard work, skill, luck, dedication, political savvy, and character have just as much to do with one's success in the investment profession as education, so don't view the charter as your golden ticket to financial paradise.

The average salary of a Chartered Financial Analyst is INR 4 LPA in India. With relevant experience and skills, you can get higher positions and hikes in your salary package.

In India, CFAs earn better than CAs as average salary for CAs is INR 7 to 15 LPA, while for CFAs it is INR 9 to 40 LPA. However, it can vary based on the location, experience and designation.   

Those who hold a charter as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) can use their expertise in a variety of roles across the international finance sector. Prominent for their dedication to elevating the bar for excellence, they are in high demand as experts in investment management.

CFA full form is Chartered Financial Analyst. It is basically a globally recognized professional designation offered by the CFA Institute (USA) formerly known as the Association for Investment Management and Research or AIMR.

The CFA program focuses on investment management, covering topics like:

• Portfolio management
• Financial analysis
• Ethics
• Economics
• Accounting

It has three levels of exams (Level I, II and III) and the candidates must also have relevant work experience to earn the charter.

The CFA is ideal for careers in investment banking, asset management, equity research, and financial consulting. It is known for its difficulty but also for the prestige it brings in the finance world.

The general CFA course duration is 3 years to 4 years, which includes the completion of all 3 levels with a recommended study time of 300 hours per level. It is important for you to note that if you wish to use the CFA Charterholder designation, you should have a minimum of 4,000 hours of relevant work experience, completed in a minimum of 3 years. You can work while studying as well, so no need to worry at all.

To complete the CFA registration online, you need to have some important documents in place to upload at the time of filling out the application form. You can find the list below:

• Valid International Travel Passport (Original and Current)
• Proof of education (copy of diploma, mark sheet, or any other relevant documents)
• Work experience (letter of employment, salary slips, or any other documents)
• Credit card/debit card/internet banking details

CFA is a professional course that helps students in several ways. Some of the main reasons to pursue this course are:

• High Pay: CFA courses can provide exposure to students and enable them to get placements at a good package. CFA experts can earn between INR 4 Lacs to INR 15 lakh annually and earn even more in the international market. 
• Career Growth: CFA professionals can get a placement at high positions in the financial sector and also shape their careers by working in multi-national companies.
• Job Opportunities: The investment market is expanding rapidly. Hence, there will also be an increase in the job scope.
• Entrepreneurial Skills: CFA enables students to gain the technical knowledge required in the industry. People also take expert advice from finance professionals before commencing a business.

You can have a look at the table given below for better clarity -

The table below shows the various specializations offered by the best CFA colleges in India along with their number of colleges:

Applicants who want to work in the financial services industry in various positions like Portfolio Managers, Risk Professionals, Financial Advisers, and so on should take the CFA certification course. The Chartered Financial Analyst program also lets individuals transition from traditional studies such as BCom, MCom, and so on to a professional course that provides better career opportunities.

Candidates who aspire to become entrepreneurs or start their professions as financial advisors can also enrol in CFA certification courses.

CFA Program is a professional credential offered by CFA Institute to Investment and Financial professionals. To enroll in the CFA Program and register for your first Level I exam, you must have: An international travel passport and one of the following:

• Undergraduate education: A Bachelor's (or equivalent) degree or be in the final year of your Bachelor's degree program (you must have completed your Bachelor's degree program in order to register for the Level II exam), or 
• Work experience: Four years of professional work experience (does not have to be investment related), or 
• A combination of professional work experience and education that totals at least four years (part-time positions do not qualify, and the four-year total must be accrued prior to enrollment). 

The Chief Financial Officer Qualifying Examination (CFO) Course prepares candidates for a career as a CFO. The course is designed to ensure candidate can demonstrate the required level of proficiency for financial reporting rules. The CFO Qualifying Examination Course is available exclusively through CSI. 

While ACCA is more suitable for students who love challenges and want to excel in accounting careers. CFA, on the other hand, is a good option for students who wish to develop skills in finance, equity, and investment.
Both Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) are prestigious global certifications. CFA is awarded by the CFA Institute, and ACCA is offered by the global body – Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
The salary packages for both courses are highly competitive. However, CFA professionals relatively earn more than ACCA professionals.

 Candidates can find the comparison table below to have a general understanding of the differences between CFA and CA.

The candidates, who are interested in investment analysis and portfolio management, want a global career, or are willing to invest in further exams, can opt for CFA. However, if they prefer accounting and auditing, want a strong domestic career base, and value diverse career options, they can go for CA.

Note- This information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

The CFA Level I exam comprises a total of 180 multiple-choice questions to be answered in two sessions of 135 minutes each. There are 90 MCQ questions for each session. The first session includes topics such as professional standards, financial reporting, and quantitative methods, while the second session includes questions about corporate finance, fixed income, derivatives, alternative investments, and portfolio management. This exam is given twice a year, once in June and once in December.

You can register for the CFA Level I exam while you're in your final year of graduation and make sure that the exam window is within the 23-month duration of your graduation month. But, if you're asking about the CFA Level II exam, graduation is definitely a mandatory requirement for registration.