CFA Institute Self Service (2024)

FAQs

Is CFA level 1 hard? ›

How Hard is the CFA Level I Exam? Level I of the CFA Program usually has the lowest pass rate which could imply it's the most difficult exam in the program. However, this will not apply to every candidate because each person will have different strengths and weaknesses.

The letters "CFA" cannot be added after your name until you have passed all three exams and earned CFA Charterholder status.

If you have any questions or want more information, please email our Corporate Secretary at [email protected].

Go to https://profile.cfainstitute.org/personal?event=Login to change your email with the CFA society.

Three months can be enough time, but typically it takes a candidate at least six months to prepare for the Level I CFA Exam. UWorld's course is designed to be used for a more traditional six-month timetable but can be adjusted to meet each candidate's needs.

CFA exams are considered the most challenging out there—even harder than medical school or law school exams—with pass rates under 50%.

Very few candidates pass all three CFA exams on their first attempt. CFA Institute estimates it takes the average successful candidate four years to complete the CFA Program. So failing one level, if not two, makes you an average candidate.

Having said that Fixed Income, Derivatives, and FSA are the hardest level 1 CFA exam topics, it's time to rank all of the 10 level 1 topics by difficulty. Difficulty is a subjective criterion but this hard-to-easy topic hierarchy is meant as a guideline to help you approach CFA exam topics sensibly.

No. Your results do not expire.

The CFA charter is one of the most respected designations in finance and is widely considered to be the gold standard in the field of investment analysis.

Should I put CFA after my name? ›

If you are an active charterholder in good standing:

Include your designation after your name. (For example: “Jane Doe, CFA”) Include your charterholder status in the certifications or education section of your resume as “CFA^® charterholder, CFA Institute.” You may also include the date your charter was issued.

You can include the CFA designation after your name on your resume. For example: “ John Smith, CFA” excluding the ® symbol. You can include your CFA designation in the certification or education sections of your resume and must include the ® symbol. For example: “CFA® charterholder, CFA Institute.”

All volunteers have the option to use a free 'CFA' email address. You can find the email address by going to 'Update your Details' on Brigades Online – it is referred to as the LiveID Email and is generally formatted '[email protected]' (eg [email protected]).

Paid deferral: You pay a CFA exam rescheduling fee, and your original registration fee is not refunded. Emergency deferral: No additional fee is required, but your original registration fee is still non-refundable. However, the CFA Institute may allow you to re-register without paying another full registration fee.

Renew your membership each year to take advantage of member benefits, demonstrate your commitment to ethical investment management, and continue to strengthen the industry.

Passing the CFA Level I exam, which has around a 40% pass rate over the past years, requires following a solid study plan. Successful Level I candidates spend more than 300 hours preparing for the exam on average.

Is passing CFA Level 1 a big deal? Absolutely, passing the CFA Level 1 Exam is a significant achievement.

The one thing standing between you and success on the Level I CFA^® Program exam is hard work. CFA Institute recommends you aim to spend at least 300 hours preparing for the Level I exam.