Chartered Financial Analyst®

Exam specific FAQ's

• Which exam board administers the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) exams and can you book me on my exam?
  CFA Institute administers all the CFA® exams. Purchasing our study material, BPP Online™ and/or enrolling on one of our CFA courses do not mean you are registered for your exam.

  To register for your exam, you need to contact CFA Institute directly on 001 434 951 5499 or by emailing info@cfainstitute.org. Alternatively, you can download the CFA registration and enrolment pack from their website at www.cfainstitute.org. Please note that CFA Institute is based on the East Coast of America and is therefore 5 hours behind GMT.

  For further exam information and details of the various exam registration and enrolment deadlines, click here

• Is the exam cost included in your prices?
  No. The exams are an additional cost. For details of the latest costs for the CFA exams, click here

• What is the deadline for booking on the exams?
  The final deadlines for registering for the CFA exams are available by clicking here.  The earlier deadlines incur lower fees and therefore it is advisable to book as early as possible. For details of these deadlines and fees, click here

• When and how do I get my exam results?
  You can obtain your exam results from the CFA institute website. You will need your CFA® candidate number and CFA Institute username and password.
  Exam result announcements

• Where can I get a copy of the syllabus?
  The exam is based around Learning Outcome Statements (LOS's). These are reproduced in the CFA curriculum books, which you receive upon registration for the exam, and also within the Schweser books.

• Am I exempt from any part of the CFA® exams?
  There are no exemptions available for any level of the CFA program.

• What calculators can be used in the exam?
  Two types of calculators are approved by CFA Institute for the CFA exams: Texas Instruments (TI) BAII Plus and Hewlett Packard (HP) 12C (including the HP 12C Platinum). BPP Level I Study Material Package delegates receive the Texas Instruments BAII Plus calculator free-of-charge. HP 12C calculators can be purchased from www.rms-marketing.co.uk, www.amazon.com, or www.wfsleath.co.uk.

• Will my exam fee be returned if I am unable to sit the exam?
  CFA Institute has a no refund policy for candidates unable to sit the exam. Enrolment fees can also not be carried forward or transferred to another delegate.

• Will this designation help my employment prospects?
  This is a globally sought after qualification. It demonstrates a commitment to learning, ethical behaviour and professional competence, revered and respected by employers, clients and co-workers alike.

• How long does the CFA® Program take to complete?
  With the Level I exam held twice a year and the Level II and III exams held once a year, it takes a minimum of 2 1/2 - 3 years to complete the CFA Program.

• Do I need to take the IMC before the CFA?
  It is not essential to gain the IMC qualification before embarking on your Level I CFA studies. However, the IMC does provide a solid foundation and introduction to the CFA syllabus. CFA Level I takes the IMC topic areas (with the exception of UK Regulation) and examines them in more detail.
  
  As a general guide, if you are confident of your ability in areas such as quantitative methods, economics and accounting, you probably do not need to sit the IMC. If you are not confident of your abilities in these areas we recommend you review the introductory material on BPP online and consider attending the Financial Maths course and / or the Introduction to accounts course.