CFA Course Fees Structure : 2024 Exam Dates, Scholarships, Course Durations

If you are an aspiring finance professional, you would have definitely dreamed of exploring the field of investment banking or hedge fund management. The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) course can be your entry point to a rewarding career in finance, not only in India but also in other countries of the world. This course is offered by the CFA Institute, which is a US-based not-for-profit professional organisation and is recognised globally as the leading provider of financial education. If you are planning to pursue this, here are cfa course fees and other details you should be aware of.

CFA Course Fees Structure

• CFA Institute Fees: The fee structure of the amount payable to the CFA Institute is quite simple.
• Early Registration Fee: USD 940 (approximately INR 78,881.54)
• Standard Registration Fee: USD 1,250 (approximately INR 1,03,791)
• Examination fees for CFA Level 1: USD 350 (approximately INR 29,061)
• Examination fees for CFA Level 2:  USD 350 (approximately INR 29,061)
• Examination fees for CFA Level 3: USD 350 (approximately INR 29,061)

In addition to this, you will also need to invest a significant amount in other learning resources such as coaching classes, study materials and the appropriate calculator. 

1. Additional Resources

Upon registration, the CFA Institute gives you access to their original study materials online. Some students are comfortable with relying on just these resources, so if you choose to not buy more books, this cost will not be applicable to you.

However, if you are planning to buy some additional materials written by well-known authors, it can cost you up to USD 1500 for each level. This can be quite helpful in devising a productive study plan for each level of CFA.

You will also need to invest in the right calculator for your CFA exams because there are only two types of calculators that you can use – BA II Plus and HP12C. Either of these would easily cost up to USD 50.

2. Coaching Fees

When preparing for CFA, signing up for a good coaching class can be game-changing. Most coaching classes only offer to coach for CFA Level 1 but some may also offer for CFA Level 2 and CFA Level 3. 

The total cost payable to the CFA Institute will be between USD 2550 to USD 2850 which comes up to approximately INR 1.9 to 2.1 lakhs. This cost includes the cost of the study material required for your exam preparation.

At Zell Education, we offer training for CFA Level 1 for anywhere between INR 20,000 to INR 75,000.

CFA 2024 Exam Dates

CFA Level 1 Exam Dates 2024

CFA Level 2 Exam Dates 2024

CFA Level 3 Exam Dates 2024:

Zell Education provides a comprehensive program for students seeking to obtain a certification in CFA for all 3 levels. Register now!

CFA Scholarships

The CFA Institute also offers a few scholarships for candidates to encourage them to take up the CFA course. Eligible students will be able to register for the CFA exam at a reduced price based on the scholarship they get. With these scholarships, you can save up to 650 to 750 dollars during registration. 

You can check your eligibility for a CFA scholarship with the help of the Scholarship Assessment Toll available on the CFA Institute Website. 

Let’s take a look at the different scholarships that are offered – 

• Access Scholarship
  The Access Scholarship Program is specifically designed to help students who can not afford the CFA Course fees and who absolutely cannot appear for this examination if they do not get this scholarship. With this scholarship, the student will only have to pay USD 300 for the exam registration fee which is usually USD 1,000. And also, the enrolment fee is completely waived off, & you only need to pay a minimal balance.
• Women’s Scholarship
  The Women’s Scholarship Program, as the name suggests, aims to encourage women to sign up for the CFA program. Under this scholarship program, you will only have to pay USD 400 as exam registration fees. The enrolment fee of USD 350 is completely waived off as well. 
• Student Scholarship
  This scholarship is for candidates that are enrolled with a University affiliated with the CFA Institute.  With this scholarship, you can expect a waiver of USD 400 on the enrolment fee and you are only required to pay USD 400 during registration instead of the USD 1,000.
• Professor Scholarship
  The Professor Scholarship Program is aimed at candidates that are currently working as professors at a college or a university. Such candidates should be teaching subjects like finance, economics, business, or any topic from the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK™). Under the Professor Scholarship Program, you are only required to pay USD 400 as your registration fees.
• Regulator Scholarship
  A Regulator Scholarship is designed for those working in a company that is responsible for overlooking the standards of practice or business conduct of the investment management industry. This could include financial regulators, central banks, securities commissions, stock exchanges, SROs and/or government entities that have an agreement with the CFA Institute. With this scholarship, your registration fees are reduced to USD 400.

For more information on CFA Scholarships and how to apply for them, we highly recommend you to check our blog How to apply for CFA Scholarships.
If you need some more information about these scholarships, you can also check out the same on the CFA Institute Website. 

Can I Study CFA for free? 

There are some students who prefer to study for Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program on their own without signing up for any coaching classes. This will help you in saving your expenses for CFA, however, it may hinder your study preparations quite a bit.

CFA is one the most preferred finance course for after BBA and BCom students.

It is important to have some expert guidance when you are preparing for a professional course like CFA. When you sign up for a coaching class, you get exclusive access to their resources such as exclusive study materials, recorded lectures, regular mock exams and tests as well as 1-on-1 doubt solving sessions with faculty members and experts.

CFA Exam Attempts

The CFA exams can be attempted during specific exam windows during the year. The exam windows for all 3 levels of CFA are as follows:

CFA Level 1: Feb, May, Aug, Nov

CFA Level 2: Feb, Aug, Nov

CFA Level 3: May, Aug

Ideally, it should take around 3 years to clear all 3 levels of CFA with an adequate amount of preparation. 

The CFA Institute has bent its rules for the better with effect from November 1, 2022. Students with two years left in their undergraduate studies can now sign up and take the CFA Level 1 exam.

The Chartered Financial Analyst is a globally recognized qualification in the field of finance and investment. Planning to become a CFA? If you have recently completed your graduation or are appearing for your final semester, you may be eligible to become a CFA. We highly recommend checking out our Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) course.

FAQ

Can CFA be done by only commerce graduates?
No, the CFA course can be pursued by graduates from any field i.e Science, Commerce or Arts.

Which job profiles can you work for after CFA?
After CFA, you may get hired for job profiles like Investment Banker, Stockbroker, Financial Analyst, and Portfolio Manager.

What is the starting salary after completing CFA Level 3?
After completing CFA Level 3, the starting salary that can be expected is anywhere between INR 6 to 8 lpa on average.

Satyamedh Nandedkar, a seasoned finance professional, holds ACCA, CA, US CMA & CS credentials. With 10+ years of experience, he’s a master ACCA tutor, IFRS trainer, adept in global financial standards, and a trusted advisor in navigating complex financial landscapes.