The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program is a graduate level self-study program offered by the CFA Institute

CFA Institute

CFA Institute is headquartered in the United States of America at Charlottesville, Virginia, with offices in Hong Kong and London. Formerly known as the Association for Investment Management and Research , CFA Institute awards the Chartered Financial Analyst designation...

 (formerly AIMR) to investment and financial professionals. A candidate who successfully completes the program and meets other professional requirements is awarded a "CFA charter" and becomes a "CFA charterholder." To become a charterholder a candidate must satisfy the following requirements.

• Complete the CFA Program (mastery of the current CFA curriculum and passing a series of three six hour examinations)

• Possess a bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...

 (or equivalent) from an accredited institution

• Have four years (48 months) of qualified work experience (or a combination of education and work experience acceptable by the CFA Institute)

• Become a member of the CFA Institute and apply for membership to a local CFA member society

• Adhere to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct


Independent of any other requirements for becoming a charterholder, the CFA Program takes an average of four years for candidates to complete.
The CFA charter is a qualification for finance and investment professionals, particularly in the fields of investment management

Investment management

Investment management is the professional management of various securities and assets in order to meet specified investment goals for the benefit of the investors...

 and financial analysis

Financial analysis

Financial analysis refers to an assessment of the viability, stability and profitability of a business, sub-business or project....

 of stocks, bonds and their derivative assets.