CFA Full Form
The Full Form of CFA is the Chartered Financial Analyst. As an international, non-profit professional association, the CFA Institute offers this professionally recognized certification to assess and certify financial experts. The CFA Full Form is one of the most sought-after career opportunities for investment professionals, regarded a gold standard in the area of investment research, and a globally renowned distinction in finance.
What is the full form of CFA?
The following factors may help in deciding whether to pursue CFA as a career option or not:
- The certification is recognized globally, with more than 167,000 professionals holding it. In addition to being recognized in more than 30 countries, it provides access to a wide variety of career options.
- Gaining access to the world’s largest financial services companies is made easier with this program. JPMorgan Chase, PricewaterhouseCoopers, HSBC, Ernst & Young, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America are a few examples.
- The CFA Full Form, when compared to an MBA program, is a more affordable program.
- Investing analysis, asset management, and ethics are covered in depth.
- This program allows students to gain analytical skills and expertise in quantitative methods, economics, financial reporting, investment analysis, and portfolio management. This set of skills and knowledge will develop as a person becomes a CFA Full Form charter holder.
- There are many career options in the investment industry, including portfolio manager, risk manager, and research analyst.
CFA Certification is one of the courses to opt for if one’s goals match those of the course. Also, it is good to know that the CFA Full Form charter is a highly selective process. The number of CFA charter holders is less than one in five.
Eligibility criteria to become CFA
To become a CFA, an individual must pass all three levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst Examination held by CFA Institute, level I, II, and III. It takes about 1.5 years to complete all three levels of the CFA course. After finishing the course, the students may receive the CFA Full Form certificate. Level I is the only examination not held in June, as it could also be conducted in December. To become a CFA, one must possess the following qualifications:
- Candidates who wish to take the CFA Full Form course should have a Bachelor’s degree or must be in their bachelor’s degree curriculum’s final year.
- It is required that the applicant has a minimum of four years of relevant work experience.
- It is recommended that the applicant have a total of four years of professional experience and education.
Exam Levels and Format
Designed by the CFA Institute, the CFA charter is a self-study program. To become a Chartered Financial Analyst and hold a CFA Full Form charter, one must clear three examination levels sequentially.
LEVEL I
Multiple choice questions are used in the examination
The test consists of 240 multiple choice questions, divided into two sessions of three hours each. Both sessions must be attended by candidates.
- Three-hour morning session: 120 multiple choice questions covering all topics
- MCQs covering all topics in the afternoon session (3 hours)
CFA Level I covers the following topics:
- Economics
- Financial Reporting and Analysis
- Corporate Finance
- Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning
- Derivatives
- Alternative Investments
- Ethical and Professional Standards
- Quantitative Methods
- Equity Investments
- Fixed Income
During June and December, the level I examination is conducted twice a year.
LEVEL II
Multiple choice questions are used in the examination
The examination consists of 120 multiple choice questions divided into 20 sets of 6 questions each.
CFA Level II covers the following topics:
- Financial Reporting and Analysis
- Corporate Finance
- Ethical and Professional Standards
- Quantitative Methods
- Economics
- Derivatives
- Alternative Investments
- Equity Investments
- Fixed Income
- Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning
Level II examinations are held in June every year.
LEVEL III
Examination format: Written Examination
It differs from levels I and II in that it is a written examination. Case studies are more common in the questions.
The topics covered on CFA Full Form Level III are,
- Ethical and Professional Standards
- Economics
- Alternative Investments
- Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning
- Equity Investments
- Fixed Income
- Derivatives
Level III examinations are held in June each year.
After passing all three levels of examination, if an individual wishes to apply for the CFA Full Form charter, he must comply with the institute’s work experience norms. A person must have four years of professional work experience in the relevant field (48 months).
CFA Job Profiles:
Globalisation and industrialization have increased the need for CFA in India. Today, a CFA Full Form has a plenty of career opportunities in different sectors.
- Trading
- Risk Management
- Capital Markets
- Quantitative analytics
- Wealth Management
- Corporate Banking Company
- Management of Assets
- Investment banking M&A
Top CFA Colleges & Institutes in India:
- IIBMs (Indian Institute of Business Management and Studies), Mumbai
- Narayan Institute, Gujarat
- MIFM (Mansukh Institute of Financial Markets), New Delhi
- CFA Institutes (Chartered Finance Analyst Institute), Mumbai
- CIIMS Raipur (Central India Institute of Management Studies), Chhattisgarh