About the Full Time and Extended CFA® Courses
The CFA® designation sets the standard in exam based qualifications for the global financial industry and is recognised by employers as a badge of distinction by which to measure serious investment professionals.
The programme is enjoying dramatic growth worldwide, which the CFA® Institute attributes to the relevance of the syllabus and high standards of professionalism that it demands. In short, it is becoming the accepted benchmark for technical excellence in the financial markets.
The CFA® designation is now entering its fifth decade having been established in 1962. The CFA® Institute network boasts:
- More than 100,000 members in 134 countries.
- 92,000 CFA® charter holders.
- 136 member societies in 58 countries.
The benefits for you
Having the CFA® designation after your name underlines the fact that you have desirable characteristics of competence, integrity and passion, valued by all investment firms.
- Portable reputation – the charter remains a mark of quality, whether you change company or move country.
- Global relevance – an international standard for measuring competence and integrity - principles that are common to any market.
- Career-enhancing – demonstrates your commitment to knowledge and high ethical standard to employers and clients
- Credible – praised and supported by the clients, employers and regulators; the investment community at large
- More and more of our corporate clients view participation in the full time CFA® program as a prerequisite for job progression.
The CFA® designation is desirable for career progression in a bull market but also greater job security in bearish markets.
Geographic Distribution of CFA® Candidates
- Africa/Middle East - 6%
- Asia - 2%
- Canada - 9%
- China Mainland - 9%
- Europe - 16%
- Latin America - 2%
- Pacific Asia - 22%
- United States - 34%
Back to the International CFA® page
CFA® Institute does not endorse, promote, or warrant the accuracy or quality of the products or services offered by Kaplan Financial. CFA® Institute, CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA® Institute.