CFA — Chartered Financial Analyst
The gold standard for investment management and financial analysis.
Comparing options? Read ACCA vs CPA vs CMA vs CFA →Quick answer
- Best for
- The gold standard for investment management and financial analysis.
- Not ideal for
- If you want accounting/audit practice rather than investment.
- Main roles
- Asset management, equity research, portfolio management, risk and corporate finance.
- CPD
- CFA Institute recommends ~20 hours of professional learning a year (voluntary).
Last reviewed: June 2026
Who it's for
Those targeting investment, asset management, equity research or corporate finance.
Structure
Three levels (I, II, III) of exams, with added practical skill modules and Level III specialised pathways, plus ~4,000 hours of relevant experience.
Time & cost
Typically 3–4 years with a demanding study load.
Careers
Asset management, equity research, portfolio management, risk and corporate finance.
The skills you'll build
Many of these serve more than one path.
Best free resources for this path
Curated and vetted, with how to start.
The full official CFA curriculum, practice questions and topic assessments.
How to start: Free candidate resources on the site; the full ecosystem comes with exam registration.
Free prep for CFA, CPA and CMA — 36,000+ practice questions with solutions.
How to start: Free account at freefellow.org — no trial, no card.
Free Accounting Fundamentals and finance courses you can audit free.
How to start: Create a free account and choose the free/audit option.
Thousands of university finance/accounting courses you can audit free; financial aid for certificates.
How to start: Free account; click 'Audit', or apply for financial aid for a certificate.
Free, self-paced Excel and Power BI training — essential analyst skills for any finance path.
How to start: Free with a Microsoft account; the optional PL-300 exam is paid.
Continuing professional development (CPD)
CFA Institute recommends ~20 hours of professional learning a year (voluntary).
Get these hours for free →Disclaimer
Links to third-party resources are provided for convenience and learning only. Fileminder does not control third-party content, prices, certificates, CPD/CPE eligibility, availability or accuracy. Always check the provider's own page before relying on a course, certificate, CPD unit or learning outcome. Last reviewed: June 2026.