Kaplan Schweser isn't just an exam prep company—we’re your partner in professional excellence. No matter how you want to advance your financial career, we’ve got the exam prep, education, and resources you need, including:
Here's a snapshot to help you understand the scale of our commitment to financial professionals and students:
840,000+ candidates prepared for the CFA, CAIA, and FRM exams
35+ years of industry-leading exam preparation
Largest cohort of expert instructors and contributors
Global service for students and professionals around the world
Proudly recognized as a CFA Institute Prep Provider
Students and finance professionals often ask, "What do you know about Kaplan Schweser?" The answer is almost always synonymous with "The Gold Standard." We earned this reputation by helping thousands of candidates and professionals navigate the complexities of earning the most difficult financial certifications in the industry.
Our approach is built on a foundation of student-centered learning and expert instruction. By leveraging a global network of CFA charterholders and industry professionals, we ensure that our study tools—like the world-renowned SchweserNotes™—aren’t just summaries, but strategic guides designed to optimize your study time.
See why students and finance professionals often view Kaplan Schweser as a premium investment:
Comprehensive study materials that include a complete Learning Ecosystem, which covers every Learning Outcome Statement (LOS) with precision, ensuring no gaps in your knowledge
Realistic mock exams that are designed to mirror the actual exam environment, difficulty, and psychometrics, so there are no surprises on exam day
A proven track record with 35+ years of data, feedback, and candidate success, with a curriculum refined annually and often cited as the most accurate and up-to-date prep available
The added assurance of CFA PassProtection™, CAIA PassProtection™, FRM PassProtection™, Sustainable Investing Certificate Exam PassProtection™, and SCR® PassProtection™, because we’re so confident that with your dedication and our study materials, you’ll pass the first time—but should you need a second chance, we’ll pay for your entire exam prep package for your next sitting
We take candidate feedback seriously, whether it’s shared in study groups or on social platforms. We recognize the two sides of the Kaplan Schweser experience:
The Reliable Option
Kaplan Schweser is the prep provider more candidates choose than any other provider. Candidates consistently rate us among the highest quality, most comprehensive, and easiest-to-use prep providers in the industry, citing our accurate, exam-focused content and customizable study plans as key differentiators.
Designed and delivered by the industry’s largest team of expert instructors, you’ll get a dependable, efficient exam prep experience built to help serious candidates like you succeed.
The Rigors of Success
We often hear feedback that our mock exams feel more challenging than the actual CFA exam. Our goal is not to make the exam harder, but to make it as realistic as possible—mirroring the format, pacing, and pressure of the real CFA exam experience. While some candidates find the rigor exceeds what they experience on exam day, many also find it leaves them better prepared and more confident heading into the exam. In fact, 95% of Level I and Level II candidates who scored 70% or higher on Schweser’s mock exams passed the actual CFA exam, demonstrating how strong preparation translates into real results.
We also hear feedback about the cost of our Premium study packages. The reality is that the CFA exam is already a major investment, and preparing effectively is just as important as registering for the exam itself. Candidates who are serious about passing often see comprehensive prep as part of that investment, choosing trusted resources, expert guidance, and proven study tools to help them prepare more efficiently and approach exam day with confidence. To further support that investment, our Premium study packages include PassProtection™, giving eligible candidates the reassurance of continued access to study materials for a future exam window should they need a second chance.
Dr. Carl Schweser, a finance professor at the University of Iowa, founded the Schweser Study Program in 1990. He produced study notes for the Level I CFA exam out of the basement of his Iowa City home. Prior to starting his own company, Schweser had taught CFA exam prep courses for the Study Seminar for Financial Analysts (SSFA) in Windsor, Ontario.
Working closely with Dr. Schweser was Andy Temte, a doctoral student who had come to the University of Iowa in 1989. Temte helped produce Level I CFA study materials alongside Schweser. Together, they introduced Level II and Level III CFA study materials in 1991 and 1992, respectively. The Schweser Study Program was off the ground.
Kaplan Schweser has the largest team of expert instructors in the industry. Our full-time faculty members conduct seminars and prepare efficient and effective training and study materials for our customers.
Virtually all our adjunct faculty have designations in the field in which they are teaching. Because they have first-hand knowledge of the exams, our instructors and authors understand what it takes to prepare for the CFA, CAIA, FRM, or Sustainable Investing exams and how to pass them. They have extensive experience teaching in these programs and in universities around the globe.
Kaplan Schweser is student-focused, results-driven, and fully committed to helping individuals and organizations worldwide obtain financial certifications and designations that enable them to advance and succeed in their careers. We strive for greatness, so our customers can do the same. After all, it’s your success that determines ours.
Kaplan finalized its acquisition of the Schweser Study Program in November 1999. Following a decade of significant expansion that attracted the interest of Kaplan, Inc., the program joined the educational leader’s portfolio. Confident in the organization's future, Dr. Schweser retired shortly after the sale. By May 2000, Andy Temte assumed the role of president and CEO, overseeing the relocation of the company’s main offices from Iowa City to La Crosse, WI.
With the robust support of Kaplan, Inc., and Graham Holdings, Kaplan Schweser has maintained its status as the global authority in CFA exam preparation and the industry's most reliable resource since 1999.
Yes, Kaplan Schweser is a CFA Institute prep provider. This means Kaplan Schweser is dedicated to following CFA Institute guidelines and standards when developing and updating their CFA prep materials annually.
Not finding what you’re looking for?
840,000+ CFA, CAIA, and FRM Candidates Have Prepared with Kaplan: Candidates refers to number of net purchases of study packages containing the printed SchweserNotes™ bookset from 2008 through spring 2024 (less 2020).
Choice for Candidates: These are the findings of a quantitative survey conducted by Kaplan between June 30 and August 30, 2021. For this survey, a sample of 313 U.S. CFA Level I and Level II candidates was interviewed online. The survey was fielded to subscribers of 300Hours.com and AnalystForum.com.
Most Trusted and Respected: These are the findings of a quantitative survey conducted by Kaplan between June 30 and August 30, 2021. For this survey, a sample of 313 U.S. CFA Level I and Level II candidates was interviewed online, of which 271 CFA candidates answered this question. The survey was fielded to subscribers of 300Hours.com and AnalystForum.com.
Most Accurate and Exam-Focused Prep: These are the findings of a quantitative survey conducted by Kaplan between December 18, 2024, and February 6, 2025. For this survey, a sample of 972 CFA Level I, II, and III candidates was interviewed online, of which 582 prepared for the CFA Level I, II, or III exam with Kaplan Schweser and 456 prepared with other providers.
Kaplan Schweser is a CFA Institute Prep Provider. Only CFA Institute Prep Providers are permitted to make use of CFA Institute copyrighted materials, which are the building blocks of the exam. We are also required to update our materials every year and this is validated by CFA Institute.
Our products and services substantially cover the relevant curriculum and exam and this is validated by CFA Institute. In our advertising, any statement about the numbers of questions in our products and services relates to unique, original, proprietary questions. CFA Institute Prep Providers are forbidden from including CFA Institute official mock exam questions or any questions other than the end of reading questions within their products and services.
CFA Institute does not endorse, promote, review, or warrant the accuracy or quality of the product and services offered by Kaplan Schweser. CFA Institute®, CFA and “Chartered Financial Analyst®” are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.
CAIAA does not endorse, promote, review, or warrant the accuracy of the products or services offered by Kaplan Schweser, nor does it endorse any pass rates claimed by the provider. CAIAA is not responsible for any fees or costs paid by the user to Kaplan Schweser, nor is CAIAA responsible for any fees or costs of any person or entity providing any services to Kaplan Schweser. CAIA, CAIA Association, Chartered Alternative Investment AnalystSM, and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association® are service marks and trademarks owned by CHARTERED ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT ANALYST ASSOCIATION, INC., of Amherst, Massachusetts, and are used by permission.
GARP does not endorse, promote, review or warrant the accuracy of the products or services offered by Kaplan Schweser of GARP Exam related information, nor does it endorse any pass rates that may be claimed by Kaplan Schweser. Further, GARP is not responsible for any fees or costs paid by the user to Kaplan Schweser nor is GARP responsible for any fees or costs of any person or entity providing any services to Kaplan Schweser. SCR®, FRM, GARP® and Global Association of Risk Professionals™, in standard character and/or stylized form, are trademarks owned by the Global Association of Risk Professionals, Inc.
