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Before Sit for the CFA Exam eBook
Get advice from CFA Charterholders for a successful exam day.Becoming a CFA Charterholder
March 27, 2026
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If you are considering the CFA® charter, you have probably heard about the exams you have to pass first. The three exam levels (I, II, and III) have unique topics and learning focuses that include investment tools, asset valuation, and portfolio management. To take the exams, you’ll have to complete the following 5 steps.
To sit for the exams, you’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) or two years remaining in your undergraduate studies. However, if you have 4,000 hours of relevant work experience, or you have a combination of university education and work experience that totals 4,000 hours, you are also eligible to take the exams.
To enroll in the CFA Program and register for the Level I exam for the first time, you must have an international travel passport. If you don’t have one and want to know more about obtaining one, this Wikipedia article has useful information.
You’ll need to enroll in the CFA Program to take the exams. CFA Institute describes the program as a “self-study, graduate-level” curriculum. You can start your enrollment from this CFA Institute web page. Passing all three levels of the exams will demonstrate your mastery of the CFA Program and its curriculum.
Everything you need to know before starting a CFA program.
The CFA exams are administered only in English, so you should speak English and understand the English curriculum well in order to take the exam.
Individuals who live in certain countries cannot take the CFA exam because of US laws, sanctions, and trade regulations. In addition, some individuals who live in countries where the exam is permitted still may not be eligible because of their specific designations. This CFA Institute web page explains it in detail.
If you meet all five of these requirements and want to take the exams, your next steps should be:
Before Sit for the CFA Exam eBook
Get advice from CFA Charterholders for a successful exam day.
CFA Program Fundamentals eBook
Unlock in-depth overviews of CFA Program curriculum topics.
