2026 CFA Exam Dates
The 2026 CFA exam windows are now available. Here are all the 2026 CFA exam dates:
- level 1 – FEB 2-8, MAY 12-18, AUG 18-24, NOV 11-17
- level 2 – MAY 19-23, AUG 25-29, NOV 18-22
- level 3 – FEB: 29 Jan - 1 Feb and AUG 13-17.
The 2026 study plans are available now.
How Is CFA Exam Calendar Scheduled?
Currently, CFA Institute makes 4 level 1 exam windows, 3 level 2 exam windows, and 2 level 3 exam windows available to CFA candidates.
All CFA exams are computer-based and there's no single date when candidates are told to sit their exam. Instead, you are asked to self-schedule your CFA exam date within the exam window you choose via a dedicated platform.
In 2022, CFA Institute made some shifts and additions to the CFA exam calendar. The idea was to make the level 2 exam more available and to speed up the release of level 3 results (which has always been more time-consuming than for level 1 and level 2). The details are given in the table below. If no further changes are introduced, the 2023 schedule is going to apply in the future:
| CFA EXAM | 2022 | 2023 | 2024-2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb | L1 | L2 | L1 | L3 | L1 | L3 | |||
| May | L1 | L3 | L1 | L2 | L1 | L2 | |||
| Aug | L1 | L2 | L3 | L1 | L2 | L3 | L1 | L2 | L3 |
| Nov | L1 | L2 | L1 | L2 | L1 | L2 | |||
With the new CFA exam windows added as of 2022 to the CFA exam schedule, it is easier for candidates to plan their exam level by level.
Here are the nearest dates for the 2026 CFA exam windows:
- Feb 2026 Level 1 CFA Exam Dates
- Feb 2026 Level 3 CFA Exam Dates
- May 2026 Level 1 CFA Exam Dates
- May 2026 Level 2 CFA Exam Dates
- Aug 2026 Level 1 CFA Exam Dates
- Aug 2026 Level 2 CFA Exam Dates
- Aug 2026 Level 3 CFA Exam Dates
- Nov 2026 Level 1-2 CFA Exam Dates
- 6 Months Rule for Level 1 Exam
- 6 Months Rule for Level 2 & Level 3 Exams
Feb 2026 Level 1 CFA Exam Dates
The Feb 2026 level 1 CFA exam window is from 2 to 8 February. Registration opens on 29 Apr 2025 and closes on 29 Oct 2025.
After you register for your exam, you must self-schedule your exam appointment using the so-called ProScheduler available on a dedicated platform. The scheduling window opens on 29 Apr and closes on 5 Nov. You can find more dates and details for the Feb 2026 level 1 CFA exam here .
| FEB 2026 | CFA Exam Window | Registration Dates | Scheduling Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2-8 Feb 2026 | from 29 Apr to 29 Oct 2025 |
from 29 Apr to 5 Nov 2025 |
| Level 3 | 29 Jan-1 Feb 2026 | from 29 Apr to 29 Oct 2025 |
from 29 Apr to 5 Nov 2025 |
2026 STUDY PLAN AVAILABLE NOW!
Feb 2026 Level 3 CFA Exam Dates
Some of the level 1 and level 3 Feb CFA exam dates are the same and some differ.
So, the Feb 2026 level 3 CFA exam registration also opens on 29 Apr 2025 and closes on 29 Oct 2025. Moreover, the scheduling window also opens on 29 Apr and closes on 5 Nov. However, the Feb 2026 level 3 exam window is from 29 January to 1 February. You can find more dates and details for the Feb 2026 level 3 CFA exam here .
May 2026 Level 1 CFA Exam Dates
The May 2026 level 1 CFA exam window is from 12 to 18 May. Registration opens on 12 Aug 2025 and closes on 12 Feb 2026.
After you register for your exam, you must self-schedule your exam appointment using the so-called ProScheduler available on a dedicated platform. The scheduling window opens on 12 Aug 2026 and closes on 18 Feb 2026. You can find more dates and details for the May 2026 level 1 CFA exam here .
| MAY 2026 | CFA Exam Window | Registration Dates | Scheduling Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 12-18 May 2026 | from 12 Aug 2025 to 12 Feb 2026 |
from 12 Aug 2025 to 18 Feb 2026 |
| Level 2 | 19-23 May 2026 | from 12 Aug 2025 to 12 Feb 2026 |
from 12 Aug 2025 to 18 Feb 2026 |
May 2026 Level 2 CFA Exam Dates
Some of the level 1 and level 2 May CFA exam dates are the same and some differ.
So, the May 2026 level 2 CFA exam registration also opens on 12 Aug 2025 and closes on 12 Feb 2026. Moreover, the scheduling window also opens on 12 Aug 2025 and closes on 18 Feb 2026. However, the May 2025 level 2 exam window is from 19 to 23 May. You can find more dates and details for the May 2026 level 2 CFA exam here .
August 2026 Level 1 CFA Exam Dates
The August 2026 level 1 CFA exam window is from 18 to 24 Aug. Registration opens on 11 Nov 2025 and closes on 6 May 2026.
After you register for your exam, you must self-schedule your exam appointment using the so-called ProScheduler available on a dedicated platform. The scheduling window opens on 11 Nov 2025 and closes on 13 May 2026. You can find more dates and details for the August 2026 level 1 CFA exam here .
August 2026 Level 2 CFA Exam Dates
Some of the level 1 and level 2 August CFA exam dates are the same and some differ.
So, the August 2026 level 2 CFA exam registration also opens on 11 Nov 2025 and closes on 6 May 2026. Moreover, the scheduling window also opens on 11 Nov 2025 and closes on 13 May 2026. However, the Aug 2026 level 2 exam window is from 25 to 29 Aug. You can find more dates and details for the Aug 2026 level 2 CFA exam here .
| AUG 2026 | CFA Exam Window | Registration Dates | Scheduling Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 18-24 Aug 2026 | from 11 Nov 2025 to 6 May 2026 |
from 11 Nov 2025 to 13 May 2026 |
| Level 2 | 25-29 Aug 2026 | from 11 Nov 2025 to 6 May 2026 |
from 11 Nov 2025 to 13 May 2026 |
| Level 3 | 13-17 Aug 2026 | from 11 Nov 2025 to 6 May 2026 |
from 11 Nov 2025 to 13 May 2026 |
August 2026 Level 3 CFA Exam Dates
The Aug 2026 level 3 exam window is from 13 to 17 Aug. The Aug 2026 level 3 registration opens on 11 Nov 2025 and closes on 6 May 2026. The scheduling window also opens on 11 Nov 2025 but closes on 13 May 2026. You can find more dates and details for the Aug 2026 level 3 CFA exam here .
Nov 2026 Level 1-Level 2 CFA Exam Dates
The NOV 2026 CFA exam registration opens on 11 Feb 2026, after the release of the NOV 2025 exam results. The November exam sits CFA exam candidates of levels 1 & 2. As always, you'll be asked to self-schedule your exam appointment after you register for your CFA exam.
As soon as the NOV 2026 CFA exam dates are available, we'll post them here. Come back for updates
6 Months Rule for Level 1 CFA Exam
For nearly 20 years, the level 1 CFA exam was held twice a year, in June and December. Since 2021, the level 1 CFA exam has moved to computer-based testing (CBT) and now it's available more often. As of 2022, it's intended to be held 4 times a year: in February, May, August, and November.
LEVEL 1 CFA EXAM WINDOWS
Feb
May
Aug
Nov
However, even though the level 1 exam will be available 4 times per year, you will be able to register only twice a year! That’s because CFA Institute wants to stick to the official rule of 6 months minimum between exams (which basically means you cannot register for the adjacent level 1 exams). So:
- if you take your level 1 exam in February & fail you can retake it in August
- if you take your level 1 exam in May & fail you can retake it in November
- if you take your level 1 exam in August & fail you can retake it in February
- if you take your level 1 exam in November & fail you can retake it in May
The rule of 6 months also works between levels. So:
- if you take your level 1 exam in February & pass you can take your level 2 exam in August
- if you take your level 1 exam in May & pass you can take your level 2 exam in November
- if you take your level 1 exam in August & pass you can take your level 2 exam in May
- if you take your level 1 exam in November & pass you can take your level 2 exam in May
6 Months Rule for Level 2 & Level 3 CFA Exams
In the past, level 2 CFA exam and level 3 CFA exam were organized once a year, in June. Now, with CBT introduced also for level 2 and level 3 candidates, the accessibility of the exams is greater. In 2026, level 2 will be held three times a year and level 3 – twice a year:
LEVEL 2 CFA EXAM WINDOWS
May
Aug
Nov
LEVEL 3 CFA EXAM WINDOWS
Feb
Aug
Of course, the rule of 6 months between levels applies. So:
- if you take your level 2 exam in May 2026 & pass you can take your level 3 exam in February 2027
- if you take your level 2 exam in August 2026 & pass you can take your level 3 exam in February 2027
- if you take your level 2 exam in November 2026 & pass you can take your level 3 exam in August 2027
Also note that:
- if you take your level 2 exam in May 2026 & fail you can retake it in November 2026
- if you take your level 2 exam in August 2026 & fail you can retake it in May 2027
- if you take your level 2 exam in November 2026 & fail you can retake it in May 2027
- if you take your level 3 exam in February 2026 & fail you can retake it in August 2026
- if you take your level 3 exam in August 2026 & fail you can retake it in February 2027
Published: Jan 25, 2021
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