- 2026 CFA Exam Registration
- CFA Exam Registration Process Explained
- CFA Exam Registration Is More Than Payment
- Level 1 CFA Exam Registration Step by Step
- CFA Institute Account Creation
- CFA Exam Fee Payment
- Scheduling CFA Exam
- Rescheduling CFA Exam
- Getting started with free study plan
2026 CFA Exam Registration Is Open
The 2026 CFA exam registration is now open:
- The FEB 2026 CFA exam registration (level 1 and 3) opens on 29 Apr 2025 and closes on 29 Oct 2025.
- The MAY 2026 CFA exam registration (level 1 and 2) opens on 12 Aug 2025 and closes on 12 Feb 2026.
- The AUG 2026 CFA exam registration (level 1,2,3) opens on 11 Nov 2025 and closes on 6 May 2026.
- The NOV 2025 CFA exam registration (level 1 and 2) opens on 11 Feb 2026 and closes on 11 Aug 2026.
CFA Institute has announced that the prices for the 2026 CFA exams will increase. Here are the increasing 2026 CFA exam prices compared to the 2025 registration fees (no enrollment fee in 2026 though):
| CFA Exam Registration | 2025 Early-Bird Fee | 2026 Early-Bird Fee | 2025 Standard Fee | 2026 Standard Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $990 | $1,140 | $1,290 | $1,490 |
| Level 2 | $990 | $1,140 | $1,290 | $1,490 |
| Level 3 | $1,090 | $1,240 | $1,390 | $1,590 |
Explaining CFA Exam Registration Process
Level 1, Level 2, Level 3
To apply for your CFA exam, you need to follow 2 steps:
- Choose one of the 4 CFA exam windows (Feb, May, Aug, Nov) and register by paying the applicable registration fee.
- After your payment is accepted, self-schedule your exact CFA exam date!
The process of registering for your CFA exam does not differ much between the exam levels. The only different thing is the difference in registration fee between levels (level 1/level 2 vs higher level 3). Otherwise, the CFA exam registration is an identical process for all the 3 levels. That's why we describe below how to apply for your CFA exam based on the level 1 exam.
My First
Level 1 CFA Exam Registration
To register for your level 1 CFA exam, do as follows:
- Sign up on CFA Institute's website:
and first apply for the scholarship if you’re eligible - Register for your level 1 CFA exam:
wait for your scholarship if you have applied
pay the due fees
(NOTE: unreduced registration + enrollment fees for those ineligible or not accepted for a scholarship)
read and accept your Candidate Agreement + submit your Professional Conduct Statement - Schedule your level 1 CFA exam:
self-schedule your exam date within your chosen exam window (read more) - Re-schedule your level 1 CFA exam if needed:
you can re-schedule your exam appointment if you wish (read more) - Register at Soleadea – consider making it STEP 1
set up a personalized CFA exam study plan
get access to many study tools and materials
adopt the weekly approach for your study routine & stay on track!
CFA Exam Registration Is More Than Payment!
CFA exam registration is not only about enrolling in the list of candidates and paying for the exam. It is also strongly linked with the CFA Program entrance requirements, scholarships available to many or the responsibility you accept as a candidate when you register for your exam.
Additionally, starting in 2021, it is associated with the necessity to self-schedule the exam. Also, a paid rescheduling option is available to you if needed.
Let's look closely into the whole process of CFA exam registration, step by step.
But first, see if you are eligible to be a CFA candidate:
CFA Exam Requirements: Can I Enter the CFA Program?
To be able to enroll in the list of exam candidates and take your CFA exam, you must have:
a bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree
OR
no more than 23 months to graduation as a university student
OR
a combination of professional work experience and/or higher education totaling 4,000 hours and acquired over a minimum of 3 sequential years.
Level 1 CFA Exam Registration
Step by Step
1.
CFA INSTITUTE ACCOUNT CREATION
To register for your level 1 CFA exam, you first need to create an account on the CFA Institute website. Usually, it’s done just before the actual registration for the exam. However, if you’re eligible and plan to apply for Access Scholarship (new!) or Student Scholarship, you will need to register at the CFA Institute website much earlier to be able to submit your scholarship application.
Check if you can apply for a scholarship before you register for your CFA exam!
2.
CFA EXAM FEE PAYMENT
The next step of your CFA exam registration involves fee payment. If you are awarded a scholarship, the payment will be substantially reduced.
If you are ineligible for a scholarship, you’ll have to pay applicable fees to register for the exam you want to sit. Your CFA exam cost will depend on when exactly you decide to register. There are 2 registration fee deadlines. The first one is for early birds and it amounts to USD 1140 for 2026 level 1 CFA exams. The second is called standard registration fee deadline and the standard fee is as much as USD 1490 in 2026.
Note the higher CFA exam registration fees for the 2026 CFA exams. In 2025, the level 1 fees were USD 990 and USD 1290, respectively. Importantly, registration fees depend on CFA exam level!
Level 1 CFA Exam
Registration Fees & Deadlines in 2026
| CFA EXAM | Early Registration Deadline | Standard Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Registration Fee | USD 1140 | USD 1490 |
| Feb 2026 | 7 July 2025 | 29 Oct 2025 |
| May 2026 | 14 Oct 2025 | 12 Feb 2026 |
| Aug 2026 | 21 Jan 2026 | 6 May 2026 |
| Nov 2026 | ? Apr 2026 | 11 Aug 2026 |
There is no enrollment fee for the 2026 CFA exams. That's the most recent change introduced by CFA Institute to the CFA exam procing. For years, when you registered for your first level 1 CFA exam, you had to pay a one-time enrollment fee of USD 350 at registration. But no more :)
2026 CFA Exam Registration Fees Summed Up
| CFA Exam Registration Fee |
|---|
| USD 1140 (early) vs USD 1490 (standard) |
| the sooner you register, the lower the fee |
| paid before every exam (incl. retakes) |
| valid only for a particular exam |
| non-refundable* and non-transferable |
The moment you pay for your first level 1 CFA exam, you enter the CFA Program. It means you accept responsibilities that go hand in hand with your candidacy. During your registration, you are asked to agree to the provisions of the Candidate Agreement. It specifies things such as possible exam violations and relevant CFA exam testing policies but it also tells you when your exam can be deferred. You must also submit your Professional Conduct Statement (disclosing relevant reprimands, investigations, litigations, etc.) upon your first CFA exam registration and then annually and before every next exam registration.
Always submit your Professional Conduct Statement on time or you will be excluded from the CFA Program.
3.
SCHEDULING YOUR CFA EXAM
After you register for your CFA exam and pay the relevant fees, you need to self-schedule your CFA exam appointment within your chosen exam window.
Scheduling is obligatory and free of charge. When you schedule your CFA exam – you choose when (date and time) and where you want to take your level 1 exam. Mind, however, that for some regions and test centers the exam window may be shorter than the official window. So, be sure to get familiar with the test center info when choosing your exam day.
You will be able to view all available dates, times, and test center options only when you start your scheduling process, which takes place via a dedicated platform called ProScheduler. Importantly, when using the scheduling tool – search by the desired city, not just by country. Also, it's best to select the whole exam window or some other wide date range. If you limit your preferred date range too much, you may be unable to choose your optimal CFA exam date and location.
Note that the scheduling period is longer than the registration period:
- FEB 2026: schedule your CFA exam before 5 November 2025
- MAY 2026: schedule your CFA exam before 18 February 2026
- AUG 2026: schedule your CFA exam before 13 May 2026
You are responsible for scheduling your exam appointment by the scheduling deadline set for your exam window. If you fail to schedule your exam appointment (or fail to sit for the exam), your exam fees are non-refundable, non-deferrable, and non-transferable!
The venue of your CFA exam will be either at Prometric or at British Council. Appointments are first-come, first-served so it's not a good idea to delay scheduling. It's probably best to schedule your exam appointment asap and re-schedule it later if need be. Note, however, that rescheduling is a paid option.
4.
RESCHEDULING YOUR CFA EXAM?
Rescheduling your CFA exam is a paid option that you can use if you need to change your scheduled CFA exam date or venue within the same exam window.
So, if you schedule your exam but find either the exam date or the test center not optimal, you can reschedule your exam after an additional payment of USD 250 for each re-appointment. The rescheduling option is for your chosen (registered) exam window only and depends on seating availability.
The rescheduling deadlines for the 2025 & 2026 level 1 exams are as follows:
- FEB 2026: reschedule your CFA exam before 22 Jan 2025
(level 3: 18 Jan) - MAY 2026: reschedule your CFA exam before 1 May 2025
(level 2: 8 May) - AUG 2026: reschedule your CFA exam before 7 Aug 2026
(level 2: 14 Aug, level 3: 3 Aug)
5.
GETTING STARTED with FREE STUDY PLAN
The decision about entering the CFA Program can be a long-lasting process. You may know you’d like to take your CFA exam one day but you may need some time before you actually register for an exam. Besides, life often verifies our hopes and postpones our plans.
But even if you do not register for the nearest CFA exam, it’s worth registering at Soleadea the moment you set the CFA exam as your future goal. Why? Because a decision about CFA Program enrollment is a serious one and you could surely use some help while getting there (and we support our users by keeping them updated and informed about the CFA exam).
At Soleadea, registration is free and you get your personalized study plan right away. Inside, you’ll find lots of study tools and materials (some are free and some are premium). You’ll get to know how much you should study per week and get some idea of what your study routine should look like. Outside the exam study planner, you’ll also find many valuable contents concerning the CFA designation and CFA exam and you’ll be guided towards the best way to prepare for your CFA exam.
About Soleadea:
Our CFA Exam Study Planner is available to candidates of all levels at groundbreaking Pay-What-You-Can prices. You decide how much you want to pay for our services. After you activate your account, you get unlimited access to our Study Planner 4.0 with study lessons inside, various level 1/level 2 study materials & tools, regular review sessions, and a holistic growth approach to your preparation. Join
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