Level 1 & Level 2 CFA Exams
To register for your 2023 CFA exam, follow 2 steps: (i) choose the February, May, August or November exam and register by paying the early (USD 900) or standard (USD 1200) registration fee + (ii) after registering, self-schedule your exact CFA exam date!
CFA Exam Registration? 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.
CFA Exam Requirements: Can I Enter the 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 be a final-year student.
OR
4,000 hours of professional work experience (investment-related or not).
OR
a combination of professional work experience and education totaling 4,000 hours.
Note that residents of Cuba, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea region of Ukraine, as well as Specially Designated Nationals are prohibited from participating in the CFA Program in accordance with the OFAC Compliance Policy.
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 at the CFA Institute website. Usually, it’s done just before actual registration for the exam. However, if you’re eligible and plan to apply for Access Scholarship or Women’s 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. Read more about when to register & pay for your exam if you apply!
2.
CFA EXAM FEE PAYMENT
The next step of your 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 relevant 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 900. The second is called standard and it is as much as USD 1200. Note that the registration fees increase by USD 200 for 2023 CFA exams.
Level 1 CFA Exam
Registration Fees & Deadlines in 2023
NEWCOMERS ONLY: one-time program enrollment fee of USD 350 for 2023 CFA exams
Additionally, when you register for your first level 1 CFA exam ever, you have to pay a one-time enrollment fee of USD 350 at registration (which is down by USD 100 for 2023 exams!). The amount is the same regardless of the registration deadline or the exam you choose. As a rule, the enrollment fee is waived if you're awarded a CFA Institute scholarship.
CFA Exam Fees Summed Up
| CFA Program Enrollment Fee | CFA Exam Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| USD 350 | in USD 900 (early) or USD 1200 (standard) |
| your first level 1 CFA exam only | the sooner you register, the lower the fee |
| paid only once | paid before every exam (incl. retakes) |
| valid throughout your whole candidacy | valid only for a particular exam |
| non-refundable* | 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 Candidate Agreement. It specifies for example possible exam violations and relevant 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 you CFA exam appointment within your chosen exam window:
- FEB 2023 level 1 CFA exam window: February 14-20, register from 10 May to 8 Nov 2022
- MAY 2023 level 1 CFA exam window: May 16-22, register from 9 Aug 2022 to 31 Jan 2023
- AUG 2023 level 1 CFA exam window: August 22-28, register from 14 Nov 2022 to 9 May 2023
- NOV 2023 level 1 CFA exam window: November 11-17, register from 31 Jan to 8 Aug 2023
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 that 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 didecated platform called ProScheduler. Importantly, when using the scheduling tool – search by 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 2023: schedule your CFA exam before 16 November 2022
- MAY 2023: schedule your CFA exam before 15 February 2023
- AUG 2023: schedule your CFA exam before 24 May 2023
- NOV 2023: schedule your CFA exam before 16 August 2023
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.
4.
RE-SCHEDULING YOUR CFA EXAM?
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 exam window and depends on seating availability. The rescheduling deadlines for the available level 1 exams are as follows:
- FEB 2023: reschedule your CFA exam before 13 January 2023 (level 3: 20 Jan)
- MAY 2023: reschedule your CFA exam before 14 April 2023 (level 2: 21 Apr)
- AUG 2023: reschedule your CFA exam before 21 July 2023 (level 2&3: 28 July)
- NOV 2023: reschedule your CFA exam before 13 October 2023 (level 2: 20 Oct)
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 how 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 exam.
My 1st Registration: Steps to Follow
1. Register with CFA Institute
apply for the scholarship if you’re eligible
2. Register for your level 1 CFA exam:
wait for your scholarship if you apply
pay the due fees
(NOTE: different registration + enrollment fees for those ineligible or not accepted for a scholarship)
read and accept your Candidate Agreement + submit your Professional Conduct Statement
3. Schedule your level 1 CFA exam:
self-schedule your exam date within your chosen exam window (read more)
4. Re-schedule your level 1 CFA exam if needed:
you can re-schedule your exam appointment if you wish (read more)
5. Register at Soleadea – consider making it STEP 1
set up a personalized CFA exam study plan
get access to many study tools and materials
learn the best way for your study routine based on the weekly approach
Level 2 CFA Exam Registration
If you're a level 2 CFA candidate and want to take your exam in 2023, you can do it in May, August, and November. Below are the relevant registration fees and deadlines:
Level 2 CFA Exam
Registration Fees & Deadlines in 2023
Basically, enrolling in your level 2 CFA exam does not differ much from your level 1 registration. If – however – you have your doubts, the list below shows how to register for the level 2 exam (or another level 1 exam if you need to retake it):
- You already have your CFA Institute account.
- If you’re eligible for a scholarship – just apply for it before the deadline and then wait for the official decision before you register and pay for your exam [LEARN MORE].
- If you’re ineligible for a scholarship – relevant registration fees and deadlines apply (there is no enrollment fee for you, though).
- After you register, you need to self-schedule your exam date within your chosen exam window. The scheduling deadlines are the same as for the corresponding level 1 exams and the rescheduling deadlines are usually a bit longer for level 2 and level 3 than for level 1.
- Candidate Agreement needs to be accepted and Professional Conduct Statement submitted – no change here.
- Also, no changes as far as well-planned prep goes: create a study plan that adapts to your needs but stays demanding!
Smart Preparation Starts With Smart Planning
When your plans have this dangerous tendency to fall through - you need more than just timetabled topics!
You need concrete readings assigned to concrete study weeks,
weekly progress assessments,
and all the means to stay in charge!
& personalize it to suit your needs!
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