2025 CFA Exam Registration Is Open!
The 2025 CFA exam registration has been open since 9 May 2024. The next CFA exam windows are made available:
- FEB 2025 level 1 and level 3 candidates may register from 9 May 2024.
[learn more: Feb'25 level 1 dates & Feb'25 level 3 dates] - MAY 2025 level 1 and level 2 candidates may register from 8 Aug 2024.
[learn more: May'25 level 1 dates & May'25 level 2 dates] - AUG 2025 candidates, all levels, may register from 6 Nov 2024.
[learn more: Aug'25 level 1 dates, Aug'25 level 2 dates & Aug'25 level 3 dates]
Explaining CFA Exam Registration Process
Level 1, Level 2, Level 3
To apply for your CFA exam, you need to follow 2 steps:
- Choose the exam window* and register by paying the applicable registration fee.
- After your payment is accepted, self-schedule your exact CFA exam date!
* February, May, August, or November are the 4 CFA exam windows available depending on the exam level.
The process of registering for your CFA exam does not differ much between the exam levels. The only different thing is the enrollment fee, which is a one-time payment that you make only while enrolling in your first level 1 exam. 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 Involves 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. Read more about when to register & pay for your exam if you apply!
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 990 for 2025 level 1 CFA exams. The second is called standard registration fee deadline and the standard fee is as much as USD 1290 in 2025.
Note the higher CFA exam registration fees for the 2025 CFA exams. In 2024, the fees were USD 940 and USD 1250, respectively. Importantly, registration fees depend on CFA exam level in 2025!
Level 1 CFA Exam
Registration Fees & Deadlines in 2025
| 2025 CFA EXAM | Early Registration Deadline | Standard Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Fee | USD 990 | USD 1290 |
| Feb 2025 | 9 July 2024 | 7 Nov 2024 |
| May 2025 | 16 Oct 2024 | 6 Feb 2025 |
| Aug 2025 | 29 Jan 2025 | 6 May 2025 |
NEWCOMERS ONLY: one-time program enrollment fee of USD 350
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. 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 2025: USD 990 (early) vs USD 1290 (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 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 2025: schedule your CFA exam before 12 November 2024
- MAY 2025: schedule your CFA exam before 11 February 2025
- AUG 2025: schedule your CFA exam before 13 May 2025
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 2024 & 2025 level 1 exams are as follows:
- FEB 2025: reschedule your CFA exam before 18 January 2025
- MAY 2025: reschedule your CFA exam before 14 April 2025
- AUG 2025: reschedule your CFA exam before 21 July 2025
(level 2: 28 July, level 3: 14 July)
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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