{"id":3495,"date":"2024-12-19T15:39:41","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T21:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/?p=3495"},"modified":"2025-05-21T12:46:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T18:46:09","slug":"how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does It Take to Get a CFA\u00ae?"},"content":{"rendered":" <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Are you considering becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA\u00ae) but worried it might take forever? Don\u2019t sweat it! While earning the CFA\u00ae designation isn\u2019t exactly a weekend project, it can be a manageable journey\u2014not a lifelong marathon.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And, with an average salary of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/business-and-financial\/financial-analysts.htm\">$100,000<\/a>&#8230; earning your charter will be well worth the effort.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ll break it all down step by step. By the end, you\u2019ll know exactly how long it takes to get a CFA\u00ae and what to expect as you move through this timeline. <\/p> <p class=\"custom_key wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list custom_underline\"> <li><strong>Three Levels of Exams<\/strong>: The CFA\u00ae program consists of three rigorous exams, each covering increasingly advanced financial topics.<\/li> <li><strong>300-400 Study Hours Per Exam<\/strong>: Each level of the CFA\u00ae exam requires significant preparation, with candidates typically spending 300-400 hours studying per part.<\/li> <li><strong>Overlap Work Experience<\/strong>: You can fulfill the 4,000-hour work experience requirement while preparing for exams, saving time.<\/li> <li><strong>Planning Is Critical<\/strong>: Creating a solid study plan and sticking to it will keep you on track for success, especially with the demanding material.<\/li> <li><strong>Worth the Effort<\/strong>: Earning the CFA\u00ae designation opens doors to lucrative and respected career opportunities in finance and investment management.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-the-cfa-program-and-how-long-does-it-take\"><strong>What Is the CFA\u00ae Program and How Long Does it Take?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The CFA\u00ae program, offered by the CFA Institute, is designed to prepare you for a career in financial analysis, portfolio management, investment management, and other finance-related fields. To earn the CFA\u00ae designation, you\u2019ll need to:<\/p> <ol class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Pass three exams (Level I, Level II, and Level III).<\/li> <li>Meet the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/cfa-requirements\/\">work experience requirements<\/a> (4,000 hours over 36 months or longer).<\/li> <li>Submit a Professional Conduct Statement and become a CFA Institute member.<\/li> <\/ol> <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/timeline-for-obtaining-CFA-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"timeline for CFA certification\" class=\"wp-image-3496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/timeline-for-obtaining-CFA-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/timeline-for-obtaining-CFA-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/timeline-for-obtaining-CFA-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/timeline-for-obtaining-CFA-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/timeline-for-obtaining-CFA-280x280.png 280w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/timeline-for-obtaining-CFA.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-1-registering-for-the-cfa-program\"><strong>Step 1: Registering for the CFA\u00ae Program<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you even crack open a book, you\u2019ll need to meet the CFA\u00ae program\u2019s prerequisites:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>A bachelor\u2019s degree OR<\/li> <li>Schedule the Level I Exam within 23 months of your graduation month OR<\/li> <li>4,000 hours of relevant work experience over a minimum of 36 months.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you meet these qualifications, you can register for the Level I exam (if it wasn&#8217;t part of the prerequisite). Most candidates spend a few weeks reviewing the CFA Institute website, checking exam windows, and planning their study schedules before committing.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Timeframe: 1-2 weeks to register and plan.<\/strong><\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-2-studying-for-level-i\"><strong>Step 2: Studying for Level I<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Level I exam focuses on the basics: investment tools, financial analysis, and ethical standards. Most candidates spend about 300 hours studying for this exam. That\u2019s roughly 3-4 months if you study around 20 hours a week.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Quick Tips for Level I<\/strong>:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Use free practice questions from the CFA Institute to assess your progress.<\/li> <li>Stick to your study schedule\u2014consistency is key!<\/li> <li>Plan to sit for the exam during one of the testing windows (offered in February, May, August, and November).<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Timeframe: 4-6 months (including registration and prep).<\/strong><\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-3-tackling-level-ii\"><strong>Step 3: Tackling Level II<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After passing Level I, you can move on to Level II. This exam dives deeper into topics like financial analysis and advanced portfolio management. Many candidates say this is the most challenging level because of its focus on complex case studies through vignettes and accompanying question sets.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To prepare, candidates spend about 300-400 hours studying, typically taking another 4-6 months. Like Level I, Level II exams are offered during specific testing windows, so you must plan your exam date carefully.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Quick Tips for Level II<\/strong>:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Focus on practice exams to get comfortable with the format.<\/li> <li>Use a study plan to prioritize the most challenging topics (like financial reporting and analysis or portfolio management).<\/li> <li>Practice with item sets, as they&#8217;re the question type used for Level II, and they&#8217;re a little different than standalone MCQs. A good prep course will pull a lot of weight for you here.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Timeframe: 4-6 months.<\/strong><\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-4-conquering-level-iii\"><strong>Step 4: Conquering Level III<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Level III is the final exam, focusing heavily on portfolio management and wealth planning. By this point, you\u2019re familiar with the CFA\u00ae program\u2019s style, but this level requires a lot of critical thinking and applying your knowledge to &#8220;fill in the blank&#8221; and short answer questions instead of multiple-choice questions alone.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Candidates usually spend about 300-350 hours preparing for Level III, which translates to another 4-6 months of studying. Once again, you\u2019ll need to register for an exam window (available in February, May, August, and November).<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Quick Tips for Level III<\/strong>:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Practice answering essay-style questions under timed conditions. Remember, you won&#8217;t need to be a prize-winning author; you just need to answer each question fully, clearly, and correctly.<\/li> <li>Review past CFA Institute mock exams for insights.<\/li> <li>Choose a prep course that teaches essay set formatting and best practices, like AnalystPrep.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Timeframe: 4-6 months.<\/strong><\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/Ovrview-of-level-3-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"CFA level 3 prep\" class=\"wp-image-3497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/Ovrview-of-level-3-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/Ovrview-of-level-3-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/Ovrview-of-level-3-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/Ovrview-of-level-3-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/Ovrview-of-level-3-280x280.png 280w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/Ovrview-of-level-3.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-5-meeting-the-work-experience-requirement\"><strong>Step 5: Meeting the Work Experience Requirement<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll need at least 4,000 hours of relevant work experience over the span of at least 36 months to qualify for the CFA\u00ae designation. The good news? You can work toward this requirement while studying for the exams.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Relevant roles include positions in investment management, asset management, financial analysis, and portfolio management. Even internships and part-time roles might count if they meet the CFA Institute\u2019s standards.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Timeframe: Can overlap with exam preparation; 3 years total if starting from scratch.<\/strong><\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-6-submitting-your-professional-conduct-statement-and-becoming-a-member\"><strong>Step 6: Submitting Your Professional Conduct Statement and Becoming a Member<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After passing all three exams and fulfilling the work experience requirements, you must submit a Professional Conduct Statement to confirm you\u2019ve upheld ethical standards throughout your career.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, you can apply for membership with the CFA Institute. Once approved, you\u2019ll officially earn the CFA\u00ae designation and can proudly call yourself a charterholder!<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Timeframe: 1-2 months.<\/strong><\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-putting-it-all-together-how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-cfa\"><strong>Putting It All Together: How Long Does It Take to Get a CFA\u00ae?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s a rough timeline to help you visualize the process:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Registration and Level I Exam<\/strong>: 4-6 months.<\/li> <li><strong>Level II Exam<\/strong>: 4-6 months.<\/li> <li><strong>Level III Exam<\/strong>: 4-6 months.<\/li> <li><strong>Work Experience<\/strong>: 3 years (can overlap with exams).<\/li> <li><strong>Membership Application<\/strong>: 1-2 months.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Total Time Commitment<\/strong>: 3-4 years on average, depending on your pace and whether you pass each exam on the first try.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earning the CFA\u00ae designation typically takes 3-4 years, depending on your pace and whether you pass each exam on the first attempt. The journey involves three rigorous exams, at least 4,000 hours of relevant work experience over 36 months, and membership with the CFA Institute.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding the timeline\u2014from exam registration and preparation to fulfilling work requirements\u2014helps you create a clear and manageable plan. With careful scheduling and dedication, you can navigate the process efficiently and unlock the career opportunities the CFA\u00ae charter offers.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that you know the steps and how long it takes, you\u2019re ready to take the first step toward earning your CFA\u00ae designation and advancing your finance career!<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\"><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/h2> <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1734596342825\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How long does it take to do the CFA\u00ae?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">On average, it takes about 3-4 years to earn the CFA\u00ae charter. This includes passing all three levels of the CFA\u00ae exam, meeting the work experience requirement, and completing membership formalities.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1734596349781\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/cfa-vs-cpa\/\">CFA\u00ae harder than CPA<\/a>?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The CFA\u00ae exams are widely considered more difficult because of their depth, breadth of topics, and high time commitment. However, the difficulty depends on your background\u2014CPAs face challenges in accounting and tax, while CFAs focus on investment and finance.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1734596355576\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is 3 months enough for CFA\u00ae Level 1?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, it\u2019s possible if you\u2019re disciplined and study around 20-25 hours per week. However, most candidates find 4-6 months more comfortable to thoroughly cover the material and take practice exams.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1734596360855\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Can I get a CFA\u00ae charter in 2 years?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It\u2019s unlikely but not impossible. You would need to pass each exam on the first attempt and have already met the 4,000-hour work experience requirement. Most candidates take 3-4 years.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1734596366631\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is a CFA\u00ae or MBA better?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It depends on your career goals. A CFA\u00ae is ideal for investment and portfolio management careers, while an MBA offers a broader business education and networking opportunities across industries. Both have unique advantages.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you considering becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA\u00ae) but worried it might take forever? Don\u2019t sweat it! While earning the CFA\u00ae designation isn\u2019t exactly a weekend project, it can be a manageable journey\u2014not a lifelong marathon. And, with an average salary of $100,000&#8230; earning your charter will be well worth the effort. I\u2019ll break [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":3498,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,244],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3495","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers-education","category-finance"],"acf":{"external_author":[129],"external_editor":"","select_template":"default","not_show_feature_image":false,"hide_toc":false},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-to-Get-a-CFA-768x427.png","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/author\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Long Does It Take to Get a CFA\u00ae?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn the step-by-step timeline to get a CFA\u00ae, from exams to work experience, and plan your path to career success with this guide!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Long Does It Take to Get a CFA\u00ae?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn the step-by-step timeline to get a CFA\u00ae, from exams to work experience, and plan your path to career success with this guide!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Kansas City Star - Careers &amp; Education\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-12-19T21:39:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-21T18:46:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-to-Get-a-CFA.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"7501\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"4170\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"image\":false,\"name\":null,\"jobTitle\":\"Writer\",\"url\":false,\"description\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"How Long Does It Take to Get a CFA\u00ae?\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-19T21:39:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-21T18:46:09+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1319,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/7\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-to-Get-a-CFA.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Careers &amp; Education\",\"Finance\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/\",\"name\":\"How Long Does It Take to Get a CFA\u00ae?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/7\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-to-Get-a-CFA.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-19T21:39:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-21T18:46:09+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"\"},\"description\":\"Learn the step-by-step timeline to get a CFA\u00ae, from exams to work experience, and plan your path to career success with this guide!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596342825\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596349781\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596355576\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596360855\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596366631\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/7\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-to-Get-a-CFA.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/7\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-to-Get-a-CFA.png\",\"width\":7501,\"height\":4170,\"caption\":\"How Long Does it Take to Get a CFA\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How Long Does It Take to Get a CFA\u00ae?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/\",\"name\":\"Kansas City Star - Careers &amp; Education\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596342825\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596342825\",\"name\":\"How long does it take to do the CFA\u00ae?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"On average, it takes about 3-4 years to earn the CFA\u00ae charter. This includes passing all three levels of the CFA\u00ae exam, meeting the work experience requirement, and completing membership formalities.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596349781\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596349781\",\"name\":\"Is CFA\u00ae harder than CPA?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The CFA\u00ae exams are widely considered more difficult because of their depth, breadth of topics, and high time commitment. However, the difficulty depends on your background\u2014CPAs face challenges in accounting and tax, while CFAs focus on investment and finance.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596355576\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596355576\",\"name\":\"Is 3 months enough for CFA\u00ae Level 1?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, it\u2019s possible if you\u2019re disciplined and study around 20-25 hours per week. However, most candidates find 4-6 months more comfortable to thoroughly cover the material and take practice exams.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596360855\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596360855\",\"name\":\"Can I get a CFA\u00ae charter in 2 years?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It\u2019s unlikely but not impossible. You would need to pass each exam on the first attempt and have already met the 4,000-hour work experience requirement. Most candidates take 3-4 years.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596366631\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\\\/#faq-question-1734596366631\",\"name\":\"Is a CFA\u00ae or MBA better?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It depends on your career goals. A CFA\u00ae is ideal for investment and portfolio management careers, while an MBA offers a broader business education and networking opportunities across industries. Both have unique advantages.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How Long Does It Take to Get a CFA\u00ae?","description":"Learn the step-by-step timeline to get a CFA\u00ae, from exams to work experience, and plan your path to career success with this guide!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How Long Does It Take to Get a CFA\u00ae?","og_description":"Learn the step-by-step timeline to get a CFA\u00ae, from exams to work experience, and plan your path to career success with this guide!","og_url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/","og_site_name":"Kansas City Star - Careers &amp; Education","article_published_time":"2024-12-19T21:39:41+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-05-21T18:46:09+00:00","og_image":[{"width":7501,"height":4170,"url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-to-Get-a-CFA.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","image":false,"name":null,"jobTitle":"Writer","url":false,"description":""},"headline":"How Long Does It Take to Get a CFA\u00ae?","datePublished":"2024-12-19T21:39:41+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-21T18:46:09+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/"},"wordCount":1319,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-to-Get-a-CFA.png","articleSection":["Careers &amp; Education","Finance"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/","url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/","name":"How Long Does It Take to Get a CFA\u00ae?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-to-Get-a-CFA.png","datePublished":"2024-12-19T21:39:41+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-21T18:46:09+00:00","author":{"@id":""},"description":"Learn the step-by-step timeline to get a CFA\u00ae, from exams to work experience, and plan your path to career success with this guide!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596342825"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596349781"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596355576"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596360855"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596366631"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-to-Get-a-CFA.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-to-Get-a-CFA.png","width":7501,"height":4170,"caption":"How Long Does it Take to Get a CFA"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Long Does It Take to Get a CFA\u00ae?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/","name":"Kansas City Star - Careers &amp; Education","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":""},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596342825","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596342825","name":"How long does it take to do the CFA\u00ae?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"On average, it takes about 3-4 years to earn the CFA\u00ae charter. This includes passing all three levels of the CFA\u00ae exam, meeting the work experience requirement, and completing membership formalities.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596349781","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596349781","name":"Is CFA\u00ae harder than CPA?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The CFA\u00ae exams are widely considered more difficult because of their depth, breadth of topics, and high time commitment. However, the difficulty depends on your background\u2014CPAs face challenges in accounting and tax, while CFAs focus on investment and finance.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596355576","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596355576","name":"Is 3 months enough for CFA\u00ae Level 1?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, it\u2019s possible if you\u2019re disciplined and study around 20-25 hours per week. However, most candidates find 4-6 months more comfortable to thoroughly cover the material and take practice exams.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596360855","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596360855","name":"Can I get a CFA\u00ae charter in 2 years?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It\u2019s unlikely but not impossible. You would need to pass each exam on the first attempt and have already met the 4,000-hour work experience requirement. Most candidates take 3-4 years.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596366631","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-get-cfa\/#faq-question-1734596366631","name":"Is a CFA\u00ae or MBA better?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It depends on your career goals. A CFA\u00ae is ideal for investment and portfolio management careers, while an MBA offers a broader business education and networking opportunities across industries. Both have unique advantages.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"first_category":{"name":"Finance","url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/finance\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3495"}],"collection":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3495"}],"version-history":[{"attributes":{"count":0},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3495\/revisions"}],"acf:post":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/external-author\/129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3495"}],"wp:term":[{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3495"},{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}