{"id":3502,"date":"2024-12-20T13:39:15","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T19:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/?p=3502"},"modified":"2025-05-21T12:43:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T18:43:33","slug":"cfa-deferral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/cfa-deferral\/","title":{"rendered":"CFA\u00ae Deferral: How to Reschedule Your Exam Date"},"content":{"rendered":" <p>Did you know that over<a href=\"https:\/\/reclaim.ai\/blog\/meeting-scheduling-links-trends-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> 40%<\/a> of the average professional&#8217;s 1-on-1 meetings are rescheduled?<\/p> <p>Plain and simple, life doesn\u2019t always go according to plan, and that includes your CFA\u00ae exam journey. Whether you&#8217;re experiencing an unexpected emergency, a scheduling issue, or just need more time, the CFA Institute provides options for candidates to defer their exam to a future date.<\/p> <p>In this guide, I\u2019ll explain the two types of deferrals\u2014paid deferral and emergency deferral\u2014along with rescheduling, key details like fees, policies, documentation requirements, and next steps. By the end, you\u2019ll feel confident about how to reschedule your exam appointment if you need to.<\/p> <p class=\"custom_key\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list custom_underline\"> <li><strong>Rescheduling vs. Deferral:<\/strong> Rescheduling moves your exam within the <em>same exam window<\/em>, while deferral pushes your exam to a <em>future exam window<\/em>.<\/li> <li><strong>Paid Deferral Costs:<\/strong> A paid deferral costs $399 (rising to $449 in February 2025) and allows you to postpone your exam for up to 12 months.<\/li> <li><strong>Emergency Deferrals:<\/strong> Qualifying emergencies like illness, pregnancy, or military deployment may qualify for an emergency deferral with proper documentation.<\/li> <li><strong>Non-Refundable Decisions:<\/strong> Once you defer your exam\u2014whether paid or emergency\u2014it\u2019s binding. You can\u2019t reverse the decision.<\/li> <li><strong>Limited to One Deferral:<\/strong> You can only defer your exam <em>once<\/em> per registration. Any further changes require a brand-new exam registration.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-deferral-vs-rescheduling-which-is-right-for-you\"><strong>Deferral vs. Rescheduling: Which is Right For You?<\/strong><\/h2> <p>Knowing the difference between deferring and rescheduling is important so you can delay your exam to the right timeframe. Here\u2019s a quick breakdown:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Rescheduling:<\/strong> Moving your exam appointment within the<strong> same exam window<\/strong>. This costs $250 and is done through Prometric.<\/li> <li><strong>Deferral:<\/strong> Moving your exam to a <strong>future exam window<\/strong>. This costs $399 for a paid deferral or $100 if you qualify for an emergency deferral.<\/li> <\/ul> <p>Note that with either option, you&#8217;re paying more, but you don&#8217;t have to repay your exam registration fee or any additional exam fees. Rescheduling is pretty straightforward, so we&#8217;re going to focus on deferral for the majority of this article.<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"410\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/Guide-to-Rescheduling-CFA-Exam-410x1024.png\" alt=\"rescheduling CFA exam\" class=\"wp-image-3503\" style=\"width:789px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/Guide-to-Rescheduling-CFA-Exam-410x1024.png 410w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/Guide-to-Rescheduling-CFA-Exam-120x300.png 120w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/Guide-to-Rescheduling-CFA-Exam-60x150.png 60w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/12\/Guide-to-Rescheduling-CFA-Exam.png 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 410px) 100vw, 410px\" \/><\/figure> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-exam-deferral-options-paid-vs-emergency\"><strong>Exam Deferral Options: Paid vs. Emergency<\/strong><\/h2> <p>The CFA Institute offers two types of exam deferrals:<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-paid-deferral\"><strong>1. Paid Deferral<\/strong><\/h3> <p>If you can\u2019t sit for your exam on the scheduled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/cfa-exam-dates\/\">CFA\u00ae exam date<\/a> due to personal reasons (like work commitments, travel, or study challenges), you can purchase a paid deferral for $399.<\/p> <p>Here\u2019s what you need to know:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>You must submit the deferral request before the deferral deadline for your exam window.<\/li> <li>Depending on the exam level and seat availability, you can defer your exam appointment for up to 12 months.<\/li> <li>Once purchased, your current exam registration and scheduled exam appointment are immediately canceled.<\/li> <li>Only one paid deferral is allowed per paid registration. If you defer and later change your mind, you can\u2019t reverse the decision or defer again\u2014you\u2019ll need to pay for a new registration.<\/li> <li>No refunds are offered for paid deferrals.<\/li> <\/ul> <p><strong>Important:<\/strong> Starting with the February 2025 exam, the <strong>paid deferral fee will increase to $449<\/strong>.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-emergency-deferral\"><strong>2. Emergency Deferral<\/strong><\/h3> <p>If you face a qualifying significant hardship, you may be eligible for a free emergency deferral. Emergency deferrals are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and require proper documentation.<\/p> <p><strong>Qualifying situations include:<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Life-threatening illness (for you or an immediate family member)<\/li> <li>Death of a candidate&#8217;s immediate family member (parent, sibling, spouse, or child)<\/li> <li>Mandatory military deployment during the exam window (candidate only)<\/li> <li>Pregnancy (candidate only; limited to one deferral per exam level)<\/li> <li>Prometric\u2019s rescheduling of your exam appointment within 30 days of the exam window, where no new acceptable appointment date can be found.<\/li> <\/ul> <p><strong>Key details about emergency deferrals:<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Documentation (e.g., a doctor\u2019s note, military orders, or a death certificate) is required.<\/li> <li>Starting in 2025, there will be a <strong>$100 processing fee<\/strong> for all approved emergency deferrals.<\/li> <li>Emergency deferrals can also defer your exam for <strong>up to 12 months<\/strong>, depending on availability and exam level.<\/li> <\/ul> <p><strong>Note:<\/strong> If you don\u2019t qualify for an emergency deferral or can\u2019t provide proper documentation, your request will be denied. In that case, you\u2019ll still have the option to purchase a paid deferral if the deadline hasn\u2019t passed.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-by-step-guide-to-rescheduling-your-cfa-exam\"><strong>Step-by-Step Guide to Rescheduling Your CFA\u00ae Exam<\/strong><\/h2> <p>If you need to defer or reschedule your exam, follow these steps:<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-1-log-into-your-cfa-institute-account\"><strong>Step 1: Log into Your CFA Institute Account<\/strong><\/h3> <p>Go to the CFA Institute\u2019s website and log in. Your account is where you\u2019ll manage your deferral request and check on updates.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-2-choose-the-right-deferral-option\"><strong>Step 2: Choose the Right Deferral Option<\/strong><\/h3> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>If it\u2019s a <strong>personal reason<\/strong>, opt for the <strong>paid deferral<\/strong>.<\/li> <li>If it\u2019s an <strong>emergency<\/strong>, gather your documentation and apply for an <strong>emergency deferral<\/strong>.<\/li> <\/ul> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-3-submit-your-request\"><strong>Step 3: Submit Your Request<\/strong><\/h3> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Paid Deferral:<\/strong> Follow the prompts, pay the fee, and confirm your decision.<\/li> <li><strong>Emergency Deferral:<\/strong> Complete the emergency deferral request form (when available) and upload the required documentation. Keep in mind that it can take up to seven weeks for your request to be reviewed.<\/li> <\/ul> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-4-confirm-your-new-exam-window\"><strong>Step 4: Confirm Your New Exam Window<\/strong><\/h3> <p>Once approved, you\u2019ll receive a registration voucher code for a future testing window. Log back into your account to:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Register for your new exam window (registration deadlines apply).<\/li> <li>Schedule your exam appointment with Prometric.<\/li> <\/ul> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-5-continue-your-preparation\"><strong>Step 5: Continue Your Preparation<\/strong><\/h3> <p>You\u2019ll retain access to the Learning Ecosystem (LES) during your deferral period. If you register for an exam in the next calendar year, your LES will be updated to reflect the new curriculum.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-important-notes-about-the-cfa-deferral-policy\"><strong>Important Notes About the CFA\u00ae Deferral Policy<\/strong><\/h2> <p>To avoid surprises, keep these key points in mind:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>No Reversals:<\/strong> Once you purchase a paid deferral, it\u2019s binding. You can&#8217;t reverse the deferral if you decide later that you can sit for the exam.<\/li> <li><strong>Only One Deferral Per Registration:<\/strong> Whether it\u2019s paid or emergency, you can\u2019t defer a second time unless you pay for a new registration.<\/li> <li><strong>Documentation Matters:<\/strong> Emergency deferrals require clear, valid documentation. Submitting false documents violates the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and can result in serious penalties, including being barred from the program.<\/li> <li><strong>Registration Deadlines Apply:<\/strong> If registration has already closed for your new exam window, you must pick a different window.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2> <p>While unforeseen circumstances may disrupt your plans, the CFA Institute\u2019s deferral and rescheduling options provide the flexibility to adapt without losing sight of your goals. Whether you&#8217;re opting for a paid deferral or applying for an emergency deferral, understanding the policies and acting promptly will help you navigate the process smoothly.<\/p> <p>Deferrals should be a last resort\u2014sticking to your original exam date keeps you aligned with your study momentum and overall timeline. If deferring is unavoidable, use the extra time wisely to create a robust study plan and strengthen your preparation for the next exam window.<\/p> <p>Remember, setbacks don\u2019t define your success\u2014your determination does. With the right mindset and preparation, you can tackle any obstacle and move closer to earning your CFA\u00ae charter. <\/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-1734597045580\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How many times can you defer the CFA\u00ae exam?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You can defer your CFA\u00ae exam only once per registration. If you need to make further changes, you\u2019ll have to pay for a new exam registration.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1734597052053\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How much does it cost to defer the CFA\u00ae?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A paid deferral costs $399, though this fee will increase to $449 starting February 2025. Emergency deferrals are free for approved situations but will require a $100 processing fee beginning in 2025.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1734597058493\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is the 6-month rule for CFA\u00ae?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The 6-month rule means candidates cannot sit for the same level of the CFA\u00ae exam more than once within a 6-month period. This ensures candidates have enough time to prepare between attempts.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1734597091069\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is the cancellation policy for the CFA\u00ae exam?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Deferrals and reschedules are non-refundable. However, once you register for the CFA\u00ae exam for the first time, candidates are eligible for a full refund within 14 days of submitting payment. For full rules, reference the CFA Institute\u2019s refund <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfainstitute.org\/about\/governance\/policies\/cfa-program-refund-policy\">policy<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1734597096581\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Can you reschedule the CFA\u00ae exam?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, you can reschedule your CFA\u00ae exam for $250 as long as it\u2019s within the same current exam window. This must be done through Prometric before the exam appointment deadline.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know that over 40% of the average professional&#8217;s 1-on-1 meetings are rescheduled? Plain and simple, life doesn\u2019t always go according to plan, and that includes your CFA\u00ae exam journey. Whether you&#8217;re experiencing an unexpected emergency, a scheduling issue, or just need more time, the CFA Institute provides options for candidates to defer their [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":3504,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers-education"],"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\/CFA-Deferral-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 v27.5 (Yoast SEO v27.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>CFA\u00ae Deferral: How to Reschedule Your Exam Date<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to defer or reschedule your CFA\u00ae exam, including costs, policies, and key steps. 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