what is cfa certification

A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is a globally-recognized professional designation given by the CFA Institute. The CFA Institute is a global, not-for-profit professional organization that provides investment professionals with finance education. The institute aims to promote standards in ethics, education, and professional excellence in the global investment services industry. To become a CFA, a candidate must pass the three-level exam, build up work experience in a related field, provide letters of reference, and apply to join the CFA Institute. The CFA Program is a three-part exam. Passing the exam for all three levels, along with the applicable practical skills modules, is a requirement to obtain the CFA charter. The CFA charter is one of the most respected designations in finance and is widely considered to be the gold standard in the field of investment analysis. The designation is handed out by the CFA Institute, which is a global nonprofit professional organization of more than 164,000 charter holders, portfolio managers, and other financial professionals in over 151 countries. The CFA charter is not a guaranteed path to riches and glory, and earning it is a prolonged, pricey, and altogether challenging process that may not be right for every financial professional.