CFA Full Form

CFA full form is Chartered Financial Analyst and is a professional qualification granted by the CFA institute. Candidates qualifying with this degree can get a plethora of opportunities in the financial sector. During the course, aspirants learn various facets and aspects of financial, wealth management and marketing. In total there are around 9 locations where CFA is taught. Read the complete article to gather adequate information about the CFA course and the way it can open new avenues to your career.

What is CFA Full Form?

CFA's full form is Chartered Financial Analyst and is regarded as one of the most sought-after job profiles. To pursue a course in Chartered Financial Analyst, candidates need to qualify certain parameters to be held eligible. CFA is perhaps the most popular and respectable designation that's why large-scale jobs are created in this arena.

The course module is designed to enhance a learner’s expertise in handling finance and investment. One of the main objectives behind the course is to help the aspirants build a robust career. As you must be aware of how lucrative and expansive the financial sector is, creating large-scale jobs each year; therefore, if you hail from a commerce background, a course in CFA can allow you to pave a fulfilling career. The course prepares future chartered financial analysts who portray the knowledge and skills to manage finances. Well, anyone with a passion to serve the financial sector won't be a good fit; rather, one must possess a set of qualities to become a certified CFA. 

Overview on CFA

Who Can Pursue CFA?

As it's a hardcore financial position; hence, a set of qualities have been fixed by the CFA institute which should be abided by the candidates before applying. The course is best for those who wish to work either as a financial advisor or entrepreneur. For an in-depth understanding, let's delve into the various qualifying criteria set by the institute.

• Candidates must have completed graduation in any discipline from any recognized university. 
• Freshers cannot apply for the chartered financial analyst course.
• Aspirants need to have at least 4 years of professional experience in the financial niche.
• Portfol of the candidates must reflect a combination of 4 years of education and professional experience.

Those aligned with the above-mentioned criteria need to sit for a three-level CFA examination. The CFA course will be completed within 3 years, upon successful qualifying for the exam, a certificate will be granted. 

Why Study CFA Course?

The Chartered Financial Analyst course is one of the most popular and renowned courses available. The CFA course has almost equal value and recognition as a CA or CS course. With the rising companies and institutions, the demand for chartered financial analysts has also risen. Various financial corporations provide employment opportunities to CFAs. The role and salary structure depends on the years of experience, skills set and ability to work in the company. There are major advantages and benefits of studying CFA course which are mentioned below:

• A Global Certification: The certification provided after course completion is  accepted in more than 165 countries across the world. The CFA institute is considered to be the global standard for certification for investment professionals. 
• High Opportunities in Financial Market: The overall investment, mobile wallets and the mutual fund scheme is expected to expand the job opportunity in the financial sector in the future. It is anticipated that the investment banking sector is on rise. As a positive consequence, the CFA certificate holders will have an abundant job opportunity in the future era.
• Better Compensation Offerings: After completing the CFA course, the candidates get internship opportunities and placement offers. As per data, a CFA is expected to earn between INR 3,50,000 and INR 35,00,000 per annum. The price range and the package offered in the international market increases. The CFA in the international market can make an earning of INR 94,02,021 per year which is a better choice.
• Larger Scope of Career Advancement: The position of CFA course graduates is hired in higher level positions in financial business organization. The leading financial business institutes such as JP Morgan, UBS, RBC, Bank of America, ML, HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo hire the CFA graduates during and after course completion.

CFA Course Eligibility

To be able to pursue a CFA Course, the candidates must meet certain eligibility criteria. Few of the eligibility criteria to pursue CFA course are:

• The candidates who is interested in working in the financial services and business should enroll and pursue the course
• To work as a portfolio managers, risk managers, financial advisors and other financial position, the candidate must pursue CFA course
• The CFA program also helps the person to transition from conventional degrees such as B.Com/M.Com and other business degree that can provide better career opportunities
• To become entrepreneurs and start a career as financial advisors, the candidate must enroll in a CFA certification course.
• The candidates who have work experience can enroll in a CFA certification course to leap towards a better career.
• Addition of CFA certificate gives boost to the represent experience and lead to better job opportunities and growth
• The candidates who have completed Chartered Financial Analyst program receivers almost the same amount of package and recognition as those who have completed CA or CS course
• With CFA certificate, increment and hikes are easily accessible in a company/firm/industry
• With CFA certificate, the individual can work in better financial institutions
• Various certificates such as Certificate in ESG Investing, the Investment Foundation Certificate and Certificate in Investment Performance which is highly reconnised in the financial world.

Highlights on Levels of the CFA Exam

The CFA certification program is pretty tough, and a substantial amount of hard work is required to qualify. It generally occurs in three levels, applicants must score passing marks in each stage to finally get certification. To get a fair idea about the structure of each of the levels, check the below-mentioned points.

• Level I

Looking at the previous trends, applicants of the CFA program can be assured that the level 1 exam is generally held in June and December every year. At this level, examinees will be tested on the utilization of tools especially on ten topics. These topics include portfolio management, equity investments, mathematical techniques, fixed income, alternative investments, economics, derivatives, corporate finance, financial analysis and reporting.

• Level II

Level II is held in June, and it happens once a year, unlike the first level. The primary focus of this stage is concerned with helping candidates familiarize themselves with concepts and techniques for investing in specific situations. Learners even generate an understanding of the valuation of diverse assets.

• Level III

Similar to the second level, the Level 3 exam is also conducted in June. To check the exact date, it is suggested to go through the official website of the CFA Institute. Applicants underwent the challenge of displaying their expertise in combining various concepts of logical methodologies they were taught in the entire 3 years program.

Why Enrol in CFA Program?

Prior to enrolling on a popular certification course like Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA full form), aspirants must gather some information regarding the significance of the course to fully utilize the opportunity.

• Job opportunities: Qualifying as Chartered Financial Analyst helps in opening some exciting career opportunities. Finance is an ever-growing and lucrative sector whereby one can choose from various disciplines like accounting, taxation, advisory, financial services, and many more. 
• Stable income: One of the major reasons for pursuing a CFA certification course is its lucrative aspect. On average a financial analyst can earn a salary up to INR 4 lakhs to 40 lakhs per annum.
• Future scope: As mentioned earlier, the financial sector is booming and highly opportunistic. Every year demand for financial advisors, analysts and accounting professionals is growing in demand which means candidates pursuing CFA courses can have great career scope. 

Brief Overview on CFA Curriculum

Hopefully, you have gathered enough information on CFA from this article.Start reading early if you wish to see a bright future in the financial arena.