Guides to Book CFA Exam

In this article, we will be looking at HOW TO BOOK CFA Exam. The Chartered Financial Analyst program is a postgraduate professional certification offered to investment and financial professionals worldwide by the American-based CFA Institute.

Due to social distancing requirements around the globe, we are experiencing capacity constraints in several test areas for upcoming exams. Please check our CFA Exam Updates page for the most current information to aid your registration process.

Residents of certain countries are not able to register for the CFA exam. Review the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Policy to check whether there are any sanctions on your country.

CFA Institute reserves the right to prematurely close registration and scheduling dates as conditions warrant.

2025/2026 CFA Exam Information

Get the latest information on what’s new about this year’s CFA exam.

Exam Registration, Scheduling, and Deferrals

Test Center Updates

Learn More About Computer-Based Exams

Charting your Journey through the CFA Program (PDF)

Exams That Evolve in Complexity

Each level of the curriculum builds on the prior level and becomes increasingly complex. The chart below explains the differences between each exam so you can prepare accordingly.

LEVEL ILEVEL IILEVEL III
LEVEL REQUIREMENTMeet CFA Program enrollment requirementsPass Level I CFA examPass Level II CFA exam
QUESTION FORMATMultiple choice questionsVignette-supported multiple choice questionsVignette-supported essay questions and vignette-supported multiple choice questions
EXAM RESULTS AVAILABILITYWithin 60 days of taking the examWithin 60 days of taking the examWithin 90 days of taking the exam
10 YEAR AVERAGE PASS RATE42%45%54%
DETAILSView Quick Start Guide for Level I 

View Level I Details
View Quick Start Guide for Level II

View Level II Details
View Quick Start Guide for Level IIIView Level III Details

CFA Program Costs

Registration costs vary depending on when you decide to register for the exam. Please note, there is a one-time enrollment fee of USD 450 the first time you register for the Level I exam. Take care when scheduling your computer-based exam appointment, as there is a USD 250 rescheduling fee if you wish to reschedule your exam appointment in your exam window.*

All fees shown are net of any local VAT, Goods and Services Tax (GST) or any other sales tax payable by the candidate in their country of residence. Where CFA® Institute is required to add sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the fees shown during the payment/checkout process. 

For information about taxability related to online purchases from CFA Institute, please visit our Tax Policy page.

*We recognize that in some locations, the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 is making it difficult to finalize exam schedules, navigate travel restrictions, and secure seating in your preferred location. To help alleviate these inconveniences, we have reduced the USD 250 fee for exam changes to USD 25 for all exams in 2025/2026.

$450 One-Time Enrollment Fee

There is a one-time enrollment fee when you register for CFA Program and the Level I exam. This fee will not be applied to subsequent exams. All fees must be paid in US dollars. For more information on enrollment fees and payment options, visit our policies page.


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