Before you go for the CFA course, there are some things that you should know about CFA. It is considered the gold standard for portfolio analysis. You would be one of the glorified professionals who excel in a niche field of finance. Most people who complete the CFA course work as investment professionals. But before you go for the exams, there are certain things you must know about the CFA course.
- CFA consists of 3 exams
In order to earn the CFA charter, there are three levels that you need to clear. The exams require a lot of patience and determination to clear. You cannot achieve the charter if you clear only two of the exams. In addition to the exams, there are some other requirements as well, like professional experience. Before appearing for the course, make sure that you are ready to opt for it. The CFA Institute offers the certification and will be the final body for making all decisions regarding your candidature.
- CFA requires 4 years of formal education
You can apply for CFA if you have completed your graduation. You can also apply if you are in the final year of your graduate program. You need to have completed your graduation before you sit for CFA level 2. Try to get guidance from CFA classes in Delhi or Mumbai to understand the subject matter and clear the exams quite easily.
- Will the CFA charter guarantee a job?
Nothing comes guaranteed. The CFA charter is just a testament to your knowledge and patience. If you work hard for the certification and have good concepts and a certain amount of experience, you will definitely get a job. The CFA syllabus is designed in a way that is very suitable for risk managers, portfolio analysis, and investments.
- What roles would you be looking at after you get the certification?
Even though it is a niche field, there is a sizeable list of possible roles that you can work in. Even though you can get the chance to become an executive like the Chief Financial Officer, you can surely push your way to some of the top-level roles. However, as you just start your career, you would mostly be working in roles like Portfolio Manager, Research Analyst, Risk Manager, or Investment Banker. You might even be a Relationship Manager or a Financial Consultant. You should start with online learning as early as possible.
- How much would you be earning?
Well, this is really difficult to guess until you get an offer. However, you can assume that you will be getting a good amount every month. Also, depending on your skills, you can quickly progress through your career and keep a progressively better income. Start with the CFA level 1 and clear the different levels before you can start earning a good income.
- Should you go for CFA or MBA?
While the CFA focuses only on one particular domain, you can align yourself with any managerial role with the training you receive from an MBA degree. CFA is considered as the gold standard in its field and there are only a few MBA degrees that can be as valuable as the CFA. So if you are looking to go for portfolio management or investment analysis, CFA is the less expensive and better choice.
These are some of the things you need to know about the CFA before you opt for it.