The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credential has become one of the most important qualifications in the global finance industry, signifying deep expertise in investment management, financial analysis, ethical standards, and portfolio strategy. To earn this prestigious designation, a candidate must clear a series of three exams—CFA Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3—each increasing in difficulty and complexity. The CFA registration process is the gateway to this journey and is perhaps the most crucial first step for any aspiring candidate. For the 2025 exam cycle, the CFA Institute has officially announced that the Level 1 exam will be held from 17 to 23 February, 14 to 20 May, 20 to 26 August, and 12 to 18 November; the Level 2 exam will take place from 21 to 25 May, 27 to 31 August, and 19 to 23 November; and the Level 3 exam is scheduled for 13 to 16 February and 15 to 19 August. According to the CFA Institute, results for each level will be released approximately 60 days after the end of the respective exam window, meaning results for February exams will be available in April, May exam results will be released by July, August results will be declared in October, and November exam results will be published by January 2026.
What is CFA?
The CFA, or Chartered Financial Analyst, is a globally recognized certification offered by the CFA Institute. It is for finance and investment professionals wishing to advance their careers and obtain deeper knowledge of finance and investment. Understanding and application of investment analysis, portfolio management, and ethical standards are the major components of the course. Candidates must complete three levels of exams, with each level containing a variety of skills and knowledge areas relevant to the financial industry.
CFA 2025 Registration
Planning to take the CFA exam in 2025? Knowing the official CFA registration dates is the first step to stay ahead and avoid missing important deadlines. Below is the complete schedule for all CFA exam windows in 2025, including early and standard registration dates.
CFA Level I Exam Dates and Deadlines
The CFA Level 1 deadlines for 2025 include four exam windows: February, May, August, and November. Each window has its own registration opening, early deadline, and standard deadline. It’s important to register early to secure your preferred CFA exam date and center.
| Exam Window | Registration Opens | Early Registration Deadline | Standard Registration Deadline | Exam Dates |
| May 2025 | August 8, 2024 | October 16, 2024 | February 6, 2025 | May 14–20, 2025 |
| August 2025 | November 6, 2024 | January 29, 2025 | May 6, 2025 | Aug 20–26, 2025 |
| November 2025 | February 12, 2025 | April 9, 2025 | August 5, 2025 | Nov 12–18, 2025 |
CFA Level II Exam Dates and Deadlines
CFA Level II exams in 2025 are scheduled for May 21–25, August 27–31, and November 19–23. Each window has separate early and standard registration deadlines, so plan your timeline accordingly.
| Exam Window | Registration Opens | Early Registration Deadline | Standard Registration Deadline | Exam Dates |
| May 2025 | August 8, 2024 | October 16, 2024 | February 6, 2025 | May 21–25, 2025 |
| August 2025 | November 6, 2024 | January 29, 2025 | May 6, 2025 | Aug 27–31, 2025 |
| November 2025 | February 12, 2025 | April 9, 2025 | August 5, 2025 | Nov 19–23, 2025 |
CFA Level III Exam Dates and Deadlines
CFA Level III exams for 2025 will be held from February 13–16 and August 15–19. Make sure to register before the early or standard deadlines to secure your preferred exam slot.
| Exam Window | Registration Opens | Early Registration Deadline | Standard Registration Deadline | Exam Dates |
| February 2025 | May 9, 2024 | July 9, 2024 | November 7, 2024 | Feb 13–16, 2025 |
| August 2025 | November 6, 2024 | January 29, 2025 | May 6, 2025 | Aug 15–19, 2025 |
These are the official CFA exam registration and testing dates for 2025, directly pulled from the CFA Institute’s published schedule.
CFA Registration Process to Enroll
The very first step in the journey to becoming a CFA is this structured registration process. This makes a sort of threshold that ensures that all candidates have gone through all prerequisites and information regarding the commitment involved in being a CFA candidate.
Step 1: Create an Account Online on the CFA Institute Website
Prospective candidates thus have to visit the CFA Institute’s official website and create their account. This account will then serve as the main passage for the entire CFA life- from registration to exam scheduling and all the way through the submission of study materials.
Step 2: Enroll in CFA Program
Having set up an account, candidates can then access the CFA Program section and proceed with enrollment. This process demands that personal information, educational background, and details of professional experience be provided. Be sure everything is right and up to date before you finalize it.
Step 3: Choose the Desired Exam Level and Window
Candidates are thus required to select the relevant exam level (Level I, II, or III) and date according to what is appropriate for their preparation schedule. The CFA Institute offers many windows throughout the year.
Step 4: Payment of Registration Fees
Once the examination level and window have been chosen, candidates will be required to pay the corresponding exam registration fees, the amount of which differs based on the status period (early or standard) of registration and exam level. Early registration is, in fact, advisable to take advantage of the decrease in fees.
Step 5: Schedule the Exam Appointment
Once registration and payment are done, candidates are free to schedule their exam appointment. The CFA Institute has partnered with Prometric to provide exam slots at various testing centers worldwide. Therefore, candidates can choose a time and place that is most convenient for them while noting that slots are on a first-come, first-served basis.
CFA Registration Requirements
Informed about Important CFA Exam Dates and Registration Deadlines Keeping yourself updated on important dates would afford you and your time to prepare adequately. The CFA Institute has conferred the following schedule for exams in 2025. There are several basic conditions by which you have to qualify to sit for the CFA Level 1 exam. The CFA Institute has established this criterion to ensure that most candidates have almost similar grounds. This is very significant. Without qualifying, the CFA Institute denies your registration. Let’s look at all the requirements below:
Educational Requirements
You should either possess a bachelor’s degree or be completing the final year of an undergraduate program. If you were in your last year of graduation, you could register and take the exam. However, by the time you move to the next level, you must have your degree.
In the case of not having a degree, you may still enrol if you’ve worked full-time for four years or studied for four years at a university. The CFA Institute allows this combination, but part-time jobs and internships do not count.
For instance, if you were to work in full-time employment for two years and then study at a university for a further two years, you would qualify. You’ll simply need four years of either work or study or both combined. This rule benefits working professionals who are without degrees but carry solid experience in finance or a parallel field.
Professional Conduct Requirement
You will be required to adhere to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and the Standards of Professional Conduct. The moment you register with the CFA Institute, you will be required to submit a Professional Conduct Statement, which checks your past behaviour. You must then tell them of any prior legal, disciplinary or regulatory issue you have had.
- If you hide something and they uncover it later, they can cancel your CFA registration. So, always be honest while filling out the conduct form. Even if you made mistakes in the past, the CFA Institute allows you to explain.
- The CFA Institute would like ethical finance professionals; hence, this conduct rule is very critical, right from the first level.
Valid International Passport
Only international passports will be accepted as identity for students registering for CFA exams. This is a very strict rule. Unless you obtain a passport, you cannot register for your CFA Level 1 exam.
- Other IDs like Aadhaar cards, driving licenses, or voter IDs are not accepted. Even if these IDs are valid in India, the CFA exam is global. So, everyone across the world must use only a valid international passport.
- Also, make sure that your passport is not outdated and contains the correct full name, date of birth, and photo. If your passport details mismatches the name you registered with, the CFA Institute can cancel your exam.
- If your passport expires before your exam date, renew it in time. You will have to show the same passport you used during the registration at the exam centre. This helps with security and avoids exam-day problems.
Communication and Language Skills
All CFA exams are undertaken with very good English language proficiency, as you need to be good at reading and writing in English. There is no submission of any test score, for example, IELTS or TOEFL, but you will need to demonstrate that you can communicate/understand your concepts in the language. All material, questions, and answers will be in English. So, those who do not have English as their first language must start practicing early on.
Compliance with CFA Institute Rules
The CFA Institute will show you certain agreements on registration. You are supposed to read and agree to:
- The Candidate Agreement
- The Exam Policies
- The CFA Program Rules of Procedure
These rules include what you can bring to the exam centre, rules regarding rescheduling, and behaviour expectations. You will have to Agree to all these terms before you pay the CFA registration fees.
With all these conditions, you have registered successfully for the CFA Level 1 exam. Have all your documents in readiness, and double-check for eligibility before proceeding to the CFA registration portal. Whether you are a final-year B.Com student or a working analyst, you can start your CFA journey by following these steps.
CFA Registration Fees and Payment Structure
The cost of the CFA exam is extremely critical in shaping your CFA journey. All need to know the structure of CFA registration fees before simply committing. Almost all fees for CFA registration differ according to the registration time; hence, registering early saves money. A one-time enrollment fee also applies alongside the exam fees for new candidates. Understanding how to break down extra payments will assist in making your budget as efficient as possible.
Breakdown of CFA Registration Cost
The CFA registration cost consists of a one-time enrollment fee and an exam fee for each level. The total amount depends on when you register – not before the early deadline or standard deadline.
| Fee Type | Level I | Level II | Level III |
| One-time Enrollment Fee | ₹29,225 | — | — |
| Early Registration Fee | ₹82,665 | ₹82,665 | ₹91,015 |
| Standard Registration Fee | ₹107,715 | ₹107,715 | ₹116,065 |
Refer to the above fee structure for all levels: Level 1, CFA Level 2, and CFA Level 3. Kindly note that the one-time fee payment happens only during the CFA Level 1 registration. Only the exam fee applies to all future levels.
Mode of Payment
You can make payment through:
- Credit or debit cards
- International wire transfers
- Cheque (in some unique cases)
Always use the official CFA registration portal to make payments. For reference, retain your CFA registration login and confirmation emails after payment.
Tips to Control Registration Cost of CFA Early Registration
Early registration always finds the best price for CFA registration. Plan finances-CFA exam registration is expensive; therefore, individuals should save in advance.
- Check scholarships: Great candidates who qualify have their costs considerably reduced by the scholarships provided by the CFA Institute.
This will avoid financial surprises during CFA enrollment and make registration hassle-free.
CFA Registration FAQs
1. What is the valid duration of the CFA registration fee?
The validity of the CFA registration fee is limited to the exam window chosen by the candidate during registration. In cases such as absenteeing from an exam or switching to another window, one will have to make another payment for the same. The CFA Institute does not allow a rollover of registration fees for subsequent cycles.
2. Is 70% sufficient for passing the CFA Level I exam?
Certainly, historically, candidates scoring 70% and above in all areas of a topic are normally said to have strong chances of passing. However, the CFA Institute does not publicly declare the minimum passing score (MPS) for an examination. The MPS is set in relation to candidate performance at a given exam session and varies from one exam session to another.
3. What is the maximum number of times I can register for the CFA exam?
There is no limit imposed on the candidate as to the number of times they can register for the CFA exam. The CFA Institute only allows you to sit for an exam twice in any given calendar year and not in consecutive windows (e.g., not in May and August). You must put one window in between retaking it.
4. What are the requirements for CFA registration?
For the CFA Level 1 Registration, candidates must satisfy one of the listed conditions: Possession of an undergraduate degree (or be in the final year), Possessing any combination of 4,000 hours of work or higher education, Hold an international passport for identification verification., Must be comfortable in English since the exam is administered across the globe in English.
5. Can I change my exam location after registering?
Yes, you can change your exam location through the candidate portal of CFA, but only before the scheduling deadline. If there are seats available at the new location, you will be able to reschedule it. There will be no extra charge for a change in location unless you also change your exam date.
