Regular Membership

To qualify as a regular member of CFA Institute and a local society, an investment professional must meet all of the criteria listed below:

1. Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or have equivalent education or work experience
2. Pass Level I of the CFA exam or pass the self-administered Standards of Practice Examination
3. Have 48 months of acceptable professional work experience in the investment decision-making process
4. Agree to adhere to and sign the Member's Agreement, a Professional Conduct Statement, and any additional documentation requested by CFA Institute

Both CFA Institute and a society must review your application for regular membership. All societies require you to provide sponsor forms from two individuals; these can be submitted online. In the event of a discrepancy, CFA Institute makes the final determination for regular membership status.

CFA Charterholder Membership

Affiliate Membership

To qualify for affiliate membership, you must meet both of the following criteria:

1. Agree to adhere to and sign the Member's Agreement and Professional Conduct Statement
2. Fulfill society requirements, which vary by society

Once you're approved for affiliate membership by a society, you will be prompted to activate your membership. Affiliate members receive the same benefits as regular members, but do not have voting rights.

Note: Affiliate membership does not qualify you for the award of the CFA charter. You will need to update your work experience and apply to become a regular member in order to get your charter. If you don't have the necessary work experience, we'll assign you affiliate membership status. Candidates are often first approved as affiliate members. You may apply for an upgrade to regular membership before you activate.