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More than 145,000 Investment Professionals to Sit for June 2013 CFA Exams

29 May, 2013
New York City United States
Candidates commit to raising standards, shaping a more trustworthy financial industry

CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence, announces that 146,605 candidates from 168 countries have registered for Level I, II, and III CFA exams, to be administered on 1 June worldwide. This weekend candidates will take the next step in earning the CFA charter, the mark of excellence within the investment profession, in a commitment to uphold the highest standards of investment practice and to serve investors and the global economy. The exam comes on the heels of the 66th CFA Institute Annual Conference where John Rogers, CFA, president and CEO of CFA Institute, called for a reinvention of the system to shape a more trustworthy future of finance that better serves society and to restore levels of trust to those of pre-financial crisis days.

The number of exam registrations for this year's exam cycle (December 2012 and June 2013) totals more than 210,000 registrations. Regionally, Asia Pacific continues to be the largest source of candidates, with 63,104 registered for the June 2013 exam, accounting for 43% of the total. The Americas saw the registration of 51,350 candidates, 35% of the total, and 32,148 candidates registered in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), accounting for 22% of the total.

“Last week at our annual conference, CFA Institute called for reform in six key areas within the industry to shape a more trustworthy, forward-thinking financial industry for future generations,” said John Rogers, CFA, president and CEO of CFA Institute. “In order to make this happen we need those future generations to drive the change and tackle these issues. Through their hard work and dedication to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, the candidates who will take the CFA exams this weekend are already committed to raising the professional standards of all participants in this industry, and to rebuild public trust.”

The CFA Program is a self-study program, considered to be the most rigorous credentialing program in the investment industry. The CFA curriculum is grounded in the practice of the investment profession and is methodically updated with knowledge, skills, and abilities (competencies) that are relevant to the profession. The CFA Program comprises a three-level exam process covering topics including Ethical and Professional Standards, Quantitative Methods, Economics, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Corporate Finance, Investment Tools, Asset Classes, and Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning. Each level imparts a particular skill set: Level I is focused on investment tools and the foundations of the business, giving candidates the necessary knowledge and comprehension; Level II is focused on asset classes including equity investments, fixed income, derivatives, and alternative investments, emphasizing candidates’ ability in application and analysis; and Level III is focused on portfolio management and wealth planning, requiring candidates to be competent in synthesis and evaluation while making investment decisions. Find out more about the CFA Program and how it can help investment professionals to achieve professional excellence for an impactful career.

The conference also saw the official launch of the Claritas® Investment Certificate, a new education program that provides a thorough understanding of how the investment industry works and represents a new international education and ethics standard across the financial services sector. The Claritas certificate is accessible to a wide range of professionals working with investment decision makers in functions such as operations, administration, IT, HR, marketing, sales, compliance and customer service. It is a self-study course which requires between 80 to 100 hours of study over a six month period and is made up of seven modules, covering the industry, tools, instruments, structure, controls, client methods, and ethics, culminating in a single self-scheduled, online exam at a proctored testing center. On successful completion of the examination, candidates will be awarded a certificate of knowledge. Global registration for the Claritas Investment Certificate is now available on the CFA Institute website.

CFA Institute

CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow.

CFA Program

The CFA Program sets a globally recognized standard for developing the skills and standards, competence, and integrity of financial analysts, portfolio managers, and investment advisers worldwide. It is widely considered the investment profession’s most rigorous credentialing program and has been referred to as a “gold standard” by the Economist and Financial Times. Administered in English, the CFA curriculum is identical worldwide and is grounded in the practice of the investment profession and evolves with time. Through a process called “practice analysis,” a survey of investment professionals from around the world, CFA Institute is able to update the curriculum with knowledge, skills, and competencies that are relevant to the profession. Only one in five candidates who begins the rigorous program successfully completes it and goes on to become a CFA charterholder.