Nearly 150,000 Aspiring Charterholders to Sit for June 2014 CFA Exams this Weekend

CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence, announces that  148,927 candidates from 179 countries have registered for Level I, II and III CFA exams, to be administered on June 7 worldwide. This weekend candidates will take the next step towards 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 number of exam registrations for this year's exam cycle (December 2013 and June 2014) totals more than 211,000 registrations. Regionally, Asia Pacific continues to be the largest source of candidates, with 63,021 registered for the June 2014 exam, accounting for 42 percent of the total. The Americas saw the registration of 53,089 candidates, 36 percent of the total, and 32,798 candidates registered in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), accounting for 22 percent of the total.

“Candidates dedicating themselves to the CFA Program are committed to shaping an investment industry that is a force for good,” said John Bowman, CFA, managing director and co-lead of Education at CFA Institute. “These investment professionals are vowing to place their clients' interests first through the highest standards of professional ethics, and education. In addition, they are laying a strong foundation for a wide range of career paths. Earning the CFA charter gives players in today’s industry credibility and distinguishes them within the industry as focused on rebuilding 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 three-level exam process covers 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 of the CFA Program 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,
• 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.