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How to Share Your Achievements on Social Media

Celebrate your success as a CFA charterholder, a CIPM® designation holder, a Certificate in ESG Investing certificate holder, an Investment Foundations® Program certificate holder, or as a current candidate in any of the aforementioned credentials. Follow these guidelines to properly display your CFA Institute program status on social network sites, in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. CFA Institute protects the designation and programs that you've worked so hard to accomplish by enforcing these Standards. 

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Stand Out with Your Digital Badge

We distribute digital badges on a regular basis via our digital badge vendor, Basno. When your new badge is ready, you will receive an email from [email protected] on behalf of CFA institute.

  • Basno Badge
    Claim Your Badge

    1. Select “claim your badge” in the email. This will direct you to Basno.
    2. Register with Basno. You can use your Facebook account or email address.
    3. Share your badge. Once registered you will be redirected to your digital badge page where you may claim your badge and share it via social media. 

How to Share Your Designations on Twitter

You may only include "CFA" and/or "CIPM" after your name if you continue to meet the membership requirements in the CFA Institute Articles and Bylaws (PDF) and previously were awarded the CFA or CIPM designations. The CFA and CIPM designations:

• Should not be included in your Twitter handle, e.g., not @JohnSmithCFA or @MaryJonesCIPM
• Should only appear in the section of your profile that contains your surname and given name
• Should not be included with a pseudonym or fictitious phrase meant to hide your identity

How to Share Your Designations and Certifications on LinkedIn

After you've earned your CFA designation, CIPM designation, or Investment Foundations certificate, use these instructions to update the Licenses & Certifications and About sections of your LinkedIn profile.

Add your CFA designation:

  • Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile.
  • Select Add Profile section.
  • Under Background, select Licenses & Certifications.
    • Certification Name: If you have earned your charter, enter "Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) Charterholder."
    • Issuing Organization: Enter "CFA Institute."
    • Box labeled "The certificate does not expire:" CFA Institute members may check this box as long as you satisfy the requirements to maintain your status. If your membership has lapsed, you must select the month and year that your membership lapsed. Failure to do so is a violation of Standard VII(b) of the Code and Standards.
    • Credential ID: Leave this field blank.
    • Certification URL: You may insert your digital badge URL.
    • Issue Date: Select the month and year you received your charter.
    • Select Save.

Add your charterholder digital badge:

  • Under About on your LinkedIn profile, select the pencil edit icon.
    • Select Link.
    • Paste your digital badge URL and select Add.
    • Select Apply.
    • Select Save.

Add your CIPM designation:

  • Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile.
  • Select Add Profile section.
  • Under Background, select Licenses & Certifications.
    • Certification Name: If your designation has been awarded, enter "Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM) designation holder."
    • Certification Authority: Enter "CFA Institute."
    • License Number: Leave this field blank.
    • Certification URL: Leave this field blank.
    • Dates: Select the month and year you received your designation.
    • Box labeled "The certificate does not expire:" CFA Institute members may check this box as long as you satisfy the requirements to maintain your status. If your membership has lapsed, you must select the month and year that your membership lapsed.
    • Select Save.

Add your Investment Foundations certification:

  • Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile.
  • Select Add Profile section.
  • Under Background, select Licenses & Certifications.
    • Certification Name: If your certificate has been awarded, enter "Investment Foundations certificate holder."
    • Certification Authority: Enter "CFA Institute."
    • License Number: Leave this field blank.
    • Certification URL: Leave this field blank.
    • Dates: Select the month and year you received your certificate.
    • Box labeled "The certificate does not expire:" You may check this box.
    • Select Save.

Add your Investment Foundations certificate holder digital badge:

  • Under About on your LinkedIn profile, select the pencil edit icon.
    • Select Link.
    • Paste your digital badge URL and select Add.
    • Select Apply.
    • Select Save.

Add your Certificate in ESG Investing certification:

  • Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile.
  • Select Add Profile section.
  • Under Background, select Licenses & Certifications.
    • Certification Name: If your certificate has been awarded, enter "Certificate in ESG Investing”
    • Certification Authority: Enter "CFA Institute."
    • License Number: Leave this field blank.
    • Certification URL: Leave this field blank.
    • Dates: Select the month and year you received your certificate.
    • Box labeled "The certificate does not expire:" You may check this box.
    • Select Save.

Add your Certificate in ESG Investing certificate holder digital badge:

  • Under About on your LinkedIn profile, select the pencil edit icon.
    • Select Link.
    • Paste your digital badge URL and select Add.
    • Select Apply.
    • Select Save.

How to Share Your Candidate Status on LinkedIn

If you are a candidate in the CFA or CIPM Program, you may indicate that you have passed each of the exams under Test Score or state that you are a candidate in the program under Course. If you are a candidate for the Investment Foundations Certificate, registered for the exam, or have completed the exam but have not yet received your result, you may reference your candidacy.

Do not use your candidacy in the Heading of your profile. Do not indicate an "Expected" date. The Code and Standards prohibits candidates from representing that you have been awarded a partial designation.

Add your CFA Program candidacy:

  • Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile.
  • Select Add Profile section.
  • Under Accomplishments, select Test Score.
    • Test Name: Enter "Level [I, II, or III] CFA exam."
    • Associated With: Leave this field blank.
    • Score: Enter "Passed" if you would like to indicate the level you have passed.
    • Test Date: Enter the month and year of the date you passed the exam.
    • Under Description, enter the level you have completed, e.g., "Passed Level II of the CFA Program."
    • Select Save.

Add your candidate digital badge:

  • Under About on your LinkedIn profile, select the pencil edit icon.
    • Select Link.
    • Paste your digital badge URL and select Add.
    • Description: If you have completed all three levels of the CFA Program but have not completed the work experience requirement, you may state: "Passed all three levels of the CFA Program and may be awarded the charter upon completion of the required work experience."
    • Select Apply.
    • Select Save.

Reference your candidacy for an upcoming exam:

  • Under Accomplishments, select Courses.
    • Under Course Name, enter "Level [I, II, or III] CFA exam candidate."
    • Leave all other fields blank.
    • Select Save.

Do not use your candidacy in the Heading of your profile. Do not indicate an "Expected" date.

Add your CIPM Program Candidacy:

  • Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile.
  • Select Add Profile section.
  • Under Accomplishments, select Test Scores.
    • Test Name: Enter "[Level I or Level II] CIPM Program exam."
    • Associated With: Leave this field blank.
    • Score: Enter "Candidate" if you wish to reference your candidacy in the program or "Passed" if you would like to indicate the level you have passed.
    • Test Date: Enter the month and year of the date you passed the exam. Or, if you wish to reference your candidacy, leave this field blank.
    • Under Description, enter the level you have completed, e.g., "Passed Level I [or Level II] of the CIPM Program."
    • Select Save.

If you would like to reference your candidacy for an upcoming exam:

  • Under Accomplishments, select Course.
    • Under Course Name, enter "[Level I or Level II] CIPM Program Exam Candidate." Leave all other fields blank.
    • Select Save.

Reference your candidacy for the upcoming exam:

  • Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile.
  • Select Add Profile section.
  • Under Accomplishments, select Courses.
    • Under Course Name, enter "Candidate for the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing." Leave all other fields blank.
    • Number: Leave this field blank.
    • Select Save.

Looking to Share Your Status on Your Resume?

CFA Institute encourages all charterholders to include their designations and candidates to display their participation in the CFA Program on their resumes.

Learn how to represent your status on your resume

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