Undergraduate students seeking to become CFA Charterholders once had to wait until they were no more than 11 months away from graduation to take the Level I exam. As of now, candidates can take the exam as early as 23 months before graduation. The remaining requirements are unchanged:

  • In order to sit for the Level II exam, a candidate must have completed bachelor’s degree.

  • To complete the CFA charter, a candidate must have at least 4,000 hours of professional investment experience over a minimum of 36 months.

CFA - Level I - Early - Access

While this change does not allow candidates to complete the charter earlier, it does enable them to begin their studies during their junior year of college. Earlier participation in the program will add a valuable resume item for students who are pursuing an internship in the industry.

“Employers in the investments industry put a lot of value on progress toward the charter. This chance to start earlier allows candidates to show employers their commitment to the field,” comments Dave Kaczorowski, a CFA instructor and content manager for The Princeton Review.

From a student point of view, “This change will allow me to gain honorable distinctions and a competitive edge in a very attractive time frame,” says Christopher Yeghiayan, a junior at the University of San Francisco.

Build the right CFA prep plan for you

Students who choose to begin their candidacy early will need to learn to manage their time between their university studies and the very ambitious curriculum of the CFA exam. With expert preparation for all three levels of the exam, The Princeton Review can help you navigate your journey to becoming a CFA Charterholder. Make the most of the opportunity to start your CFA journey earlier with one of The Princeton Review’s Level I CFA preparation programs.