Nearly 160,000 Aspiring Charterholders to Sit for CFA Exams this Weekend

2015 candidate pool increases by more than 10,000 prospective CFA charterholders committed to building professionalism and putting investors first

TORONTO, June 4, 2015 /CNW/ - CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, announces that 159,889 candidates from 174 countries have registered for Level I, II and III CFA exams this weekend. This year's exams, to be administered on June 6 worldwide, have seen an increase in more than 10,000 registrations compared to June 2014. The number of registered candidates could fill Rogers Centre in Toronto more than three times.

In Canada, 13,333 candidates registered for the June exam, up from 12,574 who registered for the June exam in 2014.

"The CFA Program is the definitive path for gaining graduate level, ethically grounded, and real world skills for a career in the global investment management profession," said Paul Smith, CFA, president and CEO of CFA Institute. "The diverse global pool of CFA charterholders is knowledgeable, relevant, and places investors' interests first. The candidates who will sit for the exam this weekend are taking the next step towards earning the CFA charter and to advancing the value of the global profession to make the world a better place for investors."

The number of exam registrations for this year's exam cycle (December 2014 and June 2015) totals almost 225,000 registrations. Regionally, Asia Pacific continues to be the largest source of candidates, with 69,131 registered for the June 2015 exam, accounting for 43 percent of the total. The Americas saw the registration of 55,609 candidates, 35 percent of the total, and 35,149 candidates registered in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), accounting for 22 percent of the total.

CFA Institute has more than 123,000 charterholders around the world who work in some of the most prominent firms, including JP Morgan Chase, PwC, HSBC, and FactSet. Employers know that by hiring charterholders, teams are strengthened with professionals who have an in-depth understanding of client needs, and the capacity to tailor and implement specific solutions.

"The CFA Program is incredibly well-regarded. It's known for its integrity, the difficulty of the exams, and its stature in the industry," said Jeff Spector, CFA, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances, FactSet. "Earning the charter is honestly my greatest educational accomplishment."

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.

Exam weekend comes on the heels of Putting Investors First Month in May, during which many of the organization's 144 member societies worldwide hosted local events to unite investment professionals in a commitment to place investor interests above all others. Learn more here.

Find out more about the CFA Program and how it can help investment professionals to achieve professional excellence for an impactful career.

About 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 behaviour 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 Institute has more than 131,000 members in 147 countries and territories, including 123,000 charterholders, and 144 member societies. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org. 

SOURCE CFA Institute

Jannine Rane, FleishmanHillard, 416-645-3662, [email protected]; Sarah-Jane Purvis, CFA Institute, [phone], [email protected]