Q1. How I can become Chartered Financial Analyst ?

A1. The constantly developing industrial scenario has created a demand for experts in the field of
finance. The ever-changing scenario also means new ways and means for managing financial
portfolios. This has created a niche that can be filled by a person specially trained to handle
financial matters with all its ramifications. In order to fulfill this need, a training programme called
the Chartered Financial Analyst programme has been brought into being by the Institute of
Chartered Financial Analysts. The qualification of a CFA is not merely an additional qualification;
it is a specialisation that gives a person a distinct advantage over others in the field. The CFA
course enjoys wide recognition all over the country. In fact, bank employees who have completed
the CFA course are exempted from appearing for certain papers in the various examinations that
they are required to appear for.

Q2.What does a CFA do?

A2.Fresh CFAs generally begin as executive trainees in the financial sector. With experience they
climb up the corporate ladder to higher executive levels. The areas where a CFA can use his
skills are: financial accounting, management accounting, financial management (both as relevant
to India and for the international scene), investment management, security evaluation, project
planning, venture capital management and credit rating among other things. A CFA will be
responsible for decisions in the above mentioned areas. His or her decisions will be based on
quantitative techniques of analysis of relevant data. The training provided by the ICFAI will enable
a CFA to know what to look for, where to look for it and how to analyse whatever data he or she
has obtained. The work performed by a CFA can be extremely challenging and rewarding in
monetary terms and in terms of professional satisfaction.

Q3.What is the procedure for the completion of the Course?

A3. In order to become a certified Chartered Financial Analyst, a person has to complete a three-
year post graduate programme. This programme can be studied through correspondence. It is
conducted by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI). And on completion of
the course one can become a member of the ICFAI. The admission to this course is based on an
entrance exam. This examination basically tests a candidate's aptitude for the course. The course
content delves into fine details of financial analysis. So it is essential that a person opting for this
course has a natural aptitude for and the knack to grasp financial matters.

Q4.What is the eligibility for the course ?

A4. The CFA course is opted for by both students and employed executives. Fresh graduates
and also students in the final year of the Bachelor Degree course are eligible for the admission
test. The pre qualification of a graduate degree is waived in the case of Commissioned defence
personnel who have five years of experience. A financial analyst should have two traits, the first
being an ability to work well with numbers and the second being the ability to convey his
viewpoint in a precise and comprehensive manner. Keeping this in view, the admission test
attempts to test a candidate's verbal skills and quantitative reasoning abilities.

Q5.What are the course contents?

A5.The foundation module of the course is aimed at familiarising candidates from disciplines
other that commerce, to the basic principles of finance. It includes courses in financial and
management accounting, essentials of tax planning, basic guiding principles of investment,
basics of corporate finance and a study of statistics as relevant to financial applications. So
people with professional qualifications like MBA, CA, ICWA and M Com. are exempt from the
initial foundation module of the course. The others who take the foundation course can appear for
the qualifying exam of the foundation module three months after enrolment.

The preliminary level This level, also known as the second module, is divided into two groups -
Group A and Group B. Financial accounting and financial management are the two papers in
Group A. A candidate can take an exam in these papers six months after enrolment. There is only
one paper in Group B: quantitative methods and economics. A candidate can take an exam in
this paper twelve months after enrolment.
The Inter level This level, referred to as the third module, is divided into two groups: Group C and
Group D. Group C has two papers - one on economic legislation and the other on management
accounting. Exams for papers in this group can be taken six months after passing the preliminary
level. Group D also has two papers: one on security evaluation and the other on project appraisal
planning and control. Exams for this group can be taken twelve months after passing the
preliminary level. The final level
The final level or the fourth module is divided into two groups: Group E and Group F. Group E
has two papers - advance financial management and financial services. Exams for this group can
be taken six months after passing the inter level. Group F has two papers in investment
management - the Indian financial system and international financial management. Exams for the
papers in this group can be taken one year after passing the inter level. Candidates at this level
are also given practical training by placing them with reputed organisations.

Q6.What is the method of study ?

A6. As mentioned earlier, this course is conducted through correspondence. The institute sends
study material at regular intervals to the students. This is supplemented with contact programmes
in the form of weekend workshops held at major metros like Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi,
Hyderabad and Calcutta. The aim of these workshops is to handle issues like clarification of key
concepts and solving any problems that the candidates might have encountered during the
course of self-study. Further Study The Chartered Financial Analysts course of the ICFAI is
recognised by the Indira Gandhi National Open University as an equivalent to a Post Graduate
degree. So a CFA is eligible for admission to Ph.D. programmes in management. Many American
Universities also recognise the programme and accept it as an eligibility criterion for the pursuit of
Ph.D. studies.

Comment · Like · Share

26 people like this.
Deepak Kumar the last line of the document is wht excited me the most....
thank you for that info bcz my almamater ie ICFAI never shared this info with me & i'm pursuing
CFA from the same...
so thank you this article....
June 19 at 4:08am · Like ·
Ca Dhruv Agrawal Global Academy of Professionals
June 19 at 4:28am · Like ·
Arvind Arya thnx dear
June 19 at 5:06am · Like ·
Umair Arif wOw, im impressed...the work ICFAI is doin in helping CFA students..esp training in 4
th module given to students
June 19 at 6:32am · Like ·
Nishita Aggarwal CA n CFA..a great combo kya?????..
June 19 at 8:11am via Facebook Mobile · Like ·
Ca Manoj Kumar thanks for this article..this is very informative
June 19 at 8:39am · Like ·
Ritesh Ahuja @ nishita aggarwal .... if u r dong Ca n want to do cfa den is gud only in case of
financial market or strategies... in a way dat its (cfa) gives u more room wid Ca n u land in a gud
job... in finacial markets or stock exchage or investment banking..... there is always a double
degree advantage.... bst of luck......
June 19 at 9:08am · Like ·
Mahesh Chavan which one is the best either ICFAI CFA or CFA institute in US??
June 19 at 9:19am · Like ·
Ritesh Ahuja CFA institute America is d best on d globe.... bt if u dont wanna hav extraa bukss u
cn satisfy wid ICFAI also n cn do aftrward wid "cfa insti US " n cn go global wid d intrnationly
recog insti.. its deemed held dat cfa from icfai is nt a good option if u wanna go abroad....
June 19 at 9:26am · Like ·
Priyesh S. Shah nic job keep it up!!
June 19 at 9:52am · Like ·
Nikhil Motwani Yeah i m a CFA frm ICFAI but i would say that CFA from US is much better than
ICFAI ..
ICFAI does not have a good image in the corporate world .. and the overall course structure of
US CFA is much better and gives much more practical traini...See More
June 19 at 10:25am · Like · 2 people ·
Nishita Aggarwal @ritesh..ya me a ca final studnt..wnt to do further studies...bt cfa is nt worth
spending 3 more years i guess...
June 19 at 11:25am via Facebook Mobile · Like ·
Nikhil Motwani @nishita - CFA frm ICFAI can be comp in 18 months .
ye U.S. CFA wud require atleast 2 yrs ..
June 19 at 11:34am · Like ·
Ritesh Ahuja @nishita aggarwal....cfa frm icfai is of 2 yrs...n u gt dirct admisn to 2nd yr if u hav
compltd intrmediate frm ca/cwa/cs..... In ur case sinc u r a final Ca student u cn get d benifit of ur
intermediate weder pcc/ipcc/pe2.....tc... For ny more qustins regardng ny topic u cn send me
through my pvt msg of facebook....bye...n waiting fr ur reply....
June 19 at 11:53am via Facebook Mobile · Like ·
Deepak Kumar @nishita CFA from ICFAI & CFA inst. both curriculum is almost the same
(90%)...fees is same if goin for dist.learning ie INR 70,000-80,000...since i'm doin it from ICFAI
along with my CA i can assure u that the course @ ICFAI is very compe...See More
June 19 at 8:15pm · Like ·
Divyesh Kagathara good one.
June 19 at 10:21pm · Like ·
Nishita Aggarwal hey..thnx ol..
among MBA(finance) n CFA...which 1 is more prefrble??????
June 19 at 10:56pm · Like ·
Deepak Kumar @nishita see again depends on 1s career aspect,aptitude & interest when it cums
to choose b/w any two course...let me tell u even @ IIMs only 20-25% of total batch tks up
MBA(finance)...i personal decided not join MDI & SPJain, Mumbai bcz ...See More
June 19 at 11:17pm · Like ·
Ritesh Ahuja basically mba depends upon from wich insiti u r dong... if u wanna do frm iims/fms
or ny other repute insti u bag a gud job... bt if u wanna do from corrspendenc... den dong mba is
just for earng a postgraduate degree....wich wil help u in long term not in short term.... if u really
intrstd in financil markets....den opt cfa..bt u wanna go for a job apart for financial markets mba
finance is a gud option...
June 19 at 11:21pm · Like · 1 person ·
Deepak Kumar agree wid Ritesh thats another aspect too...u r correct buddy @ ritesh...
June 19 at 11:24pm · Like ·
Ritesh Ahuja @deeoak.....:)
June 19 at 11:34pm · Like ·
Pradeep Meher can i register my name online
June 28 at 1:43am · Like ·