Become a member
Get familiar with application requirements
When you apply for regular membership, you will be asked to provide professional references and to describe prior job responsibilities that demonstrate qualified work experience. Before starting your application, use these resources to help you assess your eligibility and understand materials required for submission.
Professional references
Understand how many professional references to provide and who should be included in support of your application.
Well-written job descriptions
Get tips on how to write high-quality job descriptions to clearly describe how your responsibilities satisfy the requirements.
Qualifying work experience
Find out if your current and past job responsibilities meet the qualifications for regular membership. Use our self-assessment tool.
Review Membership types
You can either become a regular member—with qualifying work experience in the investment decision-making process—or an affiliate member of CFA Institute. See the chart below to choose the right option for you before you start the application.
Before applying, review the OFAC Compliance Policy. Residents of certain countries or markets may be prohibited by law from becoming a CFA Institute or society member.
For applicants in mainland China, to comply with local regulatory requirements, we only accept individuals who are eligible for the CFA designation, having passed Level III of the CFA® Program and meeting professional work experience requirements. Additionally, the CIPM® designation is not offered in mainland China.
Question |
Regular Membership |
Affiliate Membership |
|---|---|---|
Who is this for? |
Investment professionals directly involved in or supporting the investment decision-making process. Regular membership is a prerequisite to earning the CFA charter and CIPM certificate. |
Investment professionals who do not meet the eligibility requirements of regular memberships or do not intend to participate in the CFA Program or CIPM Program. |
How do I become eligible? |
A bachelor's degree or equivalent education/work experience and a passing score for the Level I CFA Exam, CIPM Program Level II Exam, RBA Netherlands Exam, or the self-administered Standards of Practice Exam. |
You must meet the eligibility requirements for your selected member society and become a member of that society. Find a society and explore their affiliate membership requirements. |
What member benefits are included? |
Voting rights on CFA Institute Annual Proxy. Access to the latest research, continued professional learning content, member directory, and exclusive volunteer opportunities. |
Access to the latest research, continued professional learning content, member directory, and exclusive volunteer opportunities. |
How much work experience do I need? |
At least 4,000 hours of relevant experience, completed in a minimum of 36 months. |
You must meet the work experience requirements for your selected member society. |
How many professional references do I need? |
2 professional references, if one is an active regular member of the local society to which you are applying, OR 3 professional references, none are an active regular member of the local society to which you are applying. |
2 professional references, if one is an active regular member of the local society to which you are applying, OR 3 professional references, none are an active regular member of the local society to which you are applying. |
How much are annual fees? |
USD299 for CFA Institute. Society dues vary by society. Annual dues will be pro-rated for those joining CFA Institute and a member society for the first time. |
USD299 for CFA Institute. Society dues vary by society. Annual dues will be pro-rated for those joining CFA Institute and a member society for the first time. |
When is the membership year? |
The membership year spans from 1 July to 30 June |
The membership year spans from 1 July to 30 June |
CFA Institute and society dues are non-refundable and non-transferable. CFA Institute accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, JCB, Discover, China UnionPay (银联), and AliPay (支付宝).
Learn more about the application resources available to prospective members.
Prorated Membership fees
CFA Institute offers membership at a cost of USD299 for the full membership period—which starts 1 July each year. The annual fee for first time members can vary depending on the month they decide to join. Use our chart of monthly prorated fees to understand what your membership will cost.
Maintaining your charter
Earning the CFA charter and designation signals a financial professional committed to inspiring greater investor trust, raising professional standards, and shaping a stronger future for the global investment industry.
To me, being a CFA charterholder means a lifelong commitment to excellence.
Let's strengthen our markets
Get involved with a member society and connect with other financial professionals who are driving change in their local markets. Applying to a society is a requirement for applying for CFA Institute membership.
