Overview

Testimonial

"The CfBS prep course helped me enormously to master the immense CFA curriculum. The excellently structured classes provided the necessary level of detail and clear explanations of the exam topics. The course material was an excellent starting point for my own summaries and the online review function allowed me to repeat the most challenging concepts."

Rui Ramires, CFA, Dreyfus Söhne & Cie. AG, Basle

Course Overview

  • Virtual Classroom

    Four-Month Courses in Zurich

    The courses offer comprehensive and detailed coverage of the exam material. They take place on weekday evenings from 18.30 to 21.00 hrs. (fee: CHF 3,850.- for Level I and CHF 3,950.- for Levels II and III).

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  • Virtual Classroom

    Intensive Online Workshops

    The online workshops cover the critical and most difficult exam topics. They are split into nine sessions with four lessons each and can be attended from anywhere (fee: CHF 1,250.-). 

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  • Courses Screen

    Recorded Online Courses

    The recorded online sessions for Pre-CFA as well as CFA Levels I, II, and III offer comprehensive and detailed coverage of the exam material. They can be attended from anywhere, anytime (fee: CHF 990.-).

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CFA® Program

  • The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) program is a globally recognized standard for professionals in the financial services industry. The CFA charter is awarded by CFA Institute. The first charter was presented in 1963 and more than 150,000 charters have been awarded since. Over 200,000 candidates worldwide participated in the June 2019 exams.
  • The CFA charter is an elite designation and is a benchmark for ethical standards and professionalism within the global financial community. The CFA designation is career-enhancing, well-respected, gobally recognized and relevant.
  • To obtain the CFA charter, CFA Institute has set different requirements. One is that candidates have to pass three exams, referred to as level I, level II, and level III. Candidates can take only one exam at a time and are only admitted to take the next level exam after passing the previous level exam.
  • The CFA exams are computer-based and take place in the following exam windows for the year 2022:

Exam Windows     February   May        August    November 
Level I ExamExamExamExam
Level II Exam Exam 
Level III  Exam Exam

 

Level I CFA Exam

  • The Level I CFA exam takes place four times per year in February, May, August, and November. Each computer-based exam will be offered in windows of up to 10 days. The 4 1/2 hours exam is a multiple-choice test consisting of 180 questions.

Topics  Exam WEight
Ethical and Professional Standards  15 - 20%
Quantitative Methods  8 - 12%
Economics  8 - 12%
Financial Reporting and Analysis  13 - 17%
Corporate Finance  8 - 12%
Equity Investments  10 - 12%
Fixed Income  10 - 12%
Derivatives  5 - 8%
Alternative Investments  5 - 8%
Portfolio Management  5 - 8%
Total  100%

Level II CFA Exam

  • The Level II CFA exam takes place twice per year in February and August. Each computer-based exam will be offered in windows of up to 10 days. The 4 1/2 hours exam is a multiple-choice test consisting of 20 to 30 item set questions (vignette with four or six multiple-choice questions).

Topics  Exam WEight
Ethical and Professional Standards  10 - 15%
Quantitative Methods  5 - 10%
Economics  5 - 10%
Financial Reporting and Analysis  10 - 15%
Corporate Finance  5 - 10%
Equity Investments  10 - 15%
Fixed Income  10 - 15%
Derivatives  5 - 10%
Alternative Investments  5 - 10%
Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning  10 - 15%
Total  100%

Level III CFA Exam

  • The Level III CFA exam takes place twice per year in May and November. Each computer-based exam will be offered in windows of up to 10 days. The 4 1/2 hours exam consists of constructed response questions (essays) and 10 to 15 item set questions (vignette with four or six multiple-choice questions).

Topics  Exam WEight
Ethical and Professional Standards  10r - 15%
Economics for Portfolio Management  5 - 10%
Equity Portfolio Management  10 - 15%
Management of Fixed Income Portfolios  15 - 20%
Risk Management Applications of Derivatives  5 - 10%
Alternative Investments  5 - 10%
Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning  35 - 40%
Total  100%

For more information regarding the CFA® program, please visit www.cfainstitute.org.