- You are here:
- Home »
- CFA Careers »
- How to Become CFA in UK
How to Become CFA in UK
The UK (mainly London) has the largest number of CFAs outside of the US. The CFA Society UK is also the second largest in the world in terms of the number of members. We continue to see an upward trend of newly awarded charters as CFA becomes a global brand name in the finance and investment community.
Number of CFA Charterholders in the UK
Source: CFA Institute
The number of the newly-awarded charters is highly correlated with the business cycle. 2008 and 2009 experienced a big drop in the number of new charters, followed by a quick recovery. In 2012, the number of new CFAs in the UK reached an all-time high and finally exceeded 1,000.
CFA Jobs in the UK
With London as the major and global financial center, the CFA jobs in the UK have a similar trend to that in the US. Almost half of the CFA in the UK are portfolio managers and research analysts. These professionals are mostly employed by big financial institutions in London.
We are seeing a slight increase in the number of investment banking analysts and risk managers getting the CFA title. These professionals may want to get an extra qualification for a career change or to enhance the skills required in their work.
How to Become CFA in UK
The process to become CFA is the same everywhere. You are qualified if you have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Even if you don’t have a degree, you can waive the educational requirement with 4 years of working experience of any kind.
After signing up for the CFA program, prepare for the Level 1 exam, which is held several times a year. Passing Level 1 will allow you to move on to Level 2, and then to Level 3. On average, successful candidates need 4 years to pass the three levels of the exam (i.e. people either fail or skip one year).
It is a tough exam with a notoriously low pass rate, but almost 1,000 candidates from the UK became CFA in 2013.
CFA Exam Centers in UK
Candidates can register in Edinburgh or London for the June 2014 CFA exam. The exam is only available in London in December.
If you are a UK-based candidate residing outside of your home country, check out other CFA exam locations here. You are free to choose a testing center anywhere in the world.
Other Useful Links
Your Next Step
If you would like to know more about the CFA and how to enter the CFA program, check out our page on frequently asked questions or on how to become a CFA.
