CFA L1 — CFA Program Level I
IntermediateActiveEstablished
- Issuer
- CFA Institute
- Industry
- Finance & Accounting
- Domain
- Investment Analysis & Asset Management
- Level
- Intermediate
- Exam fee
- $1,140 — verified 2026-09-25
Prerequisites & eligibility
No formal prerequisites are published; anyone can register for the exam.
Renewal & maintenance
Does not expire (Level pass – no renewal).
Recognition
Gold-standard investment analysis designation; Level I is the entry exam
Related certifications
- ABV Accredited in Business Valuation
- CAIA Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst
- CFA L3 CFA Program Level III (CFA charter)
- CMT Chartered Market Technician
Career paths that include CFA L1
- ESG / Sustainable Finance Analyst — Core phase
- Financial / Investment Analyst — Core phase