Finance & Accounting

Professional certifications in finance and accounting

20 exams, 19 with a pass rate published by the body that sets them. The cheapest is SIE (Securities Industry Essentials) at $100.

CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

AICPA

$1,000-$3,000 total·45-60% pass

Very HardOngoing CPE required

Pass all 4 sections within 18 months

CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)

CFA Institute

$2,500-$5,000 total (all levels)·~40% Level 1 pass

Very HardLifetime (annual dues)

300-400 hours study per level

Series 7

FINRA

$300·~72% pass

HardOngoing (firm sponsorship required)

Must be sponsored by FINRA member firm

SIE (Securities Industry Essentials)

FINRA

$100·~74% pass

Medium4 years

No firm sponsorship required

Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent)

NASAA/FINRA

$147·~80% pass

MediumOngoing

State law focus

Series 65 (Investment Adviser)

NASAA/FINRA

$187·~73% pass

HardOngoing

Required for RIA representatives

Series 66 (Uniform Combined State Law)

NASAA/FINRA

$177·~72% pass

HardOngoing

Combines Series 63 + 65

FRM (Financial Risk Manager)

GARP

$1,500-$2,000 total·~45% Part 1 pass

Very HardLifetime

Two-part exam

CFP (Certified Financial Planner)

CFP Board

$825·~65% pass

Hard2 years (30 CE hours)

Education requirement + experience

CMA (Certified Management Accountant)

IMA

$1,000-$1,500·~45% pass

HardOngoing (30 CPE/year)

Two-part exam

EA (Enrolled Agent)

IRS

$203 per part·~70% pass

Medium3 years (72 CE hours)

Three-part exam (SEE)

ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)

ACCA

£2,000-£4,000 total·~40-50% pass

Very HardLifetime (CPD required)

13 exams total

CA India (Chartered Accountant)

ICAI

₹30,000-₹50,000 total·~10-15% pass

Very HardLifetime

Three levels: Foundation, Inter, Final

CS (Company Secretary) India

ICSI

₹20,000-₹40,000 total·~15-20% pass

HardLifetime

Three stages: Foundation, Executive, Professional

CMA India (Cost and Management Accountant)

ICMAI

₹25,000-₹45,000 total·~15-20% pass

HardLifetime

Three levels: Foundation, Inter, Final

Actuarial Exam P (Probability)

SOA (Society of Actuaries)

$275 per exam (10+ exams total path)·30-40% pass

Very HardLifetime (per exam)

Exam P (Probability) is the first exam, start here

Actuarial Exam FM (Financial Mathematics)

SOA (Society of Actuaries)

$275 per exam·~45% pass

Very HardLifetime (per exam)

Covers time value of money, annuities and bonds

CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst)

CAIA Association

$1,250 per level (2 levels)·~55% pass

HardLifetime (with annual dues)

Two levels: Level I (fundamentals) and Level II (advanced topics)

CTP (Certified Treasury Professional)

AFP (Association for Financial Professionals)

$575 (members) / $825 (non-members)·~55% pass

Hard3 years (recertification with CPEs)

170 multiple-choice questions in 3.5 hours

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)

$990-$1,515·Not published pass

HardAnnual, 40 CPE hours

Take Part 1 first, it sets the vocabulary

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