Finance Difficulty

Hardest Finance Certifications

Finance certifications are notorious for low pass rates. Here's how the major credentials stack up in difficulty.

#1

CFA Level 3

~50% pass rate

Essay questions requiring synthesis of all 3 levels

300+ study hoursView guide
#2

CFA Level 2

~45% pass rate

Vignette-style questions with complex calculations

300+ study hoursView guide
#3

CPA Exam

~50% pass rate

4 separate exams covering vast accounting knowledge

400+ study hoursView guide
#4

CFA Level 1

~40% pass rate

Breadth of topics from ethics to derivatives

300+ study hoursView guide
#5

FRM

~45% pass rate

Advanced quantitative risk management concepts

200+ study hoursView guide