Approved-Provider Program

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Continuing education is critical in helping our members develop professional expertise, build their businesses, and stay on top of a rapidly changing investment industry. Our Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, attested to on a yearly basis by our membership, incorporates the member obligation to “maintain and improve their professional competence.” 

To offer our members access to high-quality, continuing education opportunities, we partner with a limited number of globally diverse, select educational providers that pledge to uphold our rigorous standards.

Program Structure

Opportunities to participate are considered on a case-by-case basis and are available at either a provider level or program level.

Provider level participants offer both breadth and depth of relevant offerings and receive approval of their full suite of educational programs.

Participants approved at this level receive the following benefits:

  • Exposure to a global audience of over 100,000 high-level investment professionals in top firms in countries around the world
  • Recognition as an educational partner on our website
  • The right to use CFA Institute Continuing Education (CE) branding in print and electronic marketing 
  • Eligibility to advertise approved educational programs on our website
  • Discounted access to advertising channels

Program level participants offer relevant educational programs that are typically of a limited number or scope and receive CE credit approval on a program-by-program basis.

Participants approved at this level receive the following benefits:

  • Exposure to a global audience of over 100,000 high-level investment rofessionals in top firms in countries around the world
  • Recognition as an educational provider on our website
  • The right to use the CE Qualified Activity logo in print and electronic marketing
  • Eligibility to advertise approved educational programs on our website
Program Requirements and Eligibility*
Provider Eligibility

The following providers may be considered for participation:

  • Investment firms offering educational programming for their employees, clients, and/or a broader audience of investment professionals
  • Degree-granting academic institutions offering executive education programming for investment professionals
  • Industry-relevant, membership-based organizations or associations offering educational programming for investment professionals
  • Commercial providers of continuing educational programming for investment industry/investment professionals
Provider Requirements

To be eligible for consideration, providers must:

  • Be well-respected and established within the investment industry as a provider of high-quality educational programming intended primarily for investment industry/investment professionals. This may include providers who maintain continuing education accreditation/sponsorship relationships for other relevant financial designations/qualifications. If academic, the provider must be a degree-granting institution holding accreditation from one of the following bodies: AACSB International, EQUIS, or the Association of MBAs. CFA Institute Program Partners are preferred. CFA Institute, at its sole discretion, may consider other institutions on a case-by-case basis, but it is under no obligation to do so.
  • Be focused on member education and offer educational programming appropriate for investment professionals who have earned their CFA charter and/or CIPM designation.
  • Adhere to CFA Institute guidelines, sign an agreement (renewable on an annual basis) governing licensing and use of specified logo(s), adhere to the advertising guidelines, and provide reporting for purposes of automatic entry of credit earned through member attendance at educational programs.
  • Consider providing member discounts; we encourage participating providers to offer discounted rates on educational programming and products to CFA Institute members.  
Content Requirements

To be considered, providers must offer programs that are:

  • Educational, concept-based, and provide professionally relevant, applicable, and sustainable knowledge that is intended to increase the skills and abilities of investment professionals.
  • Based on learning objectives and concepts, have a clear purpose, and are based on relevant learning objectives and outcomes that clearly articulate the competencies that can be achieved by participants in the learning process.
  • Unbiased, not promoting or marketing a company’s products or services.
  • Current and technically accurate.
  • Effectively designed and developed by individuals qualified in the subject matter and familiar with instructional design.

*While there are minimum eligibility requirements to submit an application, meeting these requirements is not sufficient to achieve a partnership. CFA Institute reserves the right, at its sole discretion, not to approve an application for status as an Approved Provider.

For more information on the application process, please contact us.