Regulator and program recognition
Your CFA® credential is a globally recognized mark of achievement, opening doors to opportunities around the world. Discover the specific regulators and regions where your qualification is accepted and valued.
Discover where CFA® Institute credentials are recognized
Your career mobility, professional opportunities, and compliance with local licensing requirements is enhanced with a credential from CFA Institute. Understanding recognition also helps you leverage your CFA designation for exemptions or credits in other educational or certification programs.
Download the fact card and see which countries and territories formally recognize our credentialing programs.
CFA® Program
Australia Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC)
The Australia Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has ranked the RG 146 Gap Training program for CFA charterholders and CFA Program candidates at Tier 1. The RG 146 Gap Training Program is intended for candidates who have passed the CFA Level I exam or charterholders who wish to fulfill the requirements necessary to provide both financial product advice to retail clients and personal advice.
South African Qualifications Authority
The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) has benchmarked the CFA charter as comparable to its National Certificate in Financial Markets and Instruments.
UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC)
The UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) has benchmarked the CFA Program and the CFA charter as comparable to a Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) Master's Level 7.
Each level of the CFA Program has been benchmarked to provide comparability:
- Level III of the CFA Program and the CFA charter are benchmarked at Level 7 by NARIC.
- Level II of the CFA Program is benchmarked at Level 6 by NARIC.
- Level I of the CFA Program is benchmarked at Level 5 by NARIC.
In addition, UK NARIC was commissioned by CFA Institute to undertake an international benchmarking study to compare the CFA designation against the education systems in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, the Republic of Ireland, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, US, and the UK (in the context of the Scottish and Welsh systems).
CIPM® Program
UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC)
The UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) has benchmarked the Expert Level of the CIPM Program and the CIPM designation as comparable to a QCF Bachelor's Level 6 qualification.
- The Expert Level of the CIPM Program and the professional designation are comparable to QCF Level 6.
- The Principles Level of the CIPM Program is comparable to QCF Level 5.
Investment Foundations® Program
Finance Accreditation Agency
The Finance Accreditation Agency, an international and independent quality assurance and accreditation body for the Financial Services Industry (FSI), supported by Bank Negara Malaysia (Central Bank of Malaysia) and Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), has granted the Investment Foundations Program full accreditation.
UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC)
The UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) has benchmarked the Investment Foundations Program as comparable to a QCF, now RQF Level 3 qualification.
Become a member
Open up a wealth of opportunities to support your entire career by becoming a member of CFA® Institute.