Still Paying CFA Enrollment Fees? Here’s the Big 2026 Update!

The CFA Institute is scrapping the cfa one time enrollment fee in 2026. This will help streamline costs and massively change how candidates plan their budgets.

Here’s what the new structure means for you, and why it matters before you pick your exam window. It also explains how you get an instant USD 200 back in your pocket!

Let’s begin.

Why Did This Fee Exist?

In the 1960s, the CFA exam was all paper: books were posted worldwide, answer sheets flown to New York for hand-marking, and ethics scripts checked one by one. That was pricey, so the Institute added an upfront enrolment fee to cover those costs and discourage casual sign-ups.

Now it’s digital. E-books, on-screen tests, and cloud ID checks cut expenses, while candidate numbers have jumped from a few hundred in 1963 to about 2,60,000 in 2022. With costs spread thin, the cfa enrollment fee will be rolled into the normal registration price from the 2026 exams.

Covers Access to All CFA Programme Resources

Your enrolment amount wasn’t wasted: it paid for curriculum updates, mock exams, formula sheets, and candidate services that stay live for as long as you remain in the program.

From 2026, you will still get everything, but now the cost is included in the CFA registration fee.

2026 Update: Removal of the One‑Time Enrollment Fee

• What’s gone? The USD 350 line on the invoice.
• Who benefits? Anyone who will sit their first exam in 2026 or later.
• When? Create your CFA Institute account on or after 29 April 2025.

The result? cfa enrollment fees fall to USD 0 for new entrants, even though registration itself is higher.

New 2026 CFA Registration Fee Structure

CFA Level	Early‑bird (USD)	Standard (USD)	Approx. Early‑bird (INR)*	Approx. Standard (INR)*
1	1,140	1,490	₹ 94,620	₹ 123,670
2	1,140	1,490	₹ 94,620	₹ 123,670
3	1,240	1,590	₹ 102,920	₹ 131,970

*Converted at USD 1 = ₹ 83 for illustration. INR figures are approximate and will vary with the prevailing foreign‑exchange rate at the time of payment.

Level 3 still costs a little more because essays require human marking.

How the 2026 cfa enrollment fees and registration fees compare with 2025

Candidate Type	2025 Cost (USD)	2026 Cost (USD)	Saving
Early Level  1	990 + 350 = 1,340	1,140 + 0 = 1,140	$200
Late Level  1	1,290 + 350 = 1,640	1,490 + 0 = 1,490	$150

You save more by registering early, and the discount increases if you’re going on to CFA Levels 2 and 3 as well.

Impact on CFA Level  1 & 2 Candidates

For clarity, the cfa level 1 enrollment fee column you may have seen on older price lists disappears entirely; Level I now shares the same base cost as Level II.

• The one time enrollment fee cfa drops from USD 350 to USD 0.
• New Level I candidates in 2026 pay only the registration rate.
• Retakers and new Level II entrants pay exactly the same registration price—no hidden penalty.

Timing Strategy

You pocket the USD 200 by timing your sign‑up so that:

Scenario	Enrollment Fee	Early‑bird Registration	Total Outlay
2025 exams	USD 350	USD 990	USD 1,340
2026 exams (account created on/after 29 Apr 2025)	USD 0	USD 1,140	USD 1,140

1. The USD 350 cfa one time enrollment fee is waived starting with February 2026 sittings.
2. Early‑bird registration rises by USD 150 (from 990 → 1,140).
3. Net effect: 350 saved – 150 added = USD 200 ahead the moment you pay.

So, create your CFA Institute account after 29 April 2025 and book an early‑bird 2026 window. Your invoice will drop from USD 1,340 to USD 1,140, giving you an instant USD 200 saving.

Also Read: How Difficult is the CFA Program?

Steps to Register Under the New Rules

1. Visit www.cfainstitute.org and create an account after 29 April 2025.
2. Choose your exam level and sitting.
3. Confirm the invoice shows cfa enrollment fees at zero and the correct registration band.
4. Pay and immediately book your test‑centre slot; popular venues fill quickly.
5. Note that rescheduling later costs USD 250—budget wisely.

These outlays do not count towards cfa enrollment fees, yet they hit your wallet just the same.

Hidden Costs You Still Need to Budget

Even with zero enrolment, the exam is not free:

• Study materials – printed curriculum (≈ USD 300) or third‑party notes (USD 400–800).
• Calculator – approved Texas Instruments BA II Plus or HP 12C costs ₹3,000 to ₹6,000.
• Travel – flights and hotel if your nearest centre is another city. Two nights in Mumbai can add ₹12,000 alone.
• Opportunity cost – annual leave for exam day plus revision time.

Build these extras into your cash flow and plan early.

Scholarship Considerations

CFA Institute scholarships cut registration to about USD 400 and waive the cfa enrollment fee. Because registration is the only cost left, scholarship holders can still save roughly 65 – 75 % versus the standard 2026 rates.

How IMS Proschool Helps You Benefit

With the USD 350 cfa enrollment fees now eliminated, you can redirect that cash to targeted training, exactly where IMS Proschool shines.

What you get	Why it matters in 2026
Nine‑month learning path Weekend or weekday batches keep momentum without burning leave.	Lines up perfectly with the early‑bird windows, so you finish the syllabus before paying the cheaper registration rate.
Any‑mode delivery- Classroom (Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and 15+ centres across India), live online, or distance packs for self‑paced study.	Study wherever you are; no travel means more savings after  the enrolment fee disappears.
From basics to mocks Seasoned charterholders break down each LOS and run full exam simulations.	Builds exam stamina and closes knowledge gaps early.
Moodle dashboard Instant access to PDFs, PPTs, videos, and a 2,000‑question bank.	Keeps all material in one place; you revise on your commute or lunch break.
Batch coordinators & faculty mentors	One‑to‑one support nudges you through tough topics like derivatives or FRA.
Scholarship guidance	Essay feedback and referee coaching help you chase CFA Access and Women’s scholarships, which is an extra relief now that fees are shifting.
Certificate & LinkedIn makeover after all mocks	Signals your commitment to recruiters even before your official Level 1 result.
100 % placement help once you clear Level 1	CV tuning, charterholder mock interviews, and referrals to asset‑management firms.

Fee & Financing Options

Mode	Standard Fee	Notes
Classroom Weekday	₹ 65,000	Compact schedule for fresh grads and full‑timers on early shifts.
Classroom Weekend	₹ 45,000	Popular with working professionals; spreads study across nine months.
Online Live	₹ 36,000	Same faculty, live Q&A, doubt-cleaning sessions, and more.
Distance Learning	₹ 25,000	Self‑paced kit + mentor calls.

Payment Plans

• One‑time – ₹ 45,000 (10 % discount on the base ₹ 50,000).
• Two installments – ₹ 25,000 × 2 (one‑month gap).
• Bajaj Finserv – Down‑payment ₹ 12,500, then nine EMIs of ₹ 4,166 (processing fee ₹ 767; age ≥ 23, CIBIL 750+).
• Varthana Finance – Flexible EMIs for students without a credit score; approval based on academic documents and co‑signer income.

Also Watch : CFA Course 2025 Your Roadmap to Levels 1-3 Success

With the enrolment charge gone, every rupee you save can go towards your professional coaching. This makes the 2026 CFA changes work twice as hard for your career.

FAQs

1. What is the CFA enrolment fees?

Until now, first‑time Level I candidates paid a one‑off USD 350 to unlock the CFA Learning Ecosystem and register for their first exam. For account creations on or after 29 April 2025, that charge becomes USD 0, so you only pay the exam’s registration fee. Anyone who opened an account earlier still owes the fee if they sit an exam before February 2026.

2. How much does it cost to take the CFA?

From 2026, registration runs USD 1,140 (early) to 1,490 (standard) for Levels I and II, and USD 1,240 to 1,590 for Level III. Rescheduling an existing booking costs an extra USD 250. Add optional expenses– printed curriculum (~USD 300) and third‑party study packages –to build a realistic budget.

3. How much does CFA Level 1 cost in India?

Take the 2026 early‑bird price (USD 1,140), multiply by the current exchange rate (≈ ₹83 per USD), then add 18 % GST charged on cross‑border digital services. That puts the total near ₹1.12 lakh before study materials or travel.

4. How much is the CFA Level 1 retake fee?

Retaking costs exactly the same as a fresh booking: USD 1,140 if you register during the early window or USD 1,490 if you miss it. Because the one‑time enrolment fee has been scrapped, there’s no penalty for failing and trying again; only the usual registration payment.

5. Is the CFA enrolment fees one time?

Yes, the fee has always been a single payment per candidate. From the 2026 testing year onwards, it disappears entirely, so new entrants never pay it. Candidates who have already paid do not pay again when moving to Level 2 or 3.

6. Does CFA have a subscription fee?

After you pass all three levels and apply for regular membership, the Institute charges annual dues of USD 299. Membership unlocks continuing‑education resources and local society events, but it’s optional while you are still progressing through the exams.