CFA Course Fees 2026: Complete Level-Wise Cost & Budget Guide

So, when it comes to the 2026 CFA exam dates, knowing the new CFA exams cost and CFA Course fees is just as important as planning your study time.

We have lined up the latest CFA Level 1, 2, and 3 exam fees for 2026, as well as applicable CFA registration fees, study material expenses, and other costs involved, just to give you an idea of how much you should save to follow your dreams of becoming a CFA professional.

1. Before you start: What changed for CFA in 2026?

If you last saw CFA fees in 2023–24, then the picture for 2026 will look quite different.

Here are two important changes that affect you:

No more registration fee from 2026.
CFA has officially declared to eliminate the one-time US $350 registration fee for examinations starting February 2026.

You already paid this once when you earlier registered for Level 1. Starting in 2026, new applicants pay only the CFA registration fee for the exam.

CFA exam registration fees increase in 2026.
From 2026, CFA candidate fees will consist of the registration fee (s), but these have increased.

2. CFA Level 1, 2, and 3 Curriculum Changes 2026

On the curriculum side, there’s also a little bit of relief:

Level 1: No difference in curriculum between 2025 and 2026. There remain 93 learning modules; no readings have been added or dropped.

Level 2: Only a small update. One LOS that used to be in the QM “Machine Learning” learning module (LM) has been excluded, involving neural networks, deep learning nets, and reinforcement learning.

Level 3: No significant curriculum changes have been announced from the CFA Institute for the 2026 exam cycle. There were no changes to Level 3 questions or answers; the updates were all small and editorial in nature, with LOS and core content remaining the same according to the official CFA Institute – Curriculum Changes Guidebook 2025.

This also means that you’re not walking into a “mystery new syllabus” if you start preparing now. You should be aware and well-prepared to attempt the CFA exams with the most current 2025–26 material.

1. Curriculum access
   
   • eBook + Learning Ecosystem is free and included in the CFA registration fee. And that gets you all the reading, practice questions, and mock exams online.
   • If you prefer printed books, these may be purchased separately (c. US$299 per level, including shipping and import duties).
2. Rescheduling fee 
   • You’ll pay $250 for the CFA rescheduling fee if you reschedule for a different exam time/location within the same testing window.

Please note: GST is also applicable to Indian candidates and will be included in the invoice. All charges are in USD, so your bank may convert the amount payable into local currency, and a transaction fee may apply (check with your bank). The total CFA exam cost (all three levels combined) can be somewhere between ₹2.81 Lakhs and ₹3.59 Lakhs as per the 2025–26 rates, depending on when you register and if you require retakes.

3. CFA Level 1 exam fees 2026

The framework for the CFA Level 1 exam fee in 2026 is now quite simple:

1. Enrollment fee: US$0 (eliminated since Feb 2026)
2. Early registration fee: US$1,140
3. Standard registration fee: US$1,490
4. Rescheduling fee: US$250

Assuming that you register early and pass Level 1 (first attempt), your lowest minimum fee for sitting for the CFA exam for Level 1 (excluding taxes, fees, and markup) is $1,140.

Scholarships for Level 1 (and other levels)

CFA Institute still operates a formal scholarship program to help ensure easier access to the exam.

Access Scholarship – for applicants with financial need.

For the 2026 CFA exam, you can potentially reduce the overall fee down to between US$380 and US$400 for that window with the Access Scholarship.

Student, Professor, and Regulator Scholarships – for partner university students, full-time faculty, and staff of qualifying regulators and exchanges.

Each scholarship will provide a registration discount, though exactly how much varies as per 2026, so you would have to check out CFA Institute’s official site before making your application or talk to your counsellor from your CFA training institute.

4. CFA Level 2 exam fees 2026

For the CFA exam fees, both Level 1 and Level 2 are extremely similar for 2026.

1. Enrollment fee: $0
2. Early registration fee: US$1,140
3. Standard registration fee: US$1,490
4. Rescheduling fee: US$250

As the curriculum does not receive any major makeover from 2026, there isn’t much that you need to stay updated with for Level 2 – rather, how deep the questions can go. The exam is a lot more application-oriented and case-based as opposed to Level 1.

For CFA Level 2, the same scholarship opportunities (Access, Student, Professor, Regulator) are available.

5. CFA Level 3 exam fees 2026

Level 3 is a little costly, but when you get to level 3, you are near the finish line.

For the 2026 CFA Level 3 exams:

1. Enrollment fee: US$0
2. Early registration fee: US$1,240
3. Standard registration fee: US$1,590
4. Rescheduling fee: US$250

Level 3 is still very focused on portfolio management and wealth planning, through constructed-response (essay) questions as well as case-based material. The updates for 2026 are few, with one of the institutional portfolio management case studies having its title changed, but nobody will be redrafting learning outcomes.

The process of registering and scheduling is similar to levels 1 and 2:

• You sign up and pay the rate at the CFA Institute site.
• You then select your exam date, time, and centre in the scheduling system.

Also Read: What Is CFA Practical Skills Module (PSM)

6. Exam centres & scheduling (summary for 2026)

The exam experience is now fully computer-based and held in 400+ test centres worldwide, including major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, and more.

A few points to keep in mind:

• You first register and pay for the exam.
• Then you schedule your specific date, time, and test centre.
• If your preferred centre is not visible, it may open later as capacity is added, so it is worth checking back.
• Changing your appointment within the same exam window triggers the US$250 rescheduling fee.

Always refer to the official Dates & Fees tool on the CFA Institute website for the latest windows and deadlines for your chosen level and city.

7. What happens after you register?

Once your payment is successful, you will see:

• A confirmation email and receipt
• Access to the CFA Learning Ecosystem with your full digital curriculum, practice questions, and mock exams.
• A timeline for when your admission ticket will be made available (usually a few weeks before the exam)

You must:

• Check your name, passport details, and test centre on the ticket
• Carry the approved ID (usually a passport) on exam day.
• Reach the centre well ahead of check-in time

The process is similar across CFA Level 1, 2, and 3; only the content and format of the exam change.

8. The ROI of clearing the CFA exams

The CFA Program is not cheap, so it is natural to ask, “Is it worth it?”

Several independent salary surveys indicate that advancing through the CFA levels does make a difference in compensation:

• Those who pass Level 1 experience an average salary rise of approximately 29%
• The average salary rise post-Level 2 is an increase of about 34%
• Charterholder candidates who pass Level 3 see an approximate 52% increase in salary versus candidates who have not passed Level 1.
• Recent analysis indicates that on certain markets, the Level 3 / charterholder premium can be up to ~57%.

For Indian candidates, the 2025 salary reports state:

The median CFA salary in India is ₹28.9 lakh per annum for all roles and types of experience.

Of course, these are averages. Your outcome depends on your:

• City (Mumbai, Bengaluru & Delhi pay higher quite often)
• Function (IB, ER, PM, Risk, Corporate Finance, etc.)
• Previous experience and skills (modelling, Excel, Python, etc.)

The bottom line is that your financial payoff tends to increase as you move from Level 1 to 2 and then Level 3, and not just after you finally get the charter.

9. CFA coaching fees in 2026 (India)

The CFA exam fees are only part of the story. The vast majority of candidates also enrol in CFA coaching programs or self-study packages.

Some typical numbers you will see in India for 2025–26:

Classroom / live online coaching (per level)

• CFA course fees can be anywhere between ₹40,000 and ₹1,00,000+. This entirely depends on the city, the institute, and the type of learning you’re opting for. Doubt-solving support, mock exams, etc., can also form a part of your package.
• IMS Proschool CFA course fees can be anywhere between ₹35,000 and ₹65,000. This includes offline + online support, 200+ hours of training, 100% placement assistance post Level 1, exam pass commitment for those who don’t clear CFA Level 1 on their first attempt, and more.

Low-cost self-paced courses

• A recorded class or platform (including some international providers) ranges from about ₹1,000 to ₹20,000 for basic content.

How should you choose?

If you are someone working in a full-time job and need structure, a dedicated CFA coaching program makes it easier to follow.

Otherwise, if you’re self-disciplined and don’t need a classroom routine to stay on track, following an official self-paced study or weekend classes works well. You can study from home with practice questions, a question bank, and/or a short revision course could work better for you (and could be a cheaper option as well!).

10. Cost of CFA study materials in 2026

Study materials make up the second bucket of expenses (besides the CFA exam registration fees).

Free study materials from the CFA Institute

• You get access to digital curriculum, practice questions, topic tests, and mock exams via the Learning Ecosystem.

Printed Material (optional)

• These are not free. Depending on your country, expect to spend about US$300 per level (~ ₹26,610), including shipping and import duty costs for non-US candidates.

Third-party study materials

These are best used to summarise the syllabus and receive additional questions.

Standard ranges per level 2025-26:

• Study notes only: ~ US$100–400 (~ ₹8,870 to ₹35,480 in most cities, depending on location size and add-ons)

• Self study packages (notes + videos + question bank): ~ US$200-700 ( ~ ₹1,7740 – ₹62,090)

• Premium online + revision course: ~ US$600–1,200 (~ ₹53,220 – ₹1,06,440)

• Classroom + revision course: ~ US$1,300+ (~ ₹1,15,310+)

You do not need everything. A practical (not to mention cheaper) combo is usually:

• CFA Learning Ecosystem (official) +
• Some good question bank or summary notes +
• And CFA coaching if you have difficulty with self-study.

Also Read: CFA Study Material What’s Best To Pass CFA Exams?

11. Budgeting and financial planning for your CFA journey 2026

If you think about the CFA like a random expenditure, it is going to weigh heavily. But when you think of it as a planned investment, you can tame it.

Just a basic example of that for the entire program (all 3 levels)..

Core exam fees (USD)

With early registration and a first-time pass at each level:

• Level 1: US$1,140 (~ ₹1,01,118)
• Level 2: US$1,140 (~ ₹1,01,118)
• Level 3: US$1,240 (~ ₹1,09,988)

Amount in Total: US$3,520 (plus GST & bank charges) – (around ₹3,12,224)

Coaching + Study Material (India, approximately INR)

Assume ₹50,000 – ₹70,000 per level for structured coaching + some basic third-party material.

Over three levels: ₹1.5–2.1 lakh.

Hidden costs

• Calculator (TI BA II Plus or HP 12C), perhaps ₹3,000–₹4,000.
• Cost of travel to the testing centre, food, days off work, etc.

To manage this:

• You can spread out your costs over 2-4 years (as most people take that long to complete).
• Do a SIP of sorts. Set up a regular fund called the “CFA fund” that will only be used for the test and coaching.
• Leave a 10–20% cushion for retakes, changes in currency, or any other fee changes that might happen.

12. Changes in CFA fee structure for 2026 – A quick recap

The 2026 method is different from the old one, which had an enrolment price and a smaller registration fee.

Before the year 2026

The one-time enrollment fee was $350

The early registration fee for:

• Levels 1 and 2 were $990
• Level 3 was $1,090

Standard Registration Fee for:

• Levels 1 and 2 were $1,290
• Level 3 was $1,390

From February 2026 (exams) – No enrollment fee.

Early registration fees for:

• Levels 1 and 2 are $1,140 each
• Level 3 is $1,240

Standard Registration Fee For:

• Levels 1 and 2 are $1,490 each
• Level 3 is $1,590

Here is the CFA Fee Structure Before 2026 vs From Feb 2026 in a table format.

(₹88.7 per USD used for conversion)

In real life, this means that new applicants don’t have to pay the initial US$350 CFA enrollment fee. This makes it easier for people to join.

Also, the cost of each level of the CFA test has gone up. Because of this, early entry discounts and grants are more important now than they were before.

13. Cost-saving strategies for CFA aspirants

To make sure you can handle your costs in 2026:

Sign up as soon as possible.

• Late registration vs. early registration: The price difference between levels is about US$350 to US$450. That’s a big savings spread out over three levels.

Don’t be shy about applying for grants.

• The CFA Institute also has scholarships, namely access, student, professor, and regulator, which can lower your fee if you qualify. For that reason, your chances might be better than you think.

Find out the right way to use the official Learning Ecosystem.

• Before you buy a third-party pack, use the official questions and mocks to get as much as you can out of the one you already bought.

Do not reschedule without thinking.

• When you change that $250 fee to Indian rupees, it hurts. No changes should be made to the times that have been set unless you have to.

Don’t just choose brand names when you want CFA training.

• You pick a more affordable CFA training program that’s worth more than you think. It’s much more useful than a pricey one you don’t even use much.

Final Note

The CFA Program is a lofty goal, and the new 2026 fees make planning ahead even more critical. The good news is the enrollment fee has been removed, but the cost of exams will increase, so registering sooner rather than later can make for significant savings. The curriculum has not varied much, and scholarships can still make a dent in the overall cost.

If you budget, make good use of the official study materials, and get coaching (if you need it), your journey through CFA becomes much easier. Numerous salary reports also indicate that passing each CFA level can enhance your career and paycheck.

In brief, the key is to begin as early as possible, keep things organised, and see CFA as an investment in your future. If you prepare wisely, those 2026 exams can be a lot less stressful on your mind and easier on your wallet.

FAQs: CFA fees & costs in 2026

1. What are the registration fees for CFA exam levels 1, 2, and 3 in 2026?

The rough cost of registration from February 2026 is:

• Level 1 & Level 2

1. Early: US$1,140
2. Standard: US$1,490

• Level 3

1. Early: US$1,240
2. Standard: US$1,590

For the 2026 exams, that US$350 fee has been removed.

2. Is there an incremental cost for Level 2 versus Level 1?

Level 1 and Level 2 share the same core fee schedule in 2026. But you can spend a little more on:

• Extra resources and question banks
• CFA course fees for coaching – since L2 is more application-focused
• All rescheduling or retake costs, as applicable

3. What are the things I should keep in mind while budgeting for the CFA course fees?

Think about:

• Your work/study schedule
• Whether you take a course in the classroom or online, attending a course offers several benefits.
• How many doubts are being solved on the mock exam, feedback, and structured planning you require
• The combined cost over two to three years, not just one tier

It would be much better to choose a CFA training course that appeals to your style of learning and keeps you going, rather than simply chasing the cheapest option.

4. Does CFA have any scholarships?

Yes. CFA Institute has a series of scholarships (Access, Student, Professor, Regulator) that:

• Waive the initial fee (if applicable)
• Offer discounted registration fees

So, if you’re sitting in one of the major accountancy exams this March, a 2026 Access Scholarship can slash your exam fee to about US$400 on that sitting.

5. How often does the CFA exam fee change, and how do I keep updated on this?

While CFA Institute does not prorate its fees annually, it occasionally reviews and adjusts its pricing. The 2026 update (no enrollment fee, but upping the registration fees) is one of these significant changes.

To stay updated:

• Before you register, make sure to verify on the official CFA Dates & Fees page.
• Monitor for updates from reliable prep institutes that are following the curriculum and price adjustments.