You have completed your MBA in Finance.

Now a big question comes up:

“What can I do to take the next step in my career?

The fact is, an MBA in Finance will up your odds.

But finance is changing quickly. The new rules and new tools, along with new roles for experts, just keep rolling in.

This is why many MBA grads now go for one more specialisation course or certification after doing their MBAs. It makes them stand out and get better roles in banks, consulting firms, investment companies, and corporates.

In this guide, we will discuss the 7  best finance courses after MBA Finance that you can do in 2026, along with…

• What each course is about
• Why is it useful after an MBA
• Latest fee update
• Job roles and salary direction
• Who it is best for

And it is all explained thoroughly.

Why Do a Course After MBA Finance?

You may say to yourself, “Not to worry, I already have an MBA. Is another course really needed?”

Here are a few straightforward explanations why many still need to do a course:

1. You take a competitive advantage in the job market

There are thousands of MBAs in Finance coming out every year.

Additional certifications such as CFA, FRM, CMA, CFP, FMVA, or CPA go a long way in differentiating yourself when recruiters are shortlisting candidates.

2. You deepen your skills

MBA is broad.

The courses, such as CFA, FRM, or Financial Modelling, would take you to the depths of:

• Investments
• Risk
• Valuation
• Accounting
• Planning

This depth makes you far more useful in core finance-type jobs.

3. You stay updated

• Finance keeps changing.
• New rules and new tools, and more use of data and tech.
• Extra courses keep you up to date, so your knowledge is not outdated.

4. You can switch or sharpen your career direction

Perhaps after getting your MBA, you saw:

• You have a preference for equity research over corporate finance.
• Or you enjoy risk management.
• Or you’d like to transition into financial planning

A focused course guides you to redirect or refocus.

The 7 Best Finance Courses After MBA Finance in 2026

1. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA Program)

The CFA Program is the international standard of choice for professionals in all areas of investment and research.

It covers:

• Equity and fixed income
• Portfolio management
• Derivatives and alternatives
• Economics and quantitative methods
• Ethics and professional standards

The program is ideal if you wish to work in:

• Equity research
• Portfolio management
• Asset management
• Investment banking
• Wealth management

Why CFA after MBA Finance?

• As an MBA graduate in Finance, CFA gives you a stronger understanding of finance.
• CFA gets quite detailed on how to analyse companies and construct portfolios.
• MBA + CFA offers a strong combination for investment positions.

CFA exam fees in 2026:

The one-time enrolment fee is no longer applicable from 2026.

For each level, the CFA exam fees are:

Levels I and II

• Early registration: USD 1,140
• Standard registration: USD 1,490

Level III

• Early registration: USD 1,240
• Standard registration: USD 1,590

For changing your exam date, there is an additional charge of USD 250 for the reschedule fee.

You must also budget for:

• Hard copy curriculum (optional, approximately USD 300 each level)
• Third Party Study Material (If you want it)

Salary direction after CFA

According to the CFA Institute’s impact study, a CFA charterholder in India can draw an average annual salary of about ₹28–44 lakh based on the role and experience.

Naturally, the real salary you earn in this field will be based on:

• Company
• Role
• City
• Your experience and skills

IMS Proschool offers a comprehensive training course for the CFA Program (Levels 1 and 2). The course offers live or online classroom lessons, study material, revision classes, mock tests, placement assistance , and doubt-clearing sessions. The program is suitable for those who are seeking positions in investment research, fund management, corporate finance, and analytics.

At Prochool, the regular CFA course fees are approximately from ₹35,000 to ₹65,000.

Key Highlights of the Course:

• 200+ hours of live teaching (depending on level) and exhaustive revision and mock test batches.

• Access to the CFA Institute Learning Ecosystem, practice questions, and full-length mock exams.
• 100% Placement assistance, exam pass commitment, interview support, and more.

Visit IMS Proschool’s official CFA course page for more details.

Here’s why this matters to you

• Passing CFA levels is your big ticket if you want to work in fields like research, fund management, equity analysis, or investment banking.
• The bundled training + exam preparation offered by Proschool gives you structure, accountability, and resources, which are key when the CFA curriculum is extensive and rigorous.

Who should choose CFA?

• MBA graduates who seek jobs focused on investing
• Investors who like the markets, researching companies, and building long-term wealth
• Aspiring equity analysts, portfolio managers, or fund managers

2. Financial Risk Manager (FRM)

The FRM certification is offered by GARP. It is one of the top courses worldwide for risk management.

It focuses on:

• Market risk
• Credit risk
• Operational risk
• Liquidity risk
• Risk models and regulation

There are two parts in the FRM exam.

Why FRM after MBA Finance?

Banks, NBFCs, fintechs, and even large corporates now take risk very seriously.

FRM gives you a strong edge if you want roles like:

• Risk analyst
• Market risk manager
• Credit risk manager
• Enterprise risk professional

FRM fees

For new candidates, GARP charges:

• One-time enrolment fee: USD 400
• Exam fee per part: Typically USD 600 to USD 800, depending on early/standard registration.

Combined, the total cost for both parts of FRM is typically in a range from USD 2,150 to USD 3,650 (when you don’t have any retakes and exclude travelling).

Salary direction after FRM

• Beginning roles pay between ₹8–12 lakh per year.
• Senior risk roles can command ₹25-₹30 lakh or more a year, depending on the experience and sector.

Who should choose FRM?

• MBA finance grads who enjoy evaluating risks, numbers, and models.
• Individuals interested in working at banks, treasury, risk consultancy , or regulators
• People who like stress-testing, scenario work, and policy work.

3. Certified Management Accountant (CMA USA)

CMA USA, awarded by IMA, focuses on management accounting and decision-making.

Key topics include:

• Costing
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Performance management
• Internal controls
• Strategic financial management

There are two parts to the test.

Why get a CMA after an MBA in finance?

An MBA teaches you about business and money.

CMA helps you get better at

• Internal finance
• Reporting to management
• Making decisions for CEOs and business leaders

This is helpful for jobs like:

• Management Accountant
• Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A)
• Finance Manager
• Controller

CMA USA Fee

CMA has:

• IMA membership fee
• Entrance fee
• Exam fees for each part

According to recent data, the entrance fee is between USD 225 and USD 300 (~ ₹19,958 – ₹26,610), depending on whether the person is a student or a professional.

The cost of each part of the exam is between USD 370 and USD 495 (~ ₹32,819 – ₹43,927), depending on the category.

If you take coaching or online classes, you should also include the cost of those.

IMS Proschool’s US CMA (Certified Management Accountant – USA) coaching is designed to prepare you for the two-part US CMA exam, with classroom or online modes. They offer strong training, global-standard material, placement support, and job-preparation services.

Fee Details

• Offline (classroom) mode in Delhi: ~ ₹1,10,000.
• Online mode: ~ ₹90,000.
• The broader total cost (including coaching + exam + material) ranges roughly from ₹60,000 to ₹1,20,000 depending on mode, location, and features.

Duration & Key Features

• The duration is around 6 months for the full program.
• Preparation includes 4,000+ MCQs, 90+ essay questions, mock tests, and revision sessions.
• Offers placement assistance, interview prep, resume building, and job shortlists.

Visit IMS Proschool’s official CMA USA course page for more details.

Who should pick CMA?

• People who have an MBA in finance and want to work in business finance, FP&A, or corporate finance.
• People who enjoy making budgets, keeping track of their performance, and planning their business.
• People who want to be CFOs or heads of finance in the future.

4. Certified Financial Planner (CFP – India pathway)

CFP is a great way to help people and families plan their money.

It teaches:

• Investment planning
• Retirement planning
• Tax planning
• Insurance and risk planning
• Estate and wealth transfer planning

CFP is managed by FPSB India.

Why get a CFP after an MBA in finance?

MBA Finance usually looks at companies more than other things.

CFP is all about personal finance.

If you want to:

• Work with HNIs
• Set up a financial advisory business
• Manage wealth for a living

Then CFP is a very good choice.

CFP fees in India (updated structure)

FPSB India’s regular pathway includes fees for:

• Registration of students
• Subscription for a year
• Specialised course materials and tests
• Final assessment of the financial plan and the CFP exam

According to the current FPSB India data, there are,

• About ₹18,000 students registered.
• Around ₹11,500 for a yearly subscription
• Around ₹8,000 for each specialist course exam
• Approx. ₹25,000 for the Financial Plan Assessment and CFP exam together

You also need to set aside money for:

• Coaching or training
• Books or study materials you find online

So, depending on the training provider, the total cost is usually between ₹1 and ₹1.3 lakh.

IMS Proschool is an official learning partner of Financial Planning Standards Board India (FPSB) and offers its CFP (Certified Financial Planner) certification training in Online, Offline, and Distance learning modes.

Key details:

• Duration: ~12 months (after the Foundation module)
• Course includes: Foundation (“M0” or Finance Foundation) + three specialist modules (Investment Planning, Retirement & Tax Planning, Risk & Estate Planning) + the Integrated Financial Planning final module.
• The course prepares you for the CFP exams and gives 100% job support, such as placement preparation.

Fees (for the full training program at Proschool):

• Online Coaching: ₹50,000
• Offline Classroom Coaching: ₹60,000
• Distance Learning / Self-study Mode: ₹30,000

Who should pick CFP?

• Those who enjoy working directly with clients.
• MBA Finance applicants seeking opportunities in private banking, wealth management and advisory.
• Those wishing to eventually start their own financial planning practice.

5. Financial Modelling and Valuation (FM / FMVA-type programs)

Unlike CFA or FRM, which are formal organisations, Financial Modelling and Valuation is a bit different.

It’s one of the most useful skill sets in modern finance.

You build Excel-based models to:

• Predict income, expenditure and cash flows for project demands
• Value companies using DCF and multiples
• Test different scenarios
• Support investment or business decisions

Many colleges and institutes offer such courses, both in India and for international students.

Why Financial Modelling after MBA?

MBA students often learn theory. The job market requires individuals to be able to construct actual models, and those who know numbers.

Modelling skills are used in:

• Equity research
• Investment banking
• Corporate finance
• Project finance
• Start-up valuation
• Credit analysis

FM / FMVA-like course fees

IMS Proschool has a separate course for Financial Modelling, which teaches Excel-based Modelling, Valuations, Cash flow Forecasting & Sensitivity Analysis.

Fees:

• Online mode: ₹40,000 (approx)
• Offline/classroom mode: ₹50,000 (approx)
• Broad range: ₹20,000 – ₹50,000 as per location mode (self- learning/online/classroom) and added services.

With this course, you gain good financial modelling skills when used in conjunction with something like the CFA or internship experiences. This could really help your chances of getting into Fund Management or Equity Research.

Who should choose Financial Modelling?

• Anybody wanting a fundamental finance role
• MBAs aiming to get into IB, equity research, analyst other than consulting/corp finance / ER.
• Those who like Excel, numbers and real business scenarios

With CFA or FRM, too, you must know how to build a model.

6. Certified Public Accountant (CPA – US)

The US CPA is a top global qualification in accounting, auditing, and reporting. It is useful if you want to work with:

• MNCs
• Big 4 firms
• Global finance and reporting teams

CPA is offered by the AICPA and has four exam sections.

Why CPA after an MBA in Finance?

If you like:

• Accounting
• IFRS and US GAAP
• Audit
• Compliance and reporting

Then CPA can help you become a strong candidate for:

• Controller roles
• Global reporting
• Audit and advisory

CPA costs for Indian candidates

There are several parts to the CPA cost:

• Application and evaluation fees
• Exam fees for 4 sections
• International testing surcharge

Recent India-focused breakdowns show:

• Exam section fees plus other charges often take the total exam cost to around ₹80,000–₹1,00,000.
• Plus an international testing fee of around ₹1.2 lakh if you test outside the US.

Coaching and material will add extra on top.

IMS Proschool offers a dedicated coaching program for the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) qualification (USA) designed to help you prepare for the CPA exams with classroom or online modes, study materials, mock tests, and job-support services.

Learning Mode and Fee Details

• Online/live-online/classroom/offline – check with the counsellor.
• Total cost might include exam fees, membership & training fees.

What It Covers

• Strengthening your accounting, auditing, taxation, and business law knowledge as per the CPA syllabus
• Practice with large question banks, full-length mocks, and timed exams
• Interview prep, placement support, and career counselling

Why It’s Useful

• The CPA credential is internationally recognised (especially for accounting/finance roles in US-based or multinational firms)
• Taking it along with CFA, FM & modelling courses can broaden your profile for analyst, audit, or finance roles.

Who should choose CPA?

• MBA grads who enjoy accounting and auditing
• People working with US clients, Big 4s, or global finance teams
• Those who want a long-term career in financial reporting, audit, or controllership

7. Advanced Management Programs (AMP) or PhD in Finance

This option is different from the others.

Advanced Management Programs (AMP) and PhD in Finance are for individuals looking for:

• Senior leadership roles
• Deep research experience
• Academic or policy careers

Top B-schools offer these programs, such as ISB, IIMs, and even global ones such as Harvard Business School.

Why Do an AMP or a PhD after an MBA in Finance?

You should look at an AMP or a PhD if:

• You already have a few years of experience
• You want to move to a CXO or global leadership role
• Or you want to go into research, teaching, or think-tank work

AMPs often focus on:

• Strategy
• Corporate finance at a senior level
• Leadership
• Global business

PhD focuses more on:

• Academic work
• Quantitative and theoretical finance
• Research work

Cost and outcomes

Fees range dramatically by institute:

• Costs of AMPs can range between ₹2 lakh and more to ₹15 lakh+.
• Pay after such programs can be much higher if you shift into high-level leadership positions, but there is huge variability by industry and profile.

These programs only make sense if you’re in your mid-career or at a senior-level position, and not fresh off an MBA.

Career Options and Courses after MBA Finance

Everyone is different, and there isn’t one “best” course for everyone.

The best one for your purpose varies.

Here are some easy questions you can ask yourself:

1. What role do you want?

• Investment-based roles such as equity research or portfolio management → CFA + Financial Modelling.
• Risks are banks and corporates → FRM
• Corp fin/FP&A/InAndOuts ==> CMA + Modelling
• Personal financial planning and wealth management → CFP
• Any type of financials, auditing, worldwide accounting → CPA.
• Executive or Academic role → AMP/PhD

2. How much time can you give?

• It takes many months of very serious study for CFA and FRM
• Financial Modelling courses and certifications can be faster
• An AMP or a PhD can require full-time or substantial part-time dedication
• Be upfront about your work schedule and commitment.

3. What can you afford now?

All classes have certain course fee tiers:

• CFA and FRM: Costlier in USD, but a good investment in the long run
• CFP, CMA, CPA: Moderate- to high-cost in respective industries
• Modelling classes: Generally less expensive and something you can benefit from right away

Please check the official websites and the approved training partners for the latest figures!

Final thoughts

Taking courses after MBA finance is not about the number of certificates on your wall.

It is about choosing one path based on:

• What you like
• What market needs
• How would you want to see yourself after 5–10 years

If you want a strong career in finance after 2026, just choose one of the above and plan your time and money. And then stick to it.

Start small.
Choose a direction.
Continue learning.

That is your hack after an MBA in Finance to a strong finance career.

FAQs

1. What is the best course after MBA finance?

There is no “best” course. It depends on what you want:

• CFA, if you are interested in investment-related roles
• FRM, if you are more into risk management
• CMA, if you are into corporate finance or FP&A
• CFP if you enjoy personal finance and advisory stuff
• Financial Modelling, if you aim for any core analyst profile
• CPA, if you’re into accounting and auditing
• AMP/ PhD if you are going towards leadership/research

2. Is CFA worth it after an MBA?

Yes, if you’re looking to break into or advance in:

• Equity research
• Portfolio management
• Wealth management
• Investment banking

CFA provides you with a more nuanced technical expertise that can be found in most MBAs, but not on the same scale. It is particularly beneficial in India’s expanding investment sector, where a growing number of individuals are investing money in mutual funds and capital markets.

3. Who gets a higher salary, an MBA or a CFA?

This is not an easy “MBA or CFA” type of question.

Your salary depends on:

• Role
• Company
• City
• Experience

There are a lot of top-paying jobs for those who have an MBA and CFA, or CA, and CFA.

Recent polls indicate that CFA charterholders in India can expect average pay ranging from ₹28-44 lakh a year, but this may be after some years of experience in good roles.

And so is consulting and investment banking hiring of the top MBAs to a great extent. So a mix of job profile and skill set matters a lot.

4. How does taking extra courses benefit my career?

Extra courses can:

• Prove you are serious about investing in learning
• Give you new, deeper skills
• Assist you in transitioning from one sector to another, say corporate banking to investment research.
• Strengthen your resume when you apply to top firms.

5. How much do courses such as CFA and FRM cost in total?

Very rough idea. Costs do not include coaching and travel:

CFA in 2026:

• Level 1

1. Early Registration: USD 1,140.
2. Standard Registration: USD 1,490

• Level 2

1. Early Registration: USD 1,140.
2. Standard Registration: USD 1,490

• Level 3

1. Early Registration: USD 1,240.
2. Standard Registration: USD 1,590

Each level costs between USD 1,140 and USD 1,590 or between ₹1,01,118 and ₹1,41,033 per level for registration. Thus, the cost of the exams often falls within the USD 3,500–4,500 or between ₹3,10,450 and ₹3,99,150, depending on when you register.

FRM full course:

• One-time enrollment fee: USD 400.
• Each part: USD 600–800.
• Typical total course: USD 2,150–3,650 -or between ₹1,90,705 and ₹3,23,755

Do check the latest numbers on the official CFA Institute and GARP websites before planning.