Asia Pacific remains streets ahead in the CFA Institute exams, with local professionals accounting for nearly 59% of all candidates during the December 2018 round of assessments.
Of the 77,245 candidates sitting the Chartered Financial Analyst Level I exam, 45,559 were based in Asia Pacific, an increase of 19% compared with the same exam in December 2017.
Globally, the number of CFA Level I exams taken increased by 13%, year-on-year.
Worldwide reach
The December Level I exam was administered in 134 test centres, in 85 cities, across 46 countries and regions worldwide.
The largest number of candidates were based in:
- Mainland China (23,646)
- United States (12,375)
- India (8,151)
- Canada (4,983)
- Australia (4,803)
- United Kingdom (4,382)
- Hong Kong (2,506)
- Singapore (1,416)
- South Africa (1,327)
- Korea (985)
The 45% of candidates who passed the Level I exam will progress to Level II.
Fewer than one in five who begin the programme end up successfully earning the CFA charter.
To earn the CFA charter, candidates must pass all three levels of exams; meet the work experience requirements of four years in industry; sign a commitment to abide by the CFA Institute Code of Eithers and Standards of Professional Conduct; and become a member of CFA Institute.
