CFA Training in South Africa for Investment & Finance Professionals
Prepare for CFA Level I, II or III through 100+ hours of guided CFA exam preparation with South Africa classroom, live online, hybrid, self-paced and corporate options. The learning system combines Kaplan Schweser resources, recordings, an AI-powered LMS, 4,000+ practice questions and revision resources, mock exams and level-by-level faculty guidance.
EduDelphi is an independent exam-preparation provider. CFA Institute administers the CFA Program, registrations, examinations, membership requirements and the CFA designation.
A structured route for each CFA exam level
| Course detail | Current reference |
|---|---|
| Credential | Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program |
| Credential body | CFA Institute |
| EduDelphi role | Independent Level I, II and III exam preparation, study planning and practice support |
| Delivery | Classroom, live online, hybrid, self-paced reinforcement and corporate training across South Africa |
| Study system | 100+ guided hours, Kaplan Schweser resources, recordings, AI-powered LMS, 4,000+ practice resources and mock support |
| Exam pathway | Level I, Level II and Level III examinations administered separately by CFA Institute |
| Fees | EduDelphi tuition is quoted separately in ZAR. CFA Institute registration and examination fees are separate and paid in USD. |
What is CFA certification?
People often search for “CFA certification,” but CFA Institute officially refers to the CFA Program, CFA charter and CFA designation. CFA stands for Chartered Financial Analyst and covers investment analysis, valuation, portfolio management, wealth management and professional ethics.
The route consists of three levels. Passing the examinations is important, but the CFA charter is awarded only when CFA Institute’s membership, ethics and qualifying-work-experience requirements are met.
- Level I focuses on investment tools, concepts and foundations.
- Level II centres on applying tools to valuation and analysis.
- Level III focuses on portfolio management, wealth planning and professional judgement.
Choose the CFA level that matches your current route
Each CFA examination has a different learning task. Preparation should reflect the relevant exam format, curriculum weightings and your intended testing window.
Investment foundations
Build confidence with ethics, quantitative methods, financial statement analysis, valuation basics and investment products.
Analysis and valuation
Develop item-set judgement across financial analysis, equity, fixed income, derivatives and portfolio-management applications.
Portfolio decisions
Prepare for item-set and constructed-response work across portfolio management and the selected Level III pathway.
Who Can Register for CFA Level I?
CFA Institute currently allows Level I registration through a completed bachelor’s degree, an undergraduate route or a qualifying combination of professional work experience and higher education. It independently decides eligibility.
Completed degree
Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification before the selected Level I exam.
Undergraduate route
Your Level I exam window must be within 23 months of your graduation month. Level II requires you to be within 11 months; before Level III, the degree must be complete.
Work and education route
Build a combination of 4,000 hours of professional work experience and/or higher education over at least three sequential years, under CFA Institute’s current rules.
Professional work experience for Level I does not need to be investment related. Separate charter requirements, including 4,000 qualifying work hours over at least 36 months, apply later in the CFA journey.
How do you earn the CFA charter?
Passing the three examinations is not the same as being awarded the CFA charter. CFA Institute also controls professional-experience, membership, reference and professional-conduct requirements.
Register with CFA Institute
Confirm your official eligibility and choose the intended Level I window.
Prepare and sit each level
Pass Level I, Level II and Level III in sequence under CFA Institute’s current policies.
Build qualifying experience
Accumulate 4,000 hours of qualifying professional experience over at least 36 months.
Apply for membership
Meet CFA Institute’s current membership, reference and professional-conduct requirements.
CFA Exam Format: Level I, II & III
The examination format changes as candidates progress from broad knowledge to applied analysis and portfolio decision-making.
180 multiple-choice questions
Two 135-minute sessions covering the Level I curriculum and ethics.
22 item sets / 88 questions
Two 132-minute sessions built around vignette-based item sets.
11 item sets + 11 constructed-response sets
Two 132-minute sessions. Candidates select Portfolio Management, Private Markets or Private Wealth; the pathway does not change the CFA charter ultimately earned.
CFA Level I, II & III Topics
CFA Institute can update curriculum details and topic-weight ranges. These compact summaries support study planning; candidates should confirm the applicable curriculum for their exam cycle.
View CFA Level I topics and current exam weights
- Ethical and Professional Standards: 15-20%
- Quantitative Methods and Economics: 6-9% each
- Financial Statement Analysis, Equity Investments and Fixed Income: 11-14% each
- Corporate Issuers: 6-9%; Derivatives: 5-8%
- Alternative Investments: 7-10%; Portfolio Management: 8-12%
View CFA Level II topics and current exam weights
- Ethical and Professional Standards: 10-15%
- Quantitative Methods, Economics, Corporate Issuers, Derivatives and Alternative Investments: 5-10% each
- Financial Statement Analysis, Equity Investments and Fixed Income: 10-15% each
- Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning: 10-15%
View CFA Level III topics and current exam weights
- Asset Allocation and Portfolio Construction: 15-20% each
- Performance Measurement: 5-10%
- Derivatives and Risk Management: 10-15%
- Ethical and Professional Standards: 10-15%
- Selected pathway content: 30-35%
Practical Skills Modules are part of the CFA journey
CFA Institute currently requires candidates to complete one Practical Skills Module at each level before releasing the exam result. The same module cannot be used more than once across levels, and each typically takes approximately 10-20 hours.
| Level | Current PSM examples |
|---|---|
| Level I | Financial Modeling or Python Programming Fundamentals. |
| Level II | Python Programming Fundamentals, Python, Data Science & AI, or Analyst Skills. |
| Level III | Portfolio Development & Construction, plus applicable pathway options such as Practical Macro, Due Diligence or Managing Private Wealth Clients. |
Available choices can change by exam cycle. EduDelphi helps learners schedule the relevant module alongside their study plan; CFA Institute controls the requirement.
Use the curriculum for your intended CFA exam year
CFA Institute has released the 2027 curriculum for examinations beginning in February 2027. Its most significant Level I changes are in Quantitative Methods and Equity Investments and affect roughly 25% of Level I exam content.
Candidates targeting a 2027 sitting should prepare against the applicable 2027 materials rather than relying on a prior curriculum version.
Match materials to the exam window
Before joining a batch, confirm the intended level, exam year and official registration window. This avoids carrying a stale topic plan into a newer CFA curriculum.
Keep teaching, question practice and revision in one CFA study system
EduDelphi combines guided classes with resources that allow working professionals to reinforce each level between sessions.
Live expert-led teaching
Structured concept teaching and scheduled guidance for the selected CFA level.
Kaplan Schweser support
Recognised study resources used alongside live teaching and revision planning.
4,000+ practice resources
Questions, calculations, drills, mock exercises and revision resources.
AI-powered LMS
Digital study support, topic reinforcement and organised learning access.
Recordings and revision
Flexible reinforcement for professionals balancing work and preparation.
Flexible delivery
Classroom, live online, hybrid, self-paced and corporate options across South Africa.
Separate your ZAR training plan from official CFA Institute costs
EduDelphi CFA course fees are quoted in ZAR according to the selected level and delivery format. Request current batch, payment and support information directly from the team.
2026 CFA Institute exam-fee reference
| Level | Early | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | US$1,140 | US$1,490 |
| Level II | US$1,140 | US$1,490 |
| Level III | US$1,240 | US$1,590 |
CFA Institute currently lists a US$0 new Level I enrollment fee for 2026. Official fees, windows and taxes can change and are separate from EduDelphi tuition.
Build a stronger investment and finance narrative in South Africa
CFA knowledge can strengthen readiness for investment research, equity analysis, portfolio support, wealth management, corporate finance and related advisory work. It does not guarantee employment, promotion or salary.
- Investment Analyst or Research Analyst
- Equity, Fixed Income or Portfolio-support professional
- Wealth-management or private-client candidate
- Corporate-finance, valuation or advisory professional
- Finance professional developing investment-analysis depth
Career outcomes still depend on experience, employer needs, technical capability and the nature of the role.
CFA in South Africa’s Investment Industry
South African candidates can connect CFA study to JSE-listed equity analysis, asset management, pension and institutional investing, private wealth, fixed income, treasury, capital markets, private markets and investment consulting.
Public and institutional markets
Equity analysis, fixed income, asset allocation and manager-research conversations.
Private wealth and advisory
Portfolio construction, wealth-planning and client-investment decision support.
Corporate finance and private markets
Valuation, investment judgement, due diligence and strategic-finance analysis.
South African candidates also sit within an active local professional community through CFA Society South Africa. EduDelphi is an independent tuition provider.
CFA Training in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town & Durban
Live online study is available nationwide, supported by recordings and digital resources. Classroom, hybrid and corporate delivery can be discussed according to cohort and scheduling availability.
Johannesburg / Sandton / Midrand
Investment, consulting, banking and financial-services professionals.
Pretoria / Centurion
Public-sector, governance, finance and technology professionals.
Cape Town
Asset management, technology, private wealth and advisory candidates.
Durban / KwaZulu-Natal
Finance, corporate, logistics and enterprise professionals.
Learn with finance professionals who understand the study journey
Shyam Sarrof
CPA (USA) · CMA (USA) · ACA · ACMA · CS · CFA · ACTM · MBA · B.Com (H)
Shyam brings 22+ years of professional experience and more than 13 years guiding finance-certification candidates. He connects CFA preparation to analysis, reporting, valuation and long-term finance-career decisions.
Faculty perspective: candidates benefit most when they start applying concepts to questions early, instead of treating mock work as something reserved for the final weeks.
Sumanth M
CFA Charterholder · B.Tech (IIT) · MBA (ISB)
Sumanth is a CFA charterholder who helps candidates break down complex Level I, II and III concepts, work through questions methodically and build a more sustainable revision routine.
Faculty perspective: a strong CFA plan balances topic learning with repeated question review, because the reasoning behind an answer matters as much as the answer itself.
Corporate CFA preparation for South African finance teams
Private CFA preparation can be planned for investment, treasury, valuation, finance, advisory and wealth-management teams through scheduled live, online or hybrid delivery.
Teams from recognisable organisations have chosen EduDelphi for professional-learning programmes. Logos are shown for training experience and do not imply endorsement of this course.
CFA, FRM, US CMA, CIMA/CGMA or CA(SA)?
The right route depends on the work you want to do. CFA is designed for investment analysis and portfolio-management depth, not to replace every finance or accountancy qualification.
| Route | Main direction | Usually best when |
|---|---|---|
| CFA | Investment analysis and portfolio management | Investment research, valuation, portfolio or wealth roles are the main direction. |
| FRM | Financial risk management | Market, credit, liquidity, treasury and financial-risk depth are the main direction. |
| US CMA | Management accounting and commercial finance | FP&A, costing, performance and finance leadership are central. |
| CIMA / CGMA | Management-accounting professional route | You want a broader management-accounting and strategic-finance route. |
| CA(SA) / ACCA | Chartered accountancy | Broad accountancy, reporting, audit and professional-finance capability is the goal. |
CFA course and exam questions
What is CFA certification?
CFA stands for Chartered Financial Analyst. The official route is administered by CFA Institute and consists of Level I, II and III examinations plus the institute’s current membership, ethics and experience requirements for the CFA charter.
Do you offer a CFA Level 1 course and Level I classes in South Africa?
Yes. EduDelphi supports CFA Level I preparation through scheduled classroom, live online, hybrid and self-paced options, alongside recordings, Kaplan Schweser resources, LMS access, questions and mock support.
What is the CFA Level I exam format?
Level I currently has 180 multiple-choice questions across two 135-minute sessions. CFA Institute controls the current examination format and testing arrangements.
How does the CFA Level II exam work?
Level II currently uses 22 vignette-based item sets containing 88 multiple-choice questions across two 132-minute sessions.
What is different about CFA Level III?
Level III currently combines item-set and constructed-response questions, and candidates choose a Portfolio Management, Private Markets or Private Wealth pathway.
Does CFA require Practical Skills Modules?
Yes. CFA Institute currently requires one Practical Skills Module at each level before it releases an exam result. A module cannot be reused across levels and typically takes approximately 10-20 hours.
How much does a CFA course cost in South Africa?
EduDelphi training fees are quoted in ZAR based on the selected level and delivery format. CFA Institute’s official exam fees are separate, paid in USD, and can vary by registration timing.
How often are CFA exams offered?
CFA Institute currently offers Level I four times per year, Level II three times per year and Level III twice per year. Confirm the exact testing window and appointment availability for your intended cycle.
How long does CFA take?
Timing depends on your background, weekly availability, exam windows and progress through all three levels. EduDelphi helps candidates create a realistic study plan for one level at a time.
Can I study CFA online from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town or Durban?
Yes. Live online classes, recordings and self-paced reinforcement are available nationwide. Classroom, hybrid and corporate options can be discussed according to availability.
Are CFA Institute fees included in EduDelphi fees?
No. EduDelphi tuition is quoted separately in ZAR. CFA Institute’s registration and examination fees are paid separately in USD under the institute’s current schedule.
Do you offer corporate CFA training?
Yes. Teams can discuss private CFA preparation for investment, treasury, finance, valuation, advisory and wealth-management functions.
Get CFA fees, syllabus and South Africa batch options
Share your target level, preferred learning format and intended exam window. We will send current ZAR training-fee guidance, batch options, the level syllabus and a clear breakdown of separate CFA Institute costs.
Who can register for CFA Level I?
CFA Institute currently permits Level I registration through a completed bachelor’s degree, an undergraduate route within 23 months of graduation, or a qualifying 4,000-hour combination of professional work experience and higher education completed over at least three sequential years.
Can I defer my CFA exam?
For 2027 exams, CFA Institute no longer offers an ordinary paid deferral option. Candidates who do not sit normally forfeit the registration fee and must register again, except where CFA Institute’s emergency-deferral policy applies. Confirm the policy for your exact exam cycle before registering.
