Key Takeaways CFA stands for Chartered Financial Analyst. It is a globally recognized finance credential focused on investment analysis, valuation, portfolio management, ethics, and financial decision-making. CFA exam eligibility is now linked to your graduation timeline. For CFA Level I, your exam window must fall within 23 months of your graduation month. For Level II, it must fall within 11 months of graduation. You can start CFA-oriented learning after 12th, but you usual