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Top 10 Finance Certifications Programs

Article bySayantan Mukhopadhyay
Reviewed byDheeraj Vaidya, CFA, FRM

Finance Certifications Programs

Financial certifications are certifications obtained after completing critical courses in finance like CFA (Certified Financial Analyst), FRM (Financial Risk Management), Financial modeling, Investment banking courses, etc.

  1. CFA® – Chartered Financial Analyst
  2. CPA – Certified Public Accountant
  3. FRM – Financial Risk Manager
  4. CFP – Certified Financial Planner
  5. CIMA – Charted Institute of Management Accountants
  6. ACCA – Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
  7. CAIA – Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst
  8. ChFC – Chartered Financial Consultant
  9. CMA – Certified Management Accountant
  10. CMFC – Chartered Mutual Fund Counsellor

Let’s look at the top finance certifications program (in no particular order)

Finance Certification Programs

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Source: Top 10 Finance Certifications Programs (wallstreetmojo.com)

#1 CFA® – Chartered Financial Analyst®

This is one of the best finance certifications programs you should pursue if you’re looking to master financial management and investment. Finance certifications alone are enough to catapult your career to the next level. It has three levels that you need to clear and you also need to have 4 years of full-time, relevant experience to get certified. The course is very rigorous and you need to study hard to clear it. The pass rate is lower than any other finance certifications – overall, the pass rate of CFA is less than 20%.

Career / Roles – For availing jobs in asset managementAsset ManagementAsset management is a method of managing funds and investing in both traditional and specialized products in order to generate returns consistent with the investor's risk tolerance. read more, private equity, equity research, investment banking, you should do CFA finance certifications. If you want to make a career in the world of investment and if you have the option of only one finance certification, CFA would be the only one you should choose.

#2 CPA – Certified Public Accountant

If you love accounting (more than finance), this is a certification that is the best of the best. It is authorized by the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountant). This finance certification is specifically designed for accountants and tax consultants. CPA certification requires 150 hours of intensive study. And then you need to clear a tough exam. Along with that, you need to get a CPA license. The cost of the study is around $3000. And if you prepare well, you can clear the exam. The pass rate for the first time attempt has been around 50%.

Career / Roles – If you want a career in accounting, this finance certification program will definitely help. The only demerit of this finance certification is its narrow focus on corporate finance.

#3 FRM – Financial Risk Manager

If you want to become a risk analyst in an organization or want to make your mark in risk management, this is the ideal certification for you. You can also help clients that want to make prudent investment decisions. This certification doesn’t cost much – it costs around $1500 and you can complete FRM-I and FRM-II in a year (but it’s not that easy). FRM is administered by GARP (The Global Association of Risk Professionals). The pass rate of FRM is around 50%, but every year the percentage changes.

Career / Roles – FRM is one of the finance certifications programs that’s niche and only targets a specific market. The only con of this finance certification is that the subject material won’t be applicable for all kinds of finance professionals until they’re interested in risk analysisRisk AnalysisRisk analysis refers to the process of identifying, measuring, and mitigating the uncertainties involved in a project, investment, or business. There are two types of risk analysis - quantitative and qualitative risk analysis.read more and management.

#4 CFP – Certified Financial Planner

If you want to hire a financial planner or want to be one, you should look out for CFP certification. CFP is not only about just finance, it’s also about understanding one critical element of business and that is client-relationship. To pass the CFP, you need to clear a 7-hour test. If you want to pass CFP, you need to study at least 1000 hours. The only con of this certification is that it is too narrow in focus. However, after passing this exam, you can be part of wealth management, retail bankingRetail BankingRetail banking or personal banking refers to the financial services offered by the financial institutions exclusively to the individual clients. The consumer banking provides personal loan, savings account, debit cards, credit cards, locker, etc.read more, and private banking careersPrivate Banking CareersWorking in private banking include positions in wealth management firms, investment banks, and retail divisions. The top four private banking careers are as follows: Personal financial advisor Relationship manager/private banker, Customer service executive, Cash & trade processing analyst.read more. This finance certification program is top-notch and it also costs less, only around $2000. The overall pass rate for CFP was 64% in the year 2017.

Career / Roles –  If you want to be part of wealth management, retail banking, and private banking careers

#5 CIMA

CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK) is for those who are looking for comprehensive knowledge in management accounting. In fact, it widens the scope of accounting by aligning its curriculum with strategic and risk management which is very useful from a business management point of view.

It is a comprehensive 4-tier certification program divided into certificate and professionals levels. One can earn CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting by completing the basic level and qualify for professional-level studies which are further divided into three learning pillars including enterprise, performance and financial knowledge areas. Each of these pillars is further sub-divided into operational, management and strategic levels, resulting in a total of nine knowledge areas covered as part of professional studies.

On completing the strategic level, 3-year work experience verified by CIMA Institute would help earn the designation of CIMA Member.

Career / Roles – This finance certification program can help build a career in advanced management accounting including career roles of Management Accountant, Financial Analyst, Finance Manager, and Internal AuditInternal AuditInternal audit refers to the inspection conducted to assess and enhance the company's risk management efficacy, evaluate the different internal controls, and ensure that the company adheres to all the regulations. It helps the management and board of directors to identify and rectify the loopholes before the external audit.read more Manager among others.

#6 ACCA

The association of chartered certified accountants is a very competent and leading accounting global body their qualification gives you recognition as an employee who has the ability in all aspects of the business. The term Chartered Certified Accountant is protected legally as anyone who claims to be a chartered certified accountant has to be a member of ACCA.

  • Exams: ACCA consists of in total of 14 written examinations in English, along with a business experience that is relevant enough. 4 exams can be taken up in each part which normally takes about 2 to 3 years to clear; however maximum time given to clear ACCA is 10 years.
  • ACCA exam dates: These exams are held twice a year that is in June and in December.
  • Eligibility: registering in different countries has different eligibility criteria for this course also the candidate needs to have relevant experience to have this finance certification.

Career / Roles – Banker, Consultant, Auditor, taxation and law professionals.

#7 CAIA – Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst

If you’re particularly interested in hedge fundsHedge FundsA hedge fund is an aggressively invested portfolio made through pooling of various investors and institutional investor’s fund. It supports various assets providing high returns in exchange for higher risk through multiple risk management and hedging techniques.read more or asset management, this is the ideal finance certification program for you. By doing this certification, you would be able to catapult your career toward hedge fund or asset management industries. The chief subjects that are covered under this finance certification are private equityPrivate EquityThe top private equity firms in India are - ICICI Venture Fund Management, Kotak Private Equity Group, Chryscapital, Blackstone Group, India Value Fund, Ascent Capital, Everstone Capital.read more, hedge funds, ethics, risk management, asset allocation, and structured products. The fees of the certification are geared toward a higher range, i.e. around $3000. The certification is divided into two levels. The pass rate of this certification is quite high, around 70%. CAIA certification would take around 12 to 18 months to complete. Since it’s focused on very niche subjects, the scope of the certification is also limited.

Career / Roles – hedge fund or asset management industries

#8 ChFC – Chartered Financial Consultant

If you’re somehow unable to go for CFP certification, you can go for ChFC certification. This certification is a great alternative because it not only covers everything you will learn in CFP, it will also help you specialize. For example, the CFP certification will teach you how to be a financial plannerHow To Be A Financial PlannerFinancial planners are experts in investment and financial management who help corporations, individuals, and businesses achieve their financial goals and objectives. The top four financial planner careers are budget analyst, insurance underwriter, financial analyst, and securities and commodities agent.read more in a generic sense. ChFC certification will help you specialize in financial planning e.g. financial planning for small businesses or financial planning for divorce. This is though not very popular finance certifications, but it is one of the game-changer in financial planning. It is administered by the American College of Financial Services. If you want to specialize in financial planningFinancial PlanningFinancial planning is a structured approach to understanding your current and future financial goals and then taking the necessary measures to accomplish them. Because this does not begin and end in a specific time frame, it is referred to as an ongoing process.read more, you need to study for four months under this certification and clear the exam.

Career / Roles – Financial Planner, Wealth Management

#9 CMA – Certified Management Accountant

If you want to get into management accounting, you won’t get any better certification than this. This is one of the most sought-after finance certifications & accounting. After passing out from CMA, you will get more opportunities on the corporate side. Finance certifications program is authorized by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). The whole course is divided into two parts. And as a whole, you need to sit for 11 financial competency tests. In simple words, this certification will give you a strategic advantage in the field of management and accounting. As per the study, a CMA earns 47% more in the US than any other professional. If a lucrative career and financial gains seem like a good idea, you should go for CMA certification.

Career / Roles – Management Accountant, Accounting

#10 CMFC – Chartered Mutual Fund Counsellor

If you want to multiply your money, you would like to invest in mutual funds. And for that, you need someone who is specialized in mutual funds. If your mutual fund advisor has done CMFC certification, then be assured that you’re in good hands. Or else, if you want to do a finance certification program in a mutual fund, look no further than chartered mutual fund counselor certification. This is a short course of 10 weeks. And you need to pass the exam after the course. This course is administered by the College for Financial Planning. This course includes the project work regarding the mutual fund industry and related to other products of investment.

Career/ Roles – Wealth management, Mutual Fund Advisor

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