The global association of investment professionals announced that a record number of 227,031 candidates have registered for its level one, two and three exams, which will take place on 23 June.
“The Asia-Pacific region continues to generate the highest number of candidates, with 120,436 registered for the June 2018 exam, accounting for 53% of the total,” according to a CFA statement.
“We are very excited to see Asia-Pacific as a key driver of candidate growth globally,” said Nick Pollard, managing director for Asia-Pacific, in the statement. “China continues to lead growth in the region as the investment industry in China is growing rapidly and there is a corresponding drive to improve the quality of advice in the investment sector.
“Registered candidates numbered 63,368 in the Americas, 28% of the total, and 43,227 candidates registered in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (Emea), accounting for 19% of the total.”
The exams will be held at 286 test centres in 91 countries and territories.
The exams have been growing steadily since they began in 1962, with a notable 20% increase in exam registrations in the past year alone, according to the statement. Today, 84,000 (37%) of the candidates are women, the Institute said.
Lifetime learning
Paul Smith, president and chief executive of the CFA Institute, said: “The examination is the first step to a professional life dedicated to client service, continuing education, and engagement with regulators to protect investors and clients.”
He said the CFA Institute has more than 154,000 charterholders who work in some of the industry’s most prominent firms, including JP Morgan Chase, UBS, RBC, Bank of America ML, HSBC, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, BlackRock, Credit Suisse and State Street.
The CFA Institute opened an office Abu Dhabi in May this year, its first in the UAE.
