The CFA Starter Kit compresses the entire pre-registration research phase into one 10-page PDF: who is eligible, exactly what the exam costs in rupees, the 2026 exam calendar, the scholarships that cut fees to ~USD 250, and a day-by-day plan for your first 30 days of study. It's the guide we wish every first-time candidate read before creating a CFA Institute account.
What's Inside the CFA Starter Kit
| Section | What you get |
|---|---|
| Eligibility flowchart | The routes to CFA eligibility — bachelor's degree, registering up to 23 months before graduation, or 4,000 hours of work experience |
| Registration walkthrough | A 7-step process on cfainstitute.org, from account creation to Prometric test-center booking |
| Fee calculator (INR) | 2026 fees in rupees: early ≈ ₹96,000 (USD 1,140), standard ≈ ₹1,25,000 (USD 1,490) — and why no enrollment fee exists anymore |
| 2026 exam calendar | All four windows (February, May, August, November) and which levels run in each |
| First 30 days study plan | A day-by-day schedule covering Quant, Ethics, Economics and FSA, ending with a 50-question review |
| Study materials shortlist | CFA Institute curriculum, Schweser, Mark Meldrum, UWorld and AnalystPrep — what each is good for |
| Scholarship guide | The Access and Women's Scholarships, deadlines, and how to apply |
| Exam-day expectations | Format per level, Indian test-center cities, and the mistakes first-timers make |
Five Facts From the Kit Worth Knowing Now
- There is no CFA enrollment fee. CFA Institute eliminated the one-time USD 350 fee in April 2025 — your first registration costs the same as any other.
- Early registration saves USD 350 per level (≈ ₹29,000): USD 1,140 early vs USD 1,490 standard for Levels 1 and 2.
- Level 1 runs four times in 2026 — February, May, August and November — so a missed deadline costs you months, not a year.
- Level 1 is 180 multiple-choice questions across two 2¼-hour sessions at Prometric computer-based centers in ~30 Indian cities.
- The Access Scholarship cuts the fee to ~USD 250 for candidates with financial need — the kit covers deadlines and how to apply.
Download the CFA Starter Kit (2026 Edition) — Free
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Who Should Download This
The kit is written for first-time CFA aspirants in India — students and early-career professionals who haven't registered yet. If you're still working out whether you're eligible, which window to target, or what the journey costs in rupees, this saves you the hours of scattered Googling that usually precede registration. Already registered? Skip straight to our CFA Study Roadmap for the week-by-week prep plan.
CFA Starter Kit: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — completely free. You share your name, email and phone number, and the 10-page PDF opens instantly. We use your details to send batch alerts and prep tips, which you can unsubscribe from anytime.
You need any one of: a bachelor's degree in any field, being within 23 months of finishing your bachelor's degree, or 4,000 hours of professional work experience gained over at least 3 years. The kit's flowchart settles your route in under a minute.
Early registration is USD 1,140 (≈ ₹96,000) and standard registration USD 1,490 (≈ ₹1,25,000) per level for Levels 1 and 2; Level 3 runs about USD 100 higher. There is no enrollment fee — CFA Institute scrapped it in April 2025. The kit breaks this down with first-time totals.
Four windows: February (Levels 1 and 3), May (Levels 1 and 2), August (all three levels) and November (Levels 1 and 2). For live registration deadlines and fees, see our CFA exam dates hub — it's updated every cycle.
Yes — the CFA Institute Access Scholarship reduces the registration fee to about USD 250 for candidates with financial need, and the Women's Scholarship supports female candidates. Applications close months before each window; the kit lists the deadlines, and our scholarship essay evaluator scores your application essay free.
More Free CFA Resources
- CFA Study Roadmap — week-by-week plans for Levels 1 and 2 once you've registered
- CFA Study Materials Guide — Schweser vs CFAI vs UWorld vs Mark Meldrum, compared honestly
- CFA Career Playbook — resumes, networking and salary negotiation for charterholders
- Deep dives on the blog: registration process, full fee breakdown and eligibility criteria
