Compare Careers
Put two or three paths beside each other. Every row is something the awarding body itself publishes — the table states the facts and leaves the choice to you.
CFA ProgramChartered Accountant (CA)
| Compare | CFA Program CFA Institute’s three-level qualification for investment analysis and portfolio management. | Chartered Accountant (CA) ICAI’s three-level qualification in accounting, audit, tax and finance, with practical training. |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Professional Qualification | Professional Qualification |
| Area | Financial Markets & Investments | Professional Qualifications |
| Awarding / official body | CFA Institute | Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) |
| Typical duration | 3–4 years | — |
| Stages or levels | 3 | 3 |
| Mathematics used | High | Medium |
| Exam load | Very High | Very High |
| Study commitment | CFA Institute recommends 300 hours of study per level | — |
| Fees stated by the body | — | — |
| Skills it builds | Equity and fixed income analysis, Financial statement analysis, Quantitative methods and statistics, Portfolio management, Ethics and professional standards | Financial reporting and accounting standards, Statutory audit and assurance, Direct and indirect taxation, Cost and management accounting, Corporate and business law |
| Where it leads | Equity research, Portfolio management, Investment advisory, Credit and fixed income analysis | Statutory audit and assurance practice, Taxation and advisory, Financial reporting and controllership, Internal audit and risk |
CFA Program
Source: CFA Institute — CFA ProgramView source(opens in a new tab)Verified: 2026-09-25Updated:
Chartered Accountant (CA)
Source: ICAI — FAQs on the New Scheme of Education and TrainingView source(opens in a new tab)Verified: 2026-09-25Updated: