Best CAIA Exam Prep Courses

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Wherever you are in the world, Kaplan Schweser is the gold standard of CAIA exam prep. From OnDemand classes to mock exams, every step of this course is top-notch.

Since 1999, Kaplan Schweser has been the most well-recognized provider of CAIA exam prep worldwide. In fact, the company and its distributors make up a quarter of the CAIA Association’s list of recommended preparation providers. Through this network of partnerships, Kaplan Schweser is able to offer courses in seven different regions across North and South America, Europe, and Asia helping it take the overall best spot. 

Kaplan Schweser’s CAIA prep program is divided into three packages. One of these is a self-directed course, providing access to a library of study materials with the option to add a review workshop and online mock exams. The other two feature live weekly classes and access to instructors, who can answer questions at any time.

If there’s a drawback to the Kaplan Schweser CAIA exam prep course, it’s the price tag. Self-study packages start at $499 per level; for access to live classes, review workshops, and mock exams, you’ll have to pay $699-999. On the bright side, 0% APR financing is offered to all United States residents except people living in Iowa, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico with flexible payment terms of three, six, or 12 months. If you fail your exam on the first try, Kaplan Schweser will provide free access to the same course you originally purchased on your second attempt.

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CAIA exam prep courses are a major investment, but Wiley Efficient Learning gives you the best value for your money with a no-commitment trial, generous student discount, and continued access until you pass the exam.

CAIA exam prep course fees start at $450, no small cost especially given exam registration fees total an additional $1,650, and that’s assuming you pass on the first try. If you aren’t fortunate enough to have an employer covering those costs, Wiley Efficient Learning will give you the best bang for your buck.

Right off the bat, Wiley Efficient Learning offers prospective CAIA exam takers a 14-day free trial of its premium study package with no credit card required. University students who decide to continue with the program can benefit from a 20% discount on all packages and study materials until 90 days after their graduation date. If you fail the exam, the company will continue providing access to the study package you purchased for as many attempts as it takes to pass. (Every other provider we reviewed either limited this guarantee to a single retake or gave a nominal discount on subsequent courses.) All of this combined makes Wiley Efficient Learning the best value of our providers. 

Wiley Efficient Learning does offer fewer course options than competitors, selling just two study packages priced at $175 for each section. The program lacks live online classes, although the premium package includes pre-recorded video lectures and access to ask instructors questions. You’ll also be limited to a single mock exam instead of the multiple exam options provided by some competitors.

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UpperMark’s proprietary software that generates customizable mock exams isn’t the only reason we picked the company for best study materials. Packages also include a wide selection of handbooks, flashcards, formula sheets, and more.

A large part of the value offered by a CAIA exam prep course is the quality of its study materials, and you won’t find a more comprehensive toolkit than UpperMark, which is why it leads this category. The company’s claim to fame as a preparation provider is its proprietary TestBank software that generates customizable exams from more than 1,800 practice questions. The software even includes analytical tools that help you track progress over time and identify topics that need more review.

UpperMark’s four study packages also come with a wide range of helpful study tools such as handbooks and formula sheets. Most materials are available in both digital and printed format; choosing digital materials may save you a bit of money on your course costs, while both can be purchased together for an additional fee.

Pricing on UpperMark CAIA exam prep courses starts at $499 and goes up to $979 per level, although actively enrolled college students can request a 25% discount. Each package is extremely customizable, with the ability to remove products you don’t need and even opt out of live classes for topics you’re already comfortable with.

Unfortunately, UpperMark doesn’t offer any type of trial period for its course and won’t refund fees once they’ve been paid. The company’s pass guarantee is also much less generous than other preparation providers. If you fail on the first try, you’ll only receive a 40% discount on your next UpperMark study package. Most competitors will give you this for free.

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Varsity Tutors is the best choice if you’re looking to incorporate one-on-one instruction into your CAIA exam prep plan. These flexible online sessions can be personalized according to your existing knowledge and study progress.

Formal CAIA exam prep courses are helpful, but they don’t always provide the level of individualized attention you need to pass an incredibly difficult test. Varsity Tutors’ CAIA exam tutors are a great way to get one-on-one guidance, whether as a standalone preparation method or to supplement a formal course, giving it the edge in the category for one-on-one instruction.

Varsity Tutors’ convenient online tutoring sessions can be scheduled from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Typically, CAIA exam prep sessions last two hours and are purchased in packages of hourly credits; the more hours you buy, the more you’ll save. Credits expire after one year, although you can use them to prepare for either the Level I or Level II CAIA exam. Pricing is structured as follows:

• 12 to 23 hours: $105 per hour
  
• 24 to 35 hours: $100 per hour
  
• 26 to 47 hours: $95 per hour
  
• 48 or more hours: $93 per hour

It’s important to note that Varsity Tutors is the only company in our review that isn’t included on the CAIA Association’s list of recommended preparation providers. The quality of the tutoring you receive may depend on the individual, so make sure you verify their independent credentials before signing up for sessions. Only a handful of tutors with CAIA curriculum knowledge are available through Varsity Tutors.