Best CFA Exam Prep Courses

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Kaplan/Schweser is the largest and most established provider, offering its products in packages that increase in price accordingly.

The basic self-study package lists for about $699 and features notes, practice exams, questions, and planning tools. The top-level package adds OnDemand instruction and access to an OnDemand Review Workshop for a total price of $999.

Kaplan/Schweser also sells access weekend and week-long review packages as standalone products, which is great if you've relied solely on self-studying and would like a new tactic.

Weekend reviews are about bringing everything together and focusing on exam strategy rather than instruction. The week-long session is about review and instruction since the latter is unlikely to be enough on its own.

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Wiley Efficient Learning offers layers of packages that increase in price by how many materials you need. The standalone self-study course costs around $645 and notably includes questions and two mock exams. For about $995, you can get instruction in a live-on-line or video format, as well as the right to email questions to an instructor, flashcards, and other goodies.

For $1,395, Wiley throws in a review course, including an online class, a mock, and a book. There are fewer hours of video lectures and questions as candidates progress through the three exams. For tutoring, candidates get responses from instructors within 24 to 48 hours.

Wiley’s CFA offerings are up-to-date and don't contain questions about topics long-gone from the curriculum.

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The Princeton Review offers incredibly well designed CFA courses to help financial professionals prepare for this difficult series of exams. Like Kaplan, The Princeton Review is a well-known name when it comes to test prep.

The Princeton Review offers prep courses for the 3 levels of the CFA exam. At the time of this review, levels 1 and 3 packages are being offered at a discounted rate of $599 each, and level 4 is offered at $499, all down from the usual price of $799. All courses come with money back assurances and students can complete a 7-day free trial before paying any money for a full course. 

Practice exams are an extremely important part of preparing for the CFA exam, so students will like that practice exam scores are made available immediately upon completion. Students will also find the in-depth test score analytics helpful for identifying areas where improvement is needed. 

Students can ask for assistance from experienced teachers at any time and personal tutoring is available from The Princeton Review teachers at a rate of $200 an hour. Course extensions are available if any students can’t finish within 12 months.

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A newer option for CFA exam prep, Salt Solutions launched its Beta platform for CFA Level I exam prep in late 2020. The company is now officially out of Beta, and the full CFA learning experience is available for Levels I and II (Level III will be available in 2022).

Salt Solutions knows it’s tough to stay focused on a large volume of material with limited study time, so it breaks it into small chunks to complete in 10 to 30 minutes. Salt Solutions also improves the study process by showing you which steps are most important. While the platform offers flexibility, the scheduler also sets weekly goals to keep you on track. 

The platform has a user-friendly interface with a light or dark mode, making it easier on your eyes after long hours of studying. The platform currently includes assignment questions, downloadable videos, and a scheduler with weekly goals to stay on track.

Although Salt Solutions doesn’t have a proven track record yet, the user-friendly and thoughtfully designed software looks promising, particularly for those tired of staring at textbooks. Passing all three CFA exams isn’t easy, and Salt Solutions may be a good option for those struggling to buckle down and focus.

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Bloomberg Exam CFA Prep provides a modern, AI-based learning platform that aims to help identify and focus attention on your weak areas.

The self-study and instruction-based package costs around $700 and gives you access to “micro-lessons” on the entire curriculum. You will also get variable amounts of access to practice questions and instructors, depending upon any add-ons you choose.

The base package includes 10,000+ questions—more than its competitors—seven full exams and the ability to message an instructor 20 questions. With the Ultimate package, priced at around $2,000, you'll receive four more exams, unlimited question-messaging, and five private tutoring sessions.

Bloomberg is also a great option if you're cramming since it offers packages for sprinters—approximately $500 for two months’ access right before the exams. There are also bundles for marathoners, who can get four years’ worth of access for about $1,300.

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FinQuiz is a great choice for self-directed candidates looking for an affordable complement to working directly from the CFA test materials.

The service provides a variety of options but emphasizes what the exam is expected to ask. Products available for you to use via FinQuiz are an online question bank, chapter notes, smart summaries, six mock exams, formula sheets, and a study plan.

FinQuiz’s basic program—priced at $299—is just questions and mocks, which are deliberately challenging and designed to stretch the candidates. If you have more budget to spare, FinQuiz has a premium package for approximately $599, which provides access to detailed summaries of the company's materials and an active learning study plan.

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MyGuru offers affordable, individual tutoring from CFA charter holders, either in person or online. Candidates get a lot of flexibility with tutors, both in terms of when and how it takes place and also with regards to how many sessions are purchased.

Tutoring is often used as a supplement to in-person or online self-study, or an instructional course. An individual teacher is there to help you create a more customized study plan out of whatever materials or curriculum exists and focus on the topics and concepts that might be challenging. Of course, they can also become a mentor to you and help build confidence leading up to the exam date.

In contrast to online courses that include access to an instructor or mentor as part of a package in advance, you will get to choose how many lessons you need as you study. Plus, you will get personalized attention dedicated to your specific concerns. Costs vary but typically do not exceed $179 per hour, with lower pricing offered when students invest in a package of hours.