certification
CFA Level I
CFA Institute
$1,290
exam fee · checked 2026-08
300 hrs
300 hours — about 30 weeks at 10 hrs/wk
CFA Institute — official page →
Where it is actually asked for
- Personal Financial Advisor (national)63%24 of 38 postings
- Financial Manager in Fresno9%2 of 22 postings
- Financial Manager in Los Angeles9%2 of 22 postings
- Financial Manager in Sacramento9%2 of 22 postings
- Financial Manager in San Diego9%2 of 22 postings
- Financial Manager in San Jose9%2 of 22 postings
- Financial and Investment Analyst (national)6%5 of 79 postings
- Financial Manager (national)5%7 of 137 postings
- Financial Manager in San Francisco5%2 of 40 postings
Where it barely came up
It appeared in these samples, but rarely. If one of these is the job you want, this credential is probably not the thing standing between you and it.
- Computer Network Architect in San Francisco3%1 of 31 postings
- Market Research Analyst (national)3%1 of 35 postings
- Management Analyst in Fresno2%1 of 59 postings
- Management Analyst in Los Angeles2%1 of 59 postings
- Management Analyst in Sacramento2%1 of 59 postings
- Management Analyst in San Diego2%1 of 59 postings
- Management Analyst in San Jose2%1 of 59 postings
- Management Analyst in San Francisco1%1 of 74 postings
- Management Analyst (national)1%3 of 335 postings
- Computer Network Architect (national)1%1 of 132 postings
- Accountant or Auditor (national)1%1 of 138 postings
- Computer Systems Engineer/Architect in Fresno0%1 of 229 postings
- Computer Systems Engineer/Architect in Los Angeles0%1 of 229 postings
- Computer Systems Engineer/Architect in Sacramento0%1 of 229 postings
- Computer Systems Engineer/Architect in San Diego0%1 of 229 postings
- Computer Systems Engineer/Architect in San Jose0%1 of 234 postings
- Computer Systems Engineer/Architect (national)0%1 of 328 postings
- Marketing Manager (national)0%1 of 330 postings
- Computer Systems Engineer/Architect in San Francisco0%1 of 332 postings
- Project Management Specialist (national)0%1 of 350 postings
These percentages describe the samples we read, listed above with their sizes and dates. They are not a statement about the whole labour market, and absence from this page means we have no evidence either way — not that the credential is worthless. How we know →