Finance Certifications
Finance Certification is not only important for the personnel looking to start a career in Finance Industry but also for those already working in this industry. Job candidates with certifications in Finance or those in the process of receiving them have always an edge over other candidates.
On the other hand, for those already working in the Finance industry, getting the certifications not only boosts your knowledge and skills but also shows the management that you are serious about your career and learnings. For finance professionals who are already employed, they can determine which Finance certifications to opt by looking at the top management in their organization. If your plan is to move up within your current organization and all your seniors have a specific certification, you should also consider getting that certification.
Listed below are some of the certifications available. However, you should carefully choose which certification you want to acquire.
CFA – Chartered Financial Analyst
CFA certification is a globally recognized certification in the area of Finance. The CFA designation is an international professional designation that is offered by CFA Institute(www.cfainstitute.org) to the financial analysts who complete all the three six-hour examinations ie Level I, Level II and Level III. In order to become CFA, the candidate must also possess a bachelor’s degree and have 48 months of qualified, professional work experience.
CFP – Certified Financial Planner
The Certified Financial Planner designation is a professional certification mark for financial planners . To get this designation, the candidate must meet several criteria such as education, examination, experience and ethics requirements. The candidate is also required to certification fee. The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
The CFP Certification Examination is a 10 hour multiple choice exam. The exam is divided into one 4 hour session and two 3 hours sessions. The exam includes three major case study problems and is designed to assess the candidate’s ability to apply his or her knowledge to financial planning situations.
CMT – Chartered Market Technician
The CMT certification program aims to develop technical analysis as well as professional analytical skills in the candidate. It also provides a code of ethics and gives an ethical framework to the candidate.
The certification isn’t just for those willing to work as analysts. Even potential traders or people looking to work at a firm or those trading from home can also do this. It will help them gain exposure to a wide variety of technical tools.
To complete this certification, candidate must clear three exams (3 levels). The Market Technicians Association (MTA) recommends allowing at least 150 hours of study time for each level. The first two exams are in multiple choice format and the final exam is a 4 hour essay exam. Each exam is offered twice a year. An alternative to the essay exam is the preparation of a research paper.
NCFM – NSE’s Certification in Financial Markets
NCFM is an online testing and Financial certification program being conducted by National Stock Exchange (India). This online test is conducted to check the practical knowledge and skills required to work in the financial markets. There are around 35 modules. You can check the list of modules and further details at this link
The test is conducted at designated test centres and also offered through the Internet so that candidates can take tests outside test centres at their convenience.
Certified Personal Financial Advisor (CPFA) Examination (India)
CPFA examination in India has been jointly developed by NISM and FPCIL.This certification seeks to create a common minimum knowledge benchmark to become either a Personal Financial Advisor or employee of organization involved in financial advisory services. This certification is also ideal for students willing to pursue a career in financial planning and investment advisory.
More details can be found on this link