What Happens When You Apply for Membership?  

• Upon receipt of your application at CFA Institute you will receive an e-mail to forward to each of your two sponsors. The e-mail contains a link to the online form the sponsors must complete as part of your application

• CFA Institute will make a member type recommendation based on your sponsor forms and work history details 

• Your complete application is then submitted to the CFA Society of Los Angeles for their review and approval. CFA Society of Los Angeles reviews applications on a monthly basis.

• Once CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Los Angeles approve your application, you will be notified 

• You may then activate your membership at any time by following the instructions in your e-mail notification. To activate you will need to pay your dues and file your Professional Conduct Statement

 Member Dues   

• You will pay dues when you activate your membership
• CFA Institute annual dues are US$225, CFA Society of Los Angeles dues are $175
• CFA Institute annual dues for members on retired status are US$40, CFA Society of Los Angeles dues for members on retired status are $75 
• The CFA Institute member year runs from 1 July to 30 June, CFA Society of Los Angeles member year runs September 1 to August 30
• Dues for both CFA Institute and CFA Los Angeles are invoiced by and paid to CFA Institute

 Do's and Don'ts Things to remember when applying for membership:  

  Do:

• Allow several weeks for your application to be reviewed and approved for membership.
• Provide a detailed description of your daily responsibilities, including what types of clients you serve.
• Describe how your position adds value to the investment decision-making process.
• Use the same date to end one work experience position and start the next if the positions ran consecutively.
• Ask your sponsor to describe how you are engaged in work that impacts the investment decision-making process.

 Don't:

• Describe the general activities of your company.
• Rely on your job title as a substitute for describing your job duties.
• Request sponsor forms from someone who does not know the nature of your work.
• Wait until after you pass Level III to complete your application. The volume of applications may slow the review process and delay the award of your charter.