CFA Society Los Angeles CFA Exam Scholarship Application

The CFA Society Los Angeles CFA Exam Scholarship is designed to make the CFA Program more accessible to individuals who cannot afford the full registration fees. Selected candidates will receive $1000 to supplement the CFA Exam cost ($500 at the time of Registration and $500 within 30 days of the Exam results release). To be eligible, applicants must fulfill the CFA Program Enrollment Requirements as well as meet CFA Society Los Angeles specific requirements. For more details on how to apply and specific eligibility criteria, you can visit the CFA Society Los Angeles’ Scholarship page.

CFA Society Los Angeles CFA Exam Scholarship Application

Eligible Exams: November 2026, February 2027, May 2027, and August 2027

The CFA Society Los Angeles' CFA Exam Scholarship aims to reduce the financial barriers for the CFA Program for candidates who demonstrate financial need in the Los Angeles Area. Those awarded will receive a $1000 Scholarship ($500 at the time of exam registration and $500 with the submission of exam results - within 30 days of the release date).

You will be asked for your financial information. Please make sure to have that available as you fill out the following form.

Provide the information requested below and attach the following items:

Two letters of recommendation
Transcript of grades (may be Official or Unofficial)
Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)

If you do not have the above-mentioned information at the time of the application submission, it may be emailed to info@cfala.org no later than EOB on March 31^st, 2026. Emails must have the subject line: “CFA Exam Scholarship” and the Full Name of the Candidate applying for the scholarship.

General Information

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone Number *

Mailing Address (Must be within the Los Angeles Footprint). PLEASE NOTE: Should you be awarded the scholarship, this address will be used for any and all payments. **Must be a valid address. P.O. Boxes will NOT be accepted. *
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CFA Institute Identification No. (write N/A if you have never registered for a CFA Exam or do not have an existing account with CFA Institute): *

Course Level (check one): *

Exam Date *

Have you already registered for a CFA Exam? *

Please check here if you selected "Yes" that you are currently registered for a CFA Exam AND that exam is the February 2026 CFA Exam. If you are NOT registered for the February 2026 exam, DO NOT check this box.

Are you a current member of CFA Society Los Angeles (i.e. you have applied and been approved for membership by the Board of Governors at CFA Society Los Angeles - being a CFA Candidate is NOT the same as a member) *

Household Expenses & Income

The following required information will be used by CFA Society Los Angeles to evaluate your application and financial need.

To ensure the consistency of conversions across applicants, please ensure that all data is provided in US dollars using the conversion rate as of July 31st, 2025.

Total Household Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) (Refer to IRS Form 1040, line 11). When determining your income, you will also need to include the income of others who are providing financial support to you (Spouse/Partner, Parents – if contributing to your educational expenses, others). Income should include but is not limited to (Salary & Incentive Bonus Income, Business/Real Estate Income, Pension/Retirement Income, Interest/Dividends, Other Income). *

Total Expenses Accrued in 2025 *

Total Household Size (Please include yourself and all dependents living within the household) *

List any scholarships or assistance programs that you have applied for, been awarded, and/or utilized within the last two years *
(Maximum characters: 2000)
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Employment

Please skip this section if you have never been employed or are currently unemployed

If Employed, specify:

Occupation:

Name of Employer

Address of Employer
(Maximum characters: 2000)
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Please provide the Start and End Date (Month/Year) of your most recent employer. If you are still employed, please indicate that as well
(Maximum characters: 2000)
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Does your employer provide any financial support towards the CFA Exam? Examples of support may include but is not limited to full/partial exam reimbursement (before or after the exam), full/partial exam reimbursement based on a "pass" score, study materials, tutors, classes, other financial support

If you selected "Yes" above, please describe what support is offered
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May we contact your supervisor?

If you responded "Yes" above, please provide the name and phone number of your supervisor
(Maximum characters: 2000)
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RecomMendations

TWO (2) Letters of Recommendation are required for a complete application. Failure to provide prior to the scholarship deadline will result in an incomplete application.

Recommendation Information: Please provide the name, email, and relationship of two (2) professional references
(Maximum characters: 2000)
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Upload your 1st Letter of Recommendation

Upload your 2nd Letter of Recommendation

Education

Please provide the name of each university/college that you attended, the degree you earned (or if no degree, year expected). Make sure to include the highest degree currently held. *
(Maximum characters: 2000)
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Are you currently enrolled as a student? *

Upload an Official or Unofficial Transcript (A Transcript is need for all applicants)

Additional Information

A current Resume/CV is required for a complete application. Failure to provide prior to the scholarship deadline will result in an incomplete application.

Briefly describe your involvement in professional activities and organizations (If you are currently a student, you may describe student activities and organizations instead) *
(Maximum characters: 2000)
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Briefly describe your financial need for this scholarship: *
(Maximum characters: 2000)
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How did you hear about this scholarship? *

I acknowledge that if I left any of the file upload sections blank, that my application is incomplete and will ensure that all required supplemental material is submitted by the deadline. *

I certify that the information provided on this form is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that providing knowingly false or misleading information in applying for a Scholarship is a violation of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. *

Terms and Conditions

Applicants must ensure they remain eligible for the CFA Program throughout the scholarship application evaluation.

No additional information regarding the selection criteria or the selection process is or will be made available from any member or employee of CFALA. Any applicant who in any way attempts to influence any member of the Scholarship Commission on his or her own behalf will be immediately disqualified.

Providing knowingly false or misleading information in applying for a Scholarship is a violation of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. If the CFA Society Los Angeles Scholarship Commission suspects your application contains inaccurate, deceptive, or untruthful information, you may be subject to an investigation by the CFA Institute Professional Conduct Program. Disciplinary sanctions may include a suspension or prohibition from participating in the CFA Program, CFA Institute, and with CFA Society Los Angeles. You may also become ineligible to receive scholarships in the future.

If awarded, the recipient can apply the scholarship to the following exams:

November 2026 ** February 2027 ** May 2027 ** August 2027

If awarded, the recipient will receive a total of $1000. Candidates must register for their chosen exam and follow all instructions in registering and payment options. Upon registration, the recipient will receive half the scholarship ($500). Depending on the option selected, the first payment may be sent directly to CFA Institute or to the recipient's mailing address. To receive the second half of the scholarship, recipients have 30 days after the exam results have been released to submit a copy of the results to CFA Society Los Angeles. Once received, an additional payment of $500 will be provided to the recipient via check. Failure to submit within 30 days of the exam result release date may result in the loss of the scholarship. Failure to deposit the check within 6 months of issue may result in the loss of a scholarship.

Awarded Scholarship Candidates may only defer their exam ONCE and must register for another exam within One (1) Calendar Year of the original exam (ex. November 2026, latest deferment would be November 2027). Candidates must also notify CFA Society Los Angeles within 30 Days of the deferment to remain eligible for the full scholarship amount.

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