CFA Program Level I has been accredited under the Institute of Banking & Finance Standards Training Scheme (IBF-STS), marking the first time the CFA Program is recognised within a national industry skills framework with funding support in the Asia Pacific region.
This accreditation enhances accessibility for aspiring investment and finance professionals in Singapore. Eligible Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents may receive funding support on their CFA Program Level I exam registration fee, further reinforcing the nation’s commitment to developing a future-ready financial workforce.
Read more on the CFA Institute website.
August 2026 and subsequent exam cycles
Full-fee upfront payment → Refund of the IBF-STS funding amount upon meeting all funding requirements
Read the Terms & Conditions.
The CFA Program Level I Exam is now accredited under the Institute of Banking & Finance Standards Training Scheme (IBF-STS), providing eligible candidates in Singapore with the opportunity to receive up to 70% funding on their exam registration fee.
CFA Society Singapore, as an accredited IBF-STS training provider, supports candidates throughout the funding application process.
Funding is available to eligible candidates who register for and subsequently pass the CFA Program Level I Exam at the August 2026 or subsequent exam cycles.
For full details on IBF funding, certification, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements, visit www.ibf.org.sg.
Relive key moments from the official launch of the CFA® Program Level I IBF-STS accreditation, held on 20 January 2026 — a first-of-its-kind milestone in Asia Pacific.
Hear from distinguished speakers including:
- Randi Tolber, CFA, Managing Director, Member & Society Relations, CFA Institute
- Cindy Tan, CFA, CA, President, CFA Society Singapore
- Simon Ng, CFA, Immediate Past President, CFA Society Singapore
- Carolyn Neo, CEO, Institute of Banking & Finance Singapore
Together, they share perspectives on how this accreditation strengthens Singapore’s financial workforce and expands access to globally recognised credentials through funding support.
Funding Support at a Glance
Funding Quantum
| Candidate Category | Funding Support |
| Singapore Citizens (aged 40 and above) | 70% of exam registration fee
capped at S$3,000 per participant per course |
| Singapore Citizens (aged below 40) & Permanent Residents | 50% of exam registration fee
capped at S$3,000 per participant per course |
Funding is based on the paid exam registration fee (before GST) as per the CFA Institute receipt. Fees are converted using the prevailing MAS exchange rate of the exam registration date. Each funding application must correspond to a single exam registration fee receipt. Funding support for the same course will be granted only once per calendar year per participant.
Eligibility Criteria & Funding Requirements
To qualify for IBF-STS funding, candidates must:
i. Be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident, physically based in Singapore. This scheme is available to both self-sponsored and company-sponsored individuals (company-sponsored individuals must provide exam registration fee receipt with the company as payer).
For company-sponsored candidates, eligible companies are:
- Singapore-based financial institutions, or
- FinTech firms certified by the Singapore FinTech Association (SFA)
More details: www.ibf.org.sg/home/for-individuals/skills-and-jobs-development/training-support/IBF-STS
ii. With confirmed enrolment by CFA Society Singapore for the CFA Program Level I Exam under IBF-STS funding scheme.
iii. Not an employee attending a training programme as an instructor or facilitator, e.g. presenter, speaker or panellist; and not employees of IBF and MAS.
i. Attendance: Candidates must sit for the CFA Program Level I exam at a test centre in Singapore and successfully record the required e-attendance via SingPass; and
ii. Examination result: Candidates must pass the CFA Program Level I exam in the funded enrolment cycle and notify CFA Society Singapore of their examination result within three (3) days of its release.
Participants who do not meet all above-stated requirements will not be eligible for a refund of the IBF funding amount.
- Exam registration must be completed and paid for on or after 27 October 2025.
- Funding applies only to the exam registration fee. Additional fees—including exam retake, deferral, rescheduling, cancellation and practice package fees—are not eligible for funding.
- This programme operates on a full-fee model. Candidates must pay the full exam registration fee upfront to CFA Institute.
- The refundable amount will be the IBF funding amount stated on the tax invoice issued by CFA Society Singapore, with no interest or penalty applied.
- The IBF funding refund may take up to six months from the last day of the exam window.
- Candidates are solely responsible for their exam registration with CFA Institute, including rescheduling, deferral, cancellation and eligibility matters.
- All funding disputes will be handled solely by CFA Society Singapore. IBF will not participate in fee-related dispute resolution.
Candidates are required to:
- Complete and submit the funding application form.
- Email the exam registration payment receipt issued by CFA Institute to [email protected].
The application form and all required supporting documents must be submitted at least 30 days before the start of the registered exam cycle. Both the application form and all supporting documents must reach CFA Society Singapore by the applicable deadline below.
Funding Application and Supporting Document Deadlines
| CFA Program Level I Exam Cycle | Submission Deadline |
|---|---|
| November 2026 | Applications closed |
| February 2027 | 23 January 2027 |
| May 2027 | 11 April 2027 |
| August 2027 | 15 July 2027 |
| November 2027 | 13 October 2027 |
Candidates whose submissions are incomplete or received after the deadline will not be considered for funding. Enrolment under the IBF-STS funding scheme will only be confirmed by email once CFA Society Singapore has received and verified the complete application and supporting documents.
All exam deferral, rescheduling and cancellation requests must be submitted directly to CFA Institute in accordance with its exam policies.
Funding Deferment Process
To request a deferment of your funding application:
- Complete and submit the Funding Application Deferment Request Form.
-
Email the following supporting documents to CFA Society Singapore at
[email protected]:
- Original exam registration payment receipt issued by CFA Institute. The original exam registration must have been completed on or after 27 October 2025.
- Exam deferment confirmation receipt issued by CFA Institute.
The IBF-STS funding amount will be calculated based on the exam registration fee shown on the original payment receipt.
All funding deferment requests and required supporting documents must be submitted within 30 days of your original exam date.
Failure to notify CFA Society Singapore of changes to your exam registration and submit the required documents within the stipulated timeframe may result in disqualification from funding.
For more information on exam dates and registration, please visit the official page for the CFA® Program here.
The CFA charter is a globally recognised credential that signifies deep investment expertise, ethical grounding, and real-world portfolio management skills. It’s held by over 200,000 professionals across 160 markets.
Want to learn more about the CFA Program, eligibility, exam topics, and your path to becoming a charterholder?
+1 001-800-8228-8820
(Toll-free from Singtel line only)
Deferring or rescheduling your exam does not automatically guarantee continued funding eligibility. Requests to defer your funding application will be assessed based on your eligibility at the time the request is submitted, subject to all applicable terms and conditions.
Eligible candidates must be physically based in Singapore and have a local residential address at the time of the exam. You must take the exam in Singapore and successfully record your attendance via SingPass account.
Funding-related questions (IBF-STS eligibility, application process, or documentation):
Please contact CFA Society Singapore at [email protected].
Exam-related questions (CFA Program content, registration, or policies):
Please contact CFA Institute at [email protected].