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: Take the CFA Program Level I exam at a specified test center in Singapore; and
ii) CFA Program Level I Exam: Complete with pass result (candidates are to inform CFAS of the pass result within 3 days from result release date).
Participants who do not meet all above-stated requirements will not be eligible for a refund of the IBF funding amount.
This programme operates on a full-fee model. Candidates must pay the full exam registration fee upfront to CFA Institute.
- The refundable amount strictly follows the IBF funding indicated on the tax invoice issued by CFA Society Singapore, with no interest or penalty applied.
- Funding only applies on exam registration fee.
- Any additional fees — including but not limited to Exam Retake, Deferral, Rescheduling, Cancellation, and Practice Packages — are not eligible for funding.
- Refund of IBF funding may take up to six months from the last day of the exam window.
Candidates are required to:
- complete and submit a registration form to collect the required information for funding eligibility.
- Send the following documents to CFA Society Singapore via email:
- Payment receipt for exam registration issued by CFA Institute
- Bank account details (for refund purposes if you meet the funding requirements)
All required documents must be submitted within 7 days from the date of registration form submission.
Candidates who do not provide the full set of documents within the submission period will not be considered for funding eligibility. Enrolment in CFA Program Level I Exam under IBF-STS funding scheme will only be confirmed via email upon completion and submission of all required documents to CFA Society Singapore within stipulated timeline.
- Exam registration with CFA Institute is the sole responsibility of the candidate, including but not limited to rescheduling, deferment, cancellation, and eligibility matters.
- CFA Society Singapore will report candidate identifiers and results to IBF via TPGateway for audit and funding compliance.
- All disputes will be managed solely by CFA Society Singapore. IBF will not participate in any fee-related dispute resolution.
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)
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].