About Professional Designations

Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA)

Chartered Financial Analysts® (CFA) are licensed by the CFA Institute to use the CFA designation.  CFA certification requirements:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or have equivalent education or work experience.
  • Successful completion of all three exam levels of the CFA Program.
  • Have 48 months of acceptable professional work experience in the investment decision-making process.
  • Fulfill society requirements, which vary by society. Unless you are upgrading from affiliate membership, all societies require two sponsor statements as part of each application; these are submitted online by your sponsors.
  • Agree to adhere to and sign the Member’s Agreement, a Professional Conduct Statement, and any additional documentation requested by CFA Institute.

Certified Public Accountants (CPA)

Certified Public Accountants (CPA) are licensed and regulated by their state boards of accountancy. While state laws and regulations vary, the education, experience and testing requirements for licensure as a CPA generally include minimum college education (typically 150 credit hours with at least a baccalaureate degree and a concentration in accounting), minimum experience levels (the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires two years of experience providing services that involve the use of accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax or consulting skills, all of which must be achieved under the supervision of or verification by a CPA), and successful passage of the Uniform CPA Examination.

In order to maintain a CPA license, Massachusetts requires the completion of 80 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) each year (or 80 hours over a two year period).  Additionally, all American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) members are required to follow a rigorous Code of Professional Conduct which requires that they act with integrity, objectivity, due care, competence, fully disclose any conflicts of interest (and obtain client consent if a conflict exists), maintain client confidentiality, disclose to the client any commission or referral fees, and serve the public interest when providing financial services.