CFA課程的原始設計是一個供考生自修的學習計劃，CFA協(xié)會依據資產管理實務上常用的專業(yè)知識編訂出一個考生需要學習的“知識主體” (Candidate Body of Knowledge，簡稱CBOK)，再將其分為三級各十八周的學習計劃，CFA協(xié)會估計考生須在每個18周的學習計劃中，每周須投入10~15小時，即 準備時間須要4~5個月，學習時數合計180~270個小時，應在考前一個月完成前述學習計劃，以便最后一個月復習課程內容及做考題，故一級CFA考試整 個學習流程約六個月。
　　雖然依據CFA協(xié)會的設計，CFA是一個自修課程，并未強制要求考生必須參加教育培訓課程方可報考，然而對大部份繁忙的考生來說， 參加專業(yè)的課程還是公認最有效率的方法?？忌谶x擇課程時，宜特別要注意講師對CFA考試的了解程度、相關CFA課程教學經驗是否充足、過去學員的表現及 編制的講義是否能有效地整理出課程重點等等。
　　Topical Outline
　　CFA Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK)
　　I. Ethical and Professional Standards
　　A. Professional Standards of Practice
　　B. Ethical Practices
　　II. Quantitative Methods
　　A. Time Value of Money
　　B. Probability
　　C. Probability Distributions and Descriptive Statistics
　　D. Sampling and Estimation
　　E. Hypothesis Testing
　　F. Correlation Analysis and Regression
　　G. Time Series Analysis
　　H. Simulation Analysis
　　I. Technical Analysis
　　III. Economics
　　A. Market Forces of Supply and Demand
　　B. The Firm and Industry Organization
　　C. Measuring National Income and Growth
　　D. Business Cycles
　　E. The Monetary System
　　F. Inflation
　　G. International Trade and Capital Flows
　　H. Currency Exchange Rates
　　I. Monetary and Fiscal Policy
　　J. Economic Growth and Development
　　K. Effects of Government Regulation
　　L. Impact of Economic Factors on Investment Markets
　　IV. Financial Reporting and Analysis
　　A. Financial Reporting System (IFRS and GAAP)
　　B. Principal Financial Statements
　　C. Financial Reporting Quality
　　D. Analysis of Inventories
　　E. Analysis of Long-Lived Assets
　　F. Analysis of Taxes
　　G. Analysis of Debt
　　H. Analysis of Off-Balance-Sheet Assets and Liabilities
　　I. Analysis of Pensions, Stock Compensation, and Other Employee Benefits
　　J. Analysis of Inter-Corporate Investments
　　K. Analysis of Business Combinations
　　L. Analysis of Global Operations
　　M. Ratio and Financial Analysis
　　V. Corporate Finance
　　A. Corporate Governance
　　B. Dividend Policy
　　C. Capital Investment Decisions
　　D. Business and Financial Risk
　　E. Long-Term Financial Policy
　　F. Short-Term Financial Policy
　　G. Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate Restructuring
　　VI. Equity Investments
　　A. Types of Equity Securities and their Characteristics
　　B. Equity Markets: Characteristics, Institutions, and Benchmarks
　　C. Fundamental Analysis (Sector, Industry, Company) and the Valuation of Individual Equity Securities
　　D. Equity Market Valuation and Return Analysis
　　E. Special Applications of Fundamental Analysis (Residual Earnings)
　　F. Equity of Hybrid Investment Vehicles
　　VII. Fixed Income
　　A. Types of Fixed-Income Securities and their Characteristics
　　B. Fixed-Income Markets: Characteristics, Institutions, and Benchmarks
　　C. Fixed-Income Valuation (Sector, Industry, Company) and Return Analysis
　　D. Term Structure Determination and Yield Spreads
　　E. Analysis of Interest Rate Risk
　　F. Analysis of Credit Risk
　　G. Valuing Bonds with Embedded Options
　　H. Structured Products
　　VIII. Derivatives
　　A. Types of Derivative Instruments and their Characteristics
　　B. Forward Markets and Instruments
　　C. Futures Markets and Instruments
　　D. Options Markets and Instruments
　　E. Swaps Markets and Instruments
　　F. Credit Derivatives Markets and Instruments
　　IX. Alternative Investments
　　A. Types of Alternative Investments and their Characteristics
　　B. Real Estate
　　C. Private Equity/Venture Capital
　　D. Hedge Funds
　　E. Closely-held Companies and Inactively Traded Securities
　　F. Distressed Securities/Bankruptcies
　　G. Commodities
　　H. Tangible Assets with Low Liquidity
　　X. Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning
　　A. Portfolio Concepts
　　B. Management of Individual/Family Investor Portfolios
　　C. Management of Institutional Investor Portfolios
　　D. Pension Plans and Employee Benefit Funds
　　E. Investment Manager Selection
　　F. Other Institutional Investors
　　G. Mutual Funds, Pooled Funds, and ETFs
　　H. Economic Analysis and Setting Capital Market Expectations
　　I. Tax Efficiency
　　J. Asset Allocation (including Currency Overlay)
　　K. Portfolio Construction and Revision
　　L. Equity Portfolio Management Strategies
　　M. Fixed-Income Portfolio Management Strategies
　　N. Alternative Investments Management Strategies
　　O. Risk Management
　　P. Execution of Portfolio Decisions (Trading)
　　Q. Performance Evaluation
　　R. Presentation of Performance Results