What are the categories of membership within CFA Boston?
They are Charterholder, Professional, Affiliate, Adjunct, Candidate and Student. Charterholder and Affiliate memberships entail membership with CFA Institute and CFA Society Boston, while Adjunct, Candidate and Student memberships are exclusive to CFA Society Boston.

What are the differences between Student and Candidate memberships?
Candidate membership requires enrollment in the CFA Program; Individuals that are students (undergraduate or graduate) that are enrolled with CFA Institute for the CFA Program are not eligible for Student membership and should apply for Candidate Membership.

How do I apply for Student membership?
You must submit an online application with CFA Society Boston. If your institution is in enrolled in the CFA Society Boston University-College Partner Program complete the standard Student Member Application linked here and select the participating university or college on page 2 of the application. If your institution is not enrolled in the partner program please use the standard Student Member Application and add your institution into the education history. 
 
If a student signs up for the CFA® Exam during the student membership would they need to convert to the candidate membership?
We would encourage the student to apply for a candidate membership to receive the best outreach and candidate networking opportunities. It is not required to update membership until renewals (June 30) in which a student would be redirected in the application process. 

I am a recent graduate and am no longer eligible for student membership; do I qualify for another membership type?  
To best determine your eligibility, please review the membership options online here. If you have any additional questions, email CFA Society Boston directly.

How much is Student Membership?
Student Membership is complimentary for each year you remain eligible.

How long can I remain a Student Member?
Student Membership cannot extend for a period that exceeds four fiscal years or any part thereof and Student Membership is available only to individuals who do not otherwise qualify for Candidate, Affiliate, Charterholder or Professional membership.

How do I renew my Student Membership?
The CFA Society Boston Member year runs from July-June 30.  You must renew your student membership each year you are eligible. To renew complete the renewal form online here.

What are the qualifications to join as a Student Member?
If you are a student and your institution is not part of the CFA Society Boston University-College Partner Program:
Be an undergraduate student, enrolled full-time, pursuing a bachelor's degree in business or finance, or related field, OR Be a graduate student, enrolled full or part-time, pursuing an MBA or a master's degree in a business-related major; Complete the Student Membership Application form and submit with your most recent resume; Ask a Charterholder member, Professional Member Professor of Finance, Business, or Economics to submit a one signed Sponsorship Form.

If your institution is part of the CFA Society Boston College-University Partner Program:
Be an undergraduate student, enrolled full-time,  pursuing a bachelor's degree in business or finance, or related field, OR Be a graduate student, enrolled full or part-time, pursuing an MBA or a master's degree in a business-related major; Complete the Student Membership Application form and submit with your most recent resume; Receive verification through your participating CFA Society Boston University-College Partner 

How do my professional references send in his/her form?
If you are a student and your institution is not part of the CFA Society Boston University-College Partner Program: 
During the application process you will have the opportunity to add your sponsor directly into the application. Sponsors will receive an automated email with a personalized link to approve or deny sponsorship. Please ensure you have permission to contact your sponsors by email and have received approval to use them as your sponsor prior to submitting your application. 

If your institution is part of the CFA Society Boston College-University Partner Program:
By submitting an application with a partner university or college you are not required to submit a sponsor form. You must select on page 2 of the application your participating college or university. Otherwise, if the question is left blank the application will require you to submit additional sponsors. The institution will receive a personalized email with a link on your behalf. 

Am I still eligible for Student membership if I have more than one year of work experience in investment decision making or three years in a financial analysis closely aligned field?
If a student is a CFA Charterholder they are required to maintain the charter through CFA Institute and are not eligible for student membership. If an individual is participating in an accredited university-college program, they will remain eligible for the student membership to receive the best outreach and student networking opportunities. 

The time between an application being initiated and it being reviewed by the Board may take anywhere from 4-6 weeks, depending on the volume of applicants in the queue.  

When does the Board review applications?
The CFA Society Boston Board will typically review applications during the first seven days of the month.  Approved Applicants will receive an email during the second week of the month. 

I’ve been notified of my CFA Society Boston membership approval, what do I do now?  
Congratulations! You are ready to hit the ground running as a member. Lookout for new member emails where you will have the opportunity to update your communication preferences, sign up for events and participate in our online community Connect.  It is important that you update any contact information with CFA Society Boston upon activation of your membership if it has changed since your application was first submitted.

University-College Partner Program

What is the University-College Partner Program?
The new CFA Society Boston University-College Partner Program allows students from higher education institutions across New England to join the society with ease.  A University-College Partner allows verified students to bypass the required Sponsor form during the application process. To learn more click here.

How does an institution sign up for the University-College Partner Program?
For an institution to register for the University-College partner Program it must have a main campus in one of the five New England states ; offer courses related to the finance industry; are responsible for verifying the student applicant status through a dedicated admin or Professor. Click here to complete the online application.

Is there a fee to participate in the University-College Partner Program?
There is no fee for an institution to participate in the CFA Society Boston University-Partner Program.

If a university or college’s one year program dates does not align with the member year (July 1 – June 30) will a student be able to renew with a student membership the following year?
A student must verify upcoming courses in our new member year to remain eligible during the renewal process (May – July). If a student renews before the end of their upcoming courses (post June 30) they can re-apply as students. A student will lapse by not renewing (after August 31st) and will need to reapply. If a student takes a leave of absence during the academic year we will review the extenuating circumstances on a case by case basis. 

Once the administrator has verified a student’s participation and they are in good standing, the application will be marked complete with CFA Society Boston. Complete applications are reviewed by the Board of Directors on a monthly basis. When the application is approved, students will receive a new member welcome email. Students will have the opportunity to stay opted into a student new member campaign introducing our member benefits. We encourage them to participate in upcoming programs, volunteer opportunities, our Mentor Match program and participate in our online communities in Connect.