When you have to choose between the two most popular courses, your decision-making process is bound to be a tough one. While Chartered Accountancy (CA) is a prestigious course in India, the Chartered Financial Analyst course is an in-demand profession around the world. CA is an accounting course that requires 5 years of dedicated learning along with articleship training. Once you’ve cleared all your CA papers and are done with your articleship training, you can choose to practice Chartered Accountancy anywhere in India, UK, UAE and Singapore. On completion of your CFA course, which is a 2 to 3 year course comprising three levels, you can choose to work as a Financial Analyst in more than 165 countries.
The future prospects of both these courses are extremely bright, but if you have to make the right choice, you need to consider the difficulty, duration, future scope and eligibility of each of these courses.
| Diffrentiators | CA | CFA |
| Organizing Body | ICAI – The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India | CFA Institute |
| Course Duration | 5 years | 2 to 3 years |
| Difficulty Level | 5.84% (Both groups) | CFA Level 1 22% – 49% |
| Eligibility Criteria | The applicant should have successfully completed their 10th and 12th examination to appear for the entry-level CA foundation course with a 50% aggregate score in 12th. | If you are in the final year of graduation, you can appear for the CFA level 1 examination. However, in certain cases, you may be eligible for CFA without graduation provided you have a minimum of 4 years of relevant work experience. |
| Career Scope |
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| Top Hiring Firms | All firms, across all industries | The Big 4s, MNCs |
| CA vs CFA Salary in India | INR 6 to 10 lpa | INR 5 to 20 lpa |
CFA vs CA Career Benefits and Compensation
CA and CFA both are professional learning courses that require dedication. While The CA course can be pursued right after your 12th, the CFA course generally requires a graduation degree. However, if you are a CA who wishes to pursue CFA, you are not only going to get the best of finance and accounting knowledge, but also a high salary package for advanced skill sets.
However, keeping the aspect of dual certification aside, let’s take a look at the individual benefits of each of the courses.
| Chartered Accountancy | Chartered Financial Analyst |
| Varied career choices | A career in the exciting field of investments |
| Gives you analytical and problem-solving ability | Gives you cutting edge research skills |
| High compensation with recognition | High compensation with incentives |
| Prestigious career choice | Demanding career choice |
| Signing authority anywhere in India | Global career options |
Now coming to the salary differentiation between the courses in India, here a glimpse into the average CA salary in India and average CFA salary in India.
CA salary in India
Average CFA salary in India
Having cleared the CA exams in itself is a commendable job. It provides you with ample opportunities across different industries. Getting a CFA certification would add another feather to your already glittery cap. It is one of the options you can consider to advance your career even further.
We have provided a comprehensive list of reasons explaining the benefits you can have as a practicing CFA Charterholder. Being one of the most sought-after certifications, it provides a steep learning curve for professionals and also a vast exposure to the world of finance. Before making a decision, You should see whether your future goals align with the options you are considering. Furthermore, clearing the CFA examination is comparatively easier for a Chartered Accountant, which adds another advantage. If you wish to prepare for the CFA examination, you can check out our comprehensive course at Zell Education to boost your professional journey. If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to email us at reachus@zelleducation.com.
Should I do both CA and CFA?
We highly recommend you pursue the CFA certification after your Chartered Accountancy. CA and CFA individually ensure quite a rewarding career. However, having both CFA and CA certification undoubtedly opens up ample possibilities.
What are the benefits of CFA?
Having the CFA certification opens up a door to the finance and accounting industry. It helps you gain analytical skills and knowledge in subjects like Investment Analysis, Portfolio Management, Quantitative Methods, Economics, which are all in-demand knowledge for rising through the ranks in the finance industry. Not only this, but it also provides you with handsome compensation.
Is it worth doing CFA after CA?
CFA is an excellent choice if you want to have outstanding expertise and knowledge in the accounting and finance industries. Also, if you are interested in making a career abroad, the CFA and a CA is a great combination.
