CFA Level 3 2023 changes

What Changed and What Did Not?

One of the biggest concerns the candidates face during their annual CFA preparation is the amount of time spent analyzing the recent CFA curriculum changes. But why does the CFA® Institute (CFAI) often change the curriculum?

Each year, the CFA Institute updates the exam material to reflect the ever-changing landscape of investment management and the market in general. Naturally, this raises the need to keep up with curriculum changes. Knowing what has changed and whether topic weights have been updated is critical when selecting study resources and ensuring that you only prepare what is required. This is especially important if you failed the CFA exam last year and don't know what to do next. But why are curriculum changes such a big deal?

Why Is Knowing the Curriculum Changes Important?

Knowing the curriculum changes ahead of time is beneficial in many ways. Aside from assisting candidates in understanding the importance of each topic for the exams, students looking to get a head start before the 2023 exam can see these changes in advance of their study preparations.

But in some cases, knowing the changes is of greater importance, especially if you are:

• A Deferring Candidate

  Candidates who have been deferred will be tested on the new curriculum (2023). Knowing the changes can help them focus on what is required and eliminate readings that will no longer be included. Not only will this save them a lot of money, but it will also be a huge plus to their study schedule.

• A Returning Candidate

  Candidates who have failed previous exams will be subjected to a retest using the new curriculum. Knowing about the curriculum changes can help them focus on the new learning objectives and disregard those that have been wiped out. Needless to say, a better understanding of the curriculum will help them score better on the CFA exam.

Want to Join the ELITE Group that Pass the CFA® Exam?

Your Level 1 Prep is Solved - and Free. Get everything you need to pass with our 90-day access.

Changes to the CFA Curriculum

The CFA Institute typically updates its curriculum annually. Although the epidemic disrupted the Institute's curriculum in 2021, it did not change its course offerings. Despite this, the 2022 curriculum has undergone a considerable overhaul, and the subsequent changes will most possibly be carried out in 2023.

Updated Topic Names

Along with the changes that CFAI incorporates to the readings in each topic, specific tweaks have also been brought into the topic names. This change could either be made to update the name with the revised readings or simplify the terms.

Source: CFAI

Curriculum Changes for Each Level

CFAI has made minor changes to the readings at each level, with a difference of about two to three topics. In 2022 many readings were updated from 2021 and will most possibly be carried out in 2023. Here's a look at the changes in each level:

What’s the Best Way to Get Started?

Discover Your Learning Style in 3 Minutes.

FAQs

Who Makes Changes to the CFA Curriculum?

Only the CFAI makes any changes to the CFA curriculum. The institute does this to stay up-to-date with current topics and challenges that the professionals in the investment management industry face.

How Often Does the CFA Curriculum Change?

There’s no clear guideline regarding the frequency of the syllabus being changed. Typically about 2-5% of the syllabus gets changed over a year. A good start would be comparing the LOSs over the span of two years.

Read More About the CFA Exam

Are you worried about upcoming exam dates? For those confused by the changing timetables, here is a handy summary of new dates and frequencies for 2022–2023.

Looking for the most up-to-date information on CFA scoring and pass rates? Check out the most recent statistics to know how much time you’ll need to study for the exam.

Want to know more about the eligibility criteria to sit for the CFA exam? Learn more about the eligibility, enrollment criteria, and all the deadlines.

Looking to learn more about the prerequisites for the CFA exam? Here is a detailed read regarding the registration criteria and the rest of the costs involved.