More MBA programs helping analysts prepare for the CFA exam

More MBA programs helping analysts prepare for the CFA exam

As the financial industry works to reestablish its credibility, many business schools are changing their finance-related courses of study to ensure that graduates are ready to enter the job market.

For example, many campus-based and online colleges have begun to integrate a chartered financial analyst (CFA) program into their MBA curricula in an attempt to give students more options after they graduate, Daily Markets reports.

The CFA Institute reports that there are 46 institutions across North America with MBA programs that include preparation materials for the CFA exams, according to the media outlet.

Individuals who wish to earn CFA certification are required to take three tests, and must have a bachelors degree as well as four years of professional experience, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. The exams cover a wide variety of topics, including accounting, economics, securities analysis, financial markets and instruments, corporate finance, asset valuation and portfolio management.

While most professionals take these tests after several hundred hours of self-study, individuals who are able to study as part of an MBA degree program may be more likely to earn this certification and launch successful careers.