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Difference Between CFA and CMT
CFA is the short form for Chartered Financial Analyst. After qualifying for this course, aspirants can apply for the position of risk manager, research analyst, portfolio manager, consultant, relationship manager, chief executive, etc. In contrast, the full form for CMT is Chartered Market Technician, and aspirants with this degree can apply for jobs in risk management, behavioral finance, inter-market analysis, etc.
The financial industry has been growing at an unprecedented pace in the last few years, sparking several new specializations in finance. This is one reason why finance professionals are looking to gain expertise in one of these specialized areas to survive and grow in this intensely competitive industry. But, of course, there is no better way than earning a relevant credential to enter a specialized area in finance. Still, there are numerous such certifications afloat, and it would not be wise without reviewing them for credibility and the kind of learning opportunities offered before making a choice.
In the course of this article, we will be discussing CFA, one of the most widely recognized certifications in financial analysis and investment management, and CMT, a lesser-known but important certification in the field of technical analysis, which relatively few venture into.
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CFA vs CMT Infographics
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Let's understand the difference between these two streams with the help of this CFA vs. CMT Infographics:
CFA vs CMT Comprative Table
| Section | CFA | CMT | |
| Organizing Body | The exams are managed and controlled by the CFA Institute, USA. | The Chartered Market Technician (CMT) Association, USA, manages and controls the exams. | |
| Pattern | To become CFA qualified, the candidates need to pass three sequential levels
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To become CMT qualified, the candidates need to pass three sequential levels
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| Duration of Course | If the candidates can pass all levels on their first attempt, they can complete the course in 48 months. | The candidates usually take 18 to 36 months to clear all three levels successfully. | |
| Syllabus | The syllabus primarily covers the following topics
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The syllabus primarily covers the following topics
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| Exam Fees | The total cost of the CFA qualification comes to be around $2,550-$3,450. The cost includes enrollment and exam fees that vary based on the registration time. | For members, the cost of the CMT qualification comes to be around $1,535-$2,635, while that for non-members comes to be about $2,000-$3,100. The cost includes enrollment and exam fees that vary based on the registration time. | |
| Jobs | Some of the common profiles include
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Some of the common profiles include
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| Difficulty | The exams are very difficult, and only ~10% of the aspiring candidates who start the course become CFA charterholders. The pass rates of Level-I, Level-II, and Level-III exams conducted in June 2019 were 41%, 44%, and 56%, respectively. | The level of difficulty of the exams is fairly reasonable, as indicated by the historical pass rates of around 70%. | |
| Exam Date | The upcoming exams for the year 2022 are scheduled to take place as follows
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The upcoming exams of Level I and Level II for the year 2022 are scheduled to take place during June 02-12, while Level III is scheduled to take place on June 09, 2022. |
What is CFA?
Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) institute offers the CFA Charter, acclaimed as the gold standard of financial analysis and investment management. It is a rigorous certification program that brings added value to the CFA charter and helps finance professionals develop expertise in several key areas of finance, including financial analysis, equity research, and financial modeling, along with other things. In addition, CFA offers validation of expert capabilities in finance and enhances career prospects for professionals. Please check out the CFA Exam details and important Dates.
What is CMT?
The CMT Association offers Chartered Market Technician (CMT) to help finance professionals develop technical analysis skills while acquiring a detailed understanding of the theoretical part and their practical application in varying contexts. Several other certifications provide exposure to technical analysis. This certification offers a broad knowledge of the principles of technical analysis and the professional, ethical frameworks for market technicians. Moreover, it is a globally recognized certification that can help finance professionals look for the finest work opportunities in different parts of the world.
CFA vs. CMT Entry Requirements:
For CFA, you need:
To qualify for CFA, a candidate should have a bachelor's degree (or should be in the final year of a bachelor's degree) or four years of professional work experience or four years of higher education and professional work experience taken together.
For CMT, you need:
One should hold a bachelor's degree in finance, economics, business, or other related areas, along with three years of work experience in an investment management profile.
Why Pursue CFA?
CFA is a highly competitive certification program meant to help professionals develop expertise in specialized areas of finance, including investment management, financial analysis, equity research, and portfolio management. CFA charter can lend greater credibility to the profile of a finance professional and open up an ocean of opportunities in the global arena. When hiring fresh talent, even investment banks tend to rate CFA next to top MBAs in valued credentials. In short, it stands out as one of the best credentials in business and finance across the globe.
Why Pursue CMT?
CMT offers international recognition, and finance professionals develop this certification for aspirants, which sets it apart from other technical analysis credentials. Technical analysis is widely considered nothing more than a methodology of representing financial data in charts and figures and interpreting the same. However, CMT deals with technical analysis on a whole different level. Professionals develop a deep-rooted understanding of the mathematical fundamentals of technical analysis and learn about the relationship between prices and price patterns. This makes them fit not only for the professional role of a technical analyst but can also help them become good traders.
Conclusion
CFA is a comparatively much-advanced certification program that helps acquire an in-depCFA is a comparatively much-advanced certification program that helps acquire an in-depth understanding of complex areas in finance, including but not limited to equity research, portfolio management, and core financial analysis. On the other hand, CMT focuses more on technical analysis, making it the best fit for those interested in entering a work profile closely linked with quantitative finance. Both of them require a good amount of work experience. Still, CFA is on a completely different level and is comparatively broad-based, making it more relevant for candidates looking to explore opportunities in varied areas of finance. CMT is rather limited in scope but offers a strong foothold within that context and helps validate the capabilities of professionals while opening up work opportunities related to quantitative finance in the global industry.
