5 Best CFA Review Courses for 2026 (CPA Career Guide)

Decision summary

Five current CFA prep choices for August 2026

There is no universal best course across three levels and multiple learning styles. These labels identify the strongest documented use case for each active product. We did not invent hands-on scores, and provider pass claims are not treated as CFA Institute-validated results.

Affiliate disclosure: CPA Exam Guide may earn a commission if you purchase UWorld or Salt through certain links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Those links are marked sponsored. Kaplan, AnalystPrep, and Mark Meldrum are included with direct non-affiliate links.

Best full-service ecosystem

1. Kaplan Schweser

Concise SchweserNotes, a 2,600+ Level I QBank, up to six mocks, classes, workshops, instructor support, planning, and PassProtection.

Review Kaplan

Best explanations

2. UWorld CFA

The successor to Wiley CFA, with 2,800+ Level I practice questions, visual rationales, courses, guides, mocks, analytics, AI help, and mobile access.

Review UWorld

Best all-level value

3. AnalystPrep

Level I practice from $349, learn + practice at $499, or all three levels with lifetime access and updates for $799.

Review AnalystPrep

Best deep video instruction

4. Mark Meldrum

LOS-by-LOS reading videos, end-of-chapter walkthroughs, seminars, notes, questions, mocks, app access, and live or applied options.

Review Mark Meldrum

Best lifetime Level I access

5. Salt Solutions

A $599 Level I Complete course with lifetime access, assignment-driven learning, videos, a QBank, analytics, and three mocks.

Review Salt

Current Level I course features at a glance
Provider	Practice listed	Access model	Current starting/full price	Best fit
Kaplan Schweser	2,600+ QBank; up to 6 mocks	Exam-window packages; PassProtection on eligible tiers	$429 Basic; $1,499 Ultimate	Structured full-service prep
UWorld	2,800+ Level I questions; 2 or 5 mocks	Through month after exam; StudyPass on Elite	Package price at checkout	Detailed rationales and analytics
AnalystPrep	3,000+ Level I questions; 5 mocks	12 months single level; lifetime all levels	$349 Practice; $799 all-level Unlimited	Budget and long-horizon value
Mark Meldrum	QBank, EOC videos, mocks	Exam-window; one-fee-to-pass subject to terms	$440 Self-Study; $1,630 top Level I tier	Thorough video learners
Salt Solutions	Assignment bank; 3 mocks in Complete	45 days Focus; lifetime Complete	$169 Focus; $599 Complete	Assignment-led Level I study

Features and prices were observed August 9, 2026, and can change by level, exam window, currency, tax, or promotion. Always select the exact level and sitting before comparing checkout totals.

Current program

What changed for CFA candidates in 2026

The program now combines the three exams with applied work through Practical Skills Modules. A third-party prep course can supplement the CFA Institute Learning Ecosystem, but it cannot replace the official registration materials or PSM.

New fee structure

The $350 first-time enrollment fee was eliminated. Level I and II cost $1,140 early or $1,490 standard; Level III costs $1,240 early or $1,590 standard.

Mandatory PSM at every level

Complete at least one 10–20 hour Practical Skills Module after registration and before results release. Without it, CFA Institute says the result can be voided.

Three Level III pathways

Candidates choose Portfolio Management, Private Markets, or Private Wealth. The selected pathway represents 30–35% of Level III and cannot be changed after registration for that attempt.

2026 CFA Program exam fees
Level	Early registration	Standard registration	Typical availability
Level I	$1,140	$1,490	February, May, August, November
Level II	$1,140	$1,490	Three windows per year
Level III	$1,240	$1,590	Two windows per year

Cost floor: the published 2026 line items total $3,520 if every level is registered early or $4,570 at standard rates, before local tax, prep, travel, rescheduling, or retakes. CFA Institute's dates-and-fees page describes the total range as approximately $3,520–$4,600.

Attempt limits: candidates may sit no more than twice per calendar year, not in consecutive windows or within six months, and have a maximum of six attempts at each level.

CPA-candidate relevance

When does CPA + CFA make sense?

The credentials overlap around financial statements, ethics, valuation inputs, and professional judgment, but their destinations are different. The CPA is a state license centered on accounting and assurance; the CFA charter is an investment credential centered on analysis and portfolio decision-making.

Strong combined use cases

Transaction advisory, valuation, due diligence, equity or credit research, asset management, private markets, investor relations, portfolio reporting, family office work, and finance leadership with capital-allocation responsibility.

Weak combined use cases

Routine tax compliance, small-firm audit, bookkeeping, controllership with no investment remit, or adding letters without a role that uses securities analysis. The CFA requires three exams, work experience, PSMs, and years of sustained study.

Sequence matters

Finish the CPA first when licensure is employer-required or your eligibility clock is active. Add CFA Level I when you can connect the curriculum to a specific investment-facing move—not merely because another exam is available.

Practical test: review current job descriptions for your target role. If CFA candidacy or valuation/investment competencies repeatedly appear, Level I may be a rational experiment. If CPA licensure is the primary gate, protect CPA study time first.

Detailed comparisons

Which CFA course matches your learning style?

1

Kaplan Schweser CFA Review

Best for candidates who want concise notes plus a complete class and final-review ecosystem.

Full service

Kaplan's 2026–2027 Level I lineup ranges from Basic to Ultimate. Current tools include SchweserNotes, a personalized activity feed, performance tracking, a 2,600+ question QBank, mock exams, quick-reference material, community and instructor support. Higher tiers add print/audio, OnDemand or live Masterclass, review workshops, six mocks, AI Tutor availability, and PassProtection.

Four tiers create clear support and budget choices.
Live instruction is available in Ultimate.
Standalone QBank and final-review products are offered.
A seven-day Level I trial is available.

Direct, non-affiliate provider link.Visit Kaplan Schweser

2

UWorld CFA Review (formerly Wiley CFA)

Best for candidates who learn through detailed visual explanations and data-rich practice.

Explanations

UWorld acquired Wiley's CFA prep business, so the legacy Wiley listing now maps to UWorld CFA. Its current Level I packages list up to 2,800+ questions, print/digital guides, performance analytics, mobile access, UAsk AI, planning, video lectures, flashcards, two or five mocks, and live/on-demand TotalPrep tools at the top tier.

Every choice receives a correct/incorrect rationale.
Current materials are labeled for 2026–2027.
Elite includes StudyPass extension eligibility.
A no-card free trial previews all three levels.

Sponsored legacy Wiley destinations retained for affiliate continuity.Check UWorld CFA options Try UWorld CFA

3

AnalystPrep CFA Review

Best for budget-conscious candidates who may want all-level lifetime access.

All-level value

AnalystPrep's current Level I Practice package lists 3,000+ questions, five mocks, and analytics for $349 with 12-month access. Learn + Practice adds notes, 50+ video hours, formula sheets, and instructor chat for $499. The $799 Unlimited package covers all three levels with lifetime access, tutor questions, and future updates.

Free signup includes 150+ sample questions.
Level-specific item-set and essay practice is available.
Unlimited custom quizzes support targeted drilling.
All-level pricing limits repeated purchase risk.

Direct, non-affiliate provider link.Visit AnalystPrep CFA

4

Mark Meldrum CFA Review

Best for candidates who want thorough video explanation and end-of-chapter walkthroughs.

Deep video

The current 2026 Level I packages include LOS-by-LOS reading videos, CFA curriculum end-of-chapter walkthroughs, seminar videos, PDF notes, a question bank, mocks, formula sheets, office hours, and app access. Self-Study starts at $440; Applied Analysis, live classes, mentor hours, and expanded instructor interaction build into higher tiers.

Section-by-section purchase can test fit before upgrading.
Higher tiers include 30+ live hours.
Applied Analysis connects curriculum to real finance work.
One-Fee-To-Pass is offered subject to current terms.

Direct, non-affiliate provider link.Visit Mark Meldrum 2026 packages

5

Salt Solutions CFA Review

Best for Level I candidates who want assignment-led study and lifetime course access.

Lifetime Level I

Salt's Level I Complete package lists learning assignments, videos, solution material, a customizable question bank, analytics, three mocks, and lifetime access for $599. Focus Express supplies 45 days of topic review, quizzes, and mocks for $169. A 14-day free trial includes a full topic, 10+ study hours, a quiz builder, and one mock.

Assignments build a visible daily sequence.
Solutions explain correct and incorrect outcomes.
Lifetime Complete access reduces deferral risk.
The trial is substantial and requires no card.

Sponsored legacy AdaptPrep destinations retained for affiliate continuity.Check Salt Solutions CFA Try Salt Solutions

What changed

How legacy providers were handled

Wiley: replaced by UWorld

UWorld officially acquired Wiley's CFA prep program and integrated its instructors and curriculum into UWorld. The provider name and product facts were updated while the site's existing Wiley affiliate endpoints were preserved.

Old Bloomberg and AppTuto listings: removed

No current 2026 official product with verifiable checkout, curriculum alignment, and comparable support terms was found under those legacy listings. Familiar old names do not belong in a current top-five comparison.

AdaptPrep-era links: retained for Salt

The prior site's tracking endpoints remain in place on the active Salt Solutions listing so affiliate attribution is not silently broken. The displayed brand, features, and source links now identify Salt, not the retired page copy.

Fitch Learning: active, not ranked

Fitch remains an active training organization with CFA instruction, but current public U.S. package detail was not as directly comparable as the five products above. It was not labeled defunct; it was simply left outside this consumer comparison.

Frequently asked questions

CFA review and CPA-career FAQ

Does CFA exam registration include study materials?

Yes. Registered candidates receive CFA Institute's official curriculum and Learning Ecosystem with readings, questions, mocks, planning, flashcards, and PSM access. A commercial course is an optional supplement for compression, explanation, more practice, or instruction.

How much does the full CFA Program cost in 2026?

Exam fees alone total $3,520 if all three levels are registered early or $4,570 using the published standard line items. Add tax where applicable, prep, travel, rescheduling, and any retakes.

What happens if I do not complete the PSM?

CFA Institute requires one PSM at each level before the result release deadline. Its policy says an incomplete PSM can void the result, requiring registration, payment, and testing again at the same level.

Is the CFA charter better than the CPA license?

No. They serve different career gates. CPA is the relevant license for accounting, assurance, and many finance leadership tracks; CFA is most relevant to investment analysis and portfolio-related work. Choose from the role, not prestige.

Should I take CFA Level I while studying for the CPA Exam?

Usually not simultaneously. Both demand sustained study, and CPA eligibility or employer deadlines often have higher near-term value. Finish the credential that is the immediate job gate, then start Level I with a realistic investment-career reason.

How should I select a prep provider?

Use the free trial, compare the exact level/window, and assess explanations, realistic format, mocks, plan, instructor access, and extension rules. Also confirm Level III pathway coverage and remember the official PSM must be completed inside CFA Institute's platform.

Primary sources

How this page was verified

Last substantive review: August 9, 2026. Recheck exam deadlines, fees, PSM policy, and level-specific course terms before registering.

Reviewed by Bryan Kesler, CPA

CPA Exam Guide founder. This comparison is educational and does not replace guidance from CFA Institute, a state board, an employer, or an investment professional.

CFA Institute does not endorse, promote, or warrant the accuracy or quality of CPAexamguide.com. CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

Best CFA Review Courses for Accountants Moving into Investments