Displaying your Designation on Social Media

How to share your CFA charter, CIPM designation, or certificate

Follow these guidelines to properly display your CFA Institute program status in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

CFA Program: Charterholders and candidates

Digital Badges

As you progress though the CFA Program, you will receive digital badges via the CFA Institute digital badge vendor, Accredible. Once you pass an exam or earn your CFA charter, you will receive an email from [email protected] with a link to your badge.

If you cannot find the email with your digital badge link, please login to your Accredible account. If you did not create an account when you first received your badge, click the Retrieve a Credential button on the Accredible website.

Badges can be shared on a variety of social media platforms. Click into a badge to see additional information about who the badge was issued to and when. If a user selects “Verify Credential”, they will receive additional information about the badge.

Add your designation after your name

If you have earned the CFA designation and are an active member in good standing, you may include your designation after your name. For example, Jane Doe, CFA.

If you are a candidate, do not use your candidacy in the heading of your profile, or indicate an "Expected" date. The Code and Standards prohibits candidates from representing that you have been awarded a partial designation.

Add as a featured section at the top of your profile

Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile. Select “Add profile section”
Under “Add to Profile” select “Recommended” and then “Add featured”
Click the “+” and then “Add a Link” and paste your unique badge link from Accredible (see above section on Digital Badges for how to find that link)
Select “Add” and a new section will appear where you can add a title and description
Provide the title of your designation – “Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA Charterholder)”, or if you are a candidate, state the level you have passed, such as “CFA Program Level I”
Write a brief description, such as the year your charter was awarded or when you passed an exam (do not indicate an "Expected" date if you have not passed an exam yet)
- If you have completed all three levels of the CFA Program but have not completed the work experience requirement, you may state: “Passed all three levels of the CFA Program and may be awarded the charter upon completion of the required work experience.”
Select “Save”.

Add to the Licenses & Certifications section of your profile

Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile
Select “Add profile section”
Under “Add to Profile” select “Recommended” and then “Add Licenses & Certifications”
- Name: Enter “Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA Charter)”, or if you are a candidate, the level you have passed, such as “CFA Program Level I”
- Issuing Organization: Start typing "CFA Institute" and you should see CFA Institute’s LinkedIn page appear in the dropdown. Select it
- Issue Date: Select the month and year you received your designation or passed your exam
- Expiration Date: Leave this field blank. If you've earned the CFA charter and no longer meet the membership requirements, a notification will appear on your badge page that your designation is expired
- Credential ID: Leave this field blank
- Certification URL: Add your unique badge link from Accredible (see above section on Digital Badges for how to find that link)
Select “Save”.

Add to the Test Score section of your profile

Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile
Select “Add Profile” section
Under “Add to Profile” select “Additional” and then "Add test scores"
- Title: Enter either "Level [I, II, or III] CFA exam"
- Associated With: Leave this field blank
- Score: Enter "Passed" if you would like to indicate the level you have passed
- Test Date: Enter the month and year of the date you passed the exam
- Under Description, enter the level you have completed, e.g., "Passed Level II of the CFA Program." Do not indicate an "Expected" date if you have not passed an exam
Select Save.

X (Twitter)

You may only include "CFA" after your name if you continue to meet the membership requirements in the CFA Institute Articles and Bylaws (PDF) and previously were awarded the CFA designation. The CFA designation:

Should not be included in your X handle, e.g., not @JohnSmithCFA
Should only appear in the section of your profile that contains your given name and surname
Should not be included with a pseudonym or fictitious phrase meant to hide your identity.

Resume / CV

If you are an active charterholder in good standing:

Include your designation after your name. (For example: “Jane Doe, CFA”)
Include your charterholder status in the certifications or education section of your resume as “CFA® charterholder, CFA Institute.”
You may also include the date your charter was issued.

If you are a lapsed CFA Charterholder:

Include your charterholder status in the certifications section of your resume and specify the dates held. (For example: “CFA® Charterholder, 19XX–20XX.”).

If you are currently a candidate in the CFA Program:

Include your participation in the CFA Program in the education section of your resume. (For example: “CFA® Program participant, CFA Institute.”)
You may also list the levels completed. (For example: “Completed Level I in 2020.”)
You may use the term “candidate” only if you are actively registered for a particular exam.

Business Cards

If you have earned the CFA designation and are an active member in good standing, you may include your designation after your name on your business card. For example, Jane Doe, CFA.

CIPM Program: Designation holders and candidates

Add your designation after your name

If you have earned the CIPM designation and are an active member in good standing, you may include your designation after your name. For example, John Smith, CIPM.

Add to the Licenses & Certifications section of your profile

Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile
Select “Add profile section”
Under “Add to Profile” select “Recommended” and then “Add Licenses & Certifications”
- Name: Enter “Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM)”, or if you are a candidate, the level you have passed, such as “CIPM Program Level I”
- Issuing Organization: Start typing "CFA Institute" and you should see CFA Institute’s LinkedIn page appear in the dropdown. Select it
- Issue Date: Select the month and year you received your designation
- Expiration Date: Leave this field blank. If you've earned the CIPM designation and no longer meet the membership requirements, a notification will appear on your badge page that your designation is expired
- Credential ID: Leave this field blank
- Certification URL: Leave this field blank
Select “Save”.

Add to the Test Score section of your profile

Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile
Select “Add Profile” section
Under “Add to Profile” select “Additional” and then "Add test scores"
- Title: Enter either "Level [I or II] CIPM exam"
- Associated With: Leave this field blank
- Score: Enter "Passed" if you would like to indicate the level you have passed
- Test Date: Enter the month and year of the date you passed the exam
- Under Description, enter the level you have completed, e.g., "Passed Level I of the CIPM Program." Do not indicate an "Expected" date if you have not passed an exam
Select Save.

X (Twitter)

You may only include "CIPM" after your name if you continue to meet the membership requirements in the CFA Institute Articles and Bylaws (PDF) and previously were awarded the CIPM designation. The CIPM designation:

Should not be included in your X handle, e.g., not @MaryJonesCIPM
Should only appear in the section of your profile that contains your given name and surname
Should not be included with a pseudonym or fictitious phrase meant to hide your identity.

Resume / CV

CFA Institute encourages CIPM designation holders to include their designations and their CIPM Program participation on their resumes and online bios.

If you are an active member in good standing:

Include your designation after your name. (For example: “John Smith, CIPM”)
Include your CIPM designation in the certifications or education section of your resume as “CIPM® certificant, CFA Institute.”
You may also include the date you received your designation.

If you are a lapsed member:

Include your designation in the certifications section of your resume and specify the dates held. (For example: “CIPM® certificant, 19XX–20XX.”).

If you are currently a candidate in the CIPM Program:

Include your participation in the CIPM Program in the education section of your resume. (For example: “CIPM® Program participant, CFA Institute.”)
You may also list the levels completed. (For example: “Completed Level I in 2020.”)
You may use the term “candidate” only if you are actively registered for a particular exam.

Please review the Trademark Usage Guide for CIPM Certificants.

Business Cards

If you have earned the CIPM designation and are an active member in good standing, you may include your designation after your name on your business card. For example, John Smith, CIPM.

Other certificate holders

Digital Badges

CFA Institute distributes digital badges via their digital badge vendor, Accredible. Once you pass an exam, you will receive an email from [email protected] with a link to your certificate and/or badge.

Certificates from CFA Institute like the Sustainable Investing Certificate should not be added after your name.

Add as a featured section at the top of your profile

Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile
Select “Add profile section”
Under “Add to Profile” select “Recommended” and then “Add featured”
Select “Add” and a new section will appear where you can add a title and description
Provide the title of your certificate, such as “Sustainable Investing Certificate”
Write a brief description such as the year you received your certificate
Select “Save”.

Add to the Licenses & Certifications section of your Profile

Log in to LinkedIn and view your profile
Select “Add profile section”
Under “Add to Profile” select “Recommended” and then “Add Licenses & Certifications”
- Name: Enter the name of your credential, such as “Sustainable Investing Certificate” or “CFA Institute Investment Foundations® Certificate”
- Issuing Organization: Start typing "CFA Institute" and you should see CFA Institute’s LinkedIn page appear in the dropdown. Select it
- Issue Date: Select the month and year you received your certificate
- Expiration Date: Leave this field blank
- Credential ID: Leave this field blank
- Certification URL: Add your unique badge link from Accredible (see above section on Digital Badges for how to find that link)
Select Save.

X (Twitter)

Certificates from CFA Institute like the Sustainable Investing Certificate should not be added after your name. If you wish to display your achievement on X, add a line in your bio that says “Awarded Sustainable Investing Certificate, CFA Institute, 2024.”

Resume / CV

If you have earned a certificate from CFA Institute such as the Sustainable Investing Certificate or Investment Foundations, add it to the certifications or education section of your resume or CV. You may also include the date your certification was issued.

Business Cards

Certificates from CFA Institute like the Sustainable Investing Certificate should not be added after your name.

To properly display your achievement, add a line beneath your name that says “Awarded [Certificate Name], CFA Institute, [Year of Completion]. For example, “Awarded Sustainable Investing Certificate, CFA Institute, 2024.

Additional guidance

CFA Institute

Displaying your Designation on Social Media

How to share your CFA charter, CIPM designation, or certificate

Digital Badges

LinkedIn

Add your designation after your name

Add as a featured section at the top of your profile

Add to the Licenses & Certifications section of your profile

Add to the Test Score section of your profile

X (Twitter)

Resume / CV

If you are an active charterholder in good standing:

If you are a lapsed CFA Charterholder:

If you are currently a candidate in the CFA Program:

Business Cards

LinkedIn

Add your designation after your name

Add to the Licenses & Certifications section of your profile

Add to the Test Score section of your profile

X (Twitter)

Resume / CV

If you are an active member in good standing:

If you are a lapsed member:

If you are currently a candidate in the CIPM Program:

Business Cards

Digital Badges

LinkedIn

Add as a featured section at the top of your profile

Add to the Licenses & Certifications section of your Profile

X (Twitter)

Resume / CV

Business Cards

CFA Designation Trademarking Guidelines

Standard VII(B) Reference to CFA Institute, the CFA Designation, and the CFA Program

CFA Institute Standards of Practice Handbook