Just registered for CFA exam for June 2010.  Have no idea how to get started with it. Anybody out there who can help me on how to get started. What study materials should I have?   I am not from Finance background so feeling like time would be too short for preparation so a bit scared. Any tips on study materials and keeping myself on track throughout the study period would be greatly appreciated.

Level I is easy. Good luck.

Given that your background is not in Finance, you may face some challenge in equity valuation, fixed income valuation, alternative investments, etc. Different people have different ability/skills; some may think it is easy and some may think it is hard. Whether this test will be easy or difficulty for you depends on your individual ability. According to CFA Institute, the historic average of passing rate in the Level 1 exam is about 35 to 40 percent. I took the Level 1 last year, I registered in the middle of March, studied for about two and a half months, and passed it. But my background was in Finance.

You will also need a good background in Accounting, Statistics, and Economics.

Schweser and Stalla offer some preparatory materials for the CFA exams. Check their website if interested.

Good luck!

Thank You Newlynew and Sahilbryan.

Wow! you passed with two months of preparation. Did you buy Schweser's preparation materials? Do you think Schweser's premium instruction package (899$) is more helpful than Essential preparation package (599$).

Sahilbryan, are you also working as a finance professional? How many hours of preparation per day (in average) helped you pass? Thanks.