Is Corporate Finance Institute Worth It? Full CFI Review

There are countless finance certification programs, and trying to choose can be overwhelming.

Plus, a whopping 94% of upper-level finance professionals stated they are more likely to hire someone with a relevant certification than someone without one.

So, is CFI worth it? I put Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) to the test to see if its program is worth your time and money.

Here’s how CFI held up, so you can decide if it fits a finance career or just your CPE credits.

Is CFI Right for You?

• If you’re not sure which finance certification fits your goals, then CFI’s personalized quiz matches you to the right one based on your strengths and career goals.
• If you learn best in short bursts, then CFI’s 1 to 3 minute video lessons make it easy to fit studying into a busy schedule.
• If you like hands-on practice, then CFI’s automated Excel exercises and unlimited exam retakes let you learn by doing without the pressure.
• If you want lively, entertaining lessons, CFI’s videos may not be the best fit, since they are clear and professional but not very exciting.
• If you want a quick credential, consider something else, since earning a full CFI certification takes over a dozen courses and a final exam.

Corporate Finance Institute at a Glance

Corporate Finance Institute is an affordable way to build a finance career while earning CPD and CPE credits, with 7 professional certifications and over 575 credits available. Plus, the mobile app means CFI is easy to take on the go.

To summarize my experience, CFI was an easy, straightforward way to learn new skills, earn professional credit, and earn certifications to impress prospective employers. Let’s talk about the pros, cons, packages, and an in-depth look at my step-by-step experience from “just logged in” to “CPE credit earner.”

Pros

• Personalized quiz matches you to the right certification
• Short, clear videos with clean slides
• Fun, automated Excel practice exercises
• Unlimited exam retakes and easy progress tracking

Cons

• Strict 80% pass mark on very short exams
• Videos are clear but not very exciting
• Heavy workload to earn a full certification

CFI Package Options

Self-Study

The self-study course includes unlimited access to all courses and certifications. It includes 7 accredited certification exams, 15 skill-focused specialization programs, and 575+ CPE/CPD credits.

Full Immersion

Full Immersion includes everything that’s in the Self-Study course, but has more instructor support and instant answers from an AI tutor. It also offers personalized financial model review and feedback, plus premium job-ready templates and guides.

CFI’s Certificate Options

The first thing CFI had me do when I logged in was take a quick quiz to see which courses and certifications were most aligned with my career goals. I was matched with the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst certification, and the platform recommended the Financial Planning & Analysis Professional, and Business Intelligence & Data Analyst (BIDA®) certifications as secondary choices.

I really loved that the questions targeted my strengths and goals to help me make the right decision, not just “what topic do you want to learn.” It felt hyper-personalized, and that made me feel a lot more excited about the process.

The complete list of certifications includes:

• Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA®)
• Financial Planning & Analysis Professional (FPAP™)
• Business Intelligence & Data Analyst (BIDA®)
• Capital Markets & Securities Analyst (CMSA®)
• Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA®)
• Financial Planning & Wealth Management Professional (FPWMP®)
• FinTech Industry Professional (FTIP®)

Course Structure

Once I started a course, I could see all of the tasks I’d have to complete in the left-hand sidebar. Generally, there’d be a couple sections divided into videos, downloadable practice exercises, and interactive exercises.

Video Lessons

The video lessons weren’t particularly exciting, but they were clear, the slides weren’t overloaded with text (making note-taking much easier), and my favorite part? They were short, usually just 2 or 3 minutes long, but they clearly broke down each topic, making it easy to remember what I needed to know to pass through the activities.

For example, in the “Time and the Income Statement” video, the balance sheet was described as showing a point in time, whereas the income statement was described as showing operations results over a period of time. Point vs period made it much easier to understand them simply.

Practice Exercises and Interactive Activities

To break up the video lessons and reinforce actual understanding of the topics discussed, CFI dropped the occasional practice exercise or interactive activity. The practice exercises took place in, fittingly, Microsoft Excel sheets automated to determine whether or not you’d entered the correct information with a checkbox.

It made learning feel a lot more interesting, since it was a little like having a puzzle to solve based on the information and what I’d just learned from the lectures.

Meanwhile, the interactive activities could be something like a drag-and-drop, or just some multiple-choice questions with quick answer explanations.

Earning Certificates

To earn my FMVA certification, I had to start by passing 15 core courses, 3 elective courses, and a final exam.

But individual courses had requirements, too. I had to pass a final exam for each course, and this got a little frustrating. For the Accounting Fundamentals exam, there were only 9 questions, but I needed a passing score of 80%. So, I could only get 1 question wrong and still pass. Luckily, though, I was able to take it as many times as I wanted.

So, while I got a 77% on my second attempt, I was able to immediately retake it to earn a passing score. I didn’t need to unlock the exam by going through any of the course, so I could access it whenever I felt ready. That said, to earn the certificate, I had to complete all activities, but I could just click “complete” to count them.

Then, I got my shiny new certificate, plus 2 CPE credits.

Final Verdict

CFI is a strong pick if you want a structured, beginner-friendly path into finance. The personalized quiz points you to the right certification, the short videos make it easy to learn in small chunks, and the automated Excel exercises keep the material practical and engaging. The unlimited exam retakes also take a lot of pressure off.

The downsides are minor: the strict pass marks on short exams can be frustrating, the videos aren’t exactly thrilling, and earning a full certification takes real time. Still, for anyone who wants a clear, flexible way to build finance skills and earn a credential, CFI is well worth it.

FAQs

Is CFI suitable for candidates who are beginners?

All of CFI’s courses are beginner-friendly, but people with a finance background will find the courses easier and have to spend less time working through the material.

Does CFI offer financial aid?

CFI doesn’t offer financial aid, but it runs regular sales, offers its Careers in Finance course for free, and lets you preview every paid course with a free account.

Can professionals in other careers benefit from CFI’s certifications?

Yes, their certifications, like Business Intelligence, Data Analyst, and FinTech, can apply to other jobs in data science and technology.

Do I need another program for my Continuing Education requirements after I’m certified?

CFI has CE and CPD courses built into its courses, so you can earn your certifications and maintain your CE requirements all in one place.

Is CFI up-to-date with new information?

CFI continuously updates its platforms and materials, so you get the most recent course content and a platform that stays current with the latest tech advancements.