UTampa Accepted into CFA Institute University Affiliation Program

In October, the University of Tampa’s bachelor’s in finance program was accepted into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. This recognition demonstrates the alignment of the curriculum with current industry standards and expands student access to resources and scholarships.

“CFA, chartered financial analyst, is the premier designation for those who want to work in the investment management profession,” said Assistant Professor Tyson Van Alfen. “It’s a highly sought-after credential that is challenging to get.”

Earning the CFA designation requires passing three exams and fulfilling work experience requirements. As part of the university affiliation program, students can apply for a scholarship that covers part of the cost of the exam and additional study materials. According to Van Alfen, some finance students take the first exam during their senior year.

“Any employer in the investment management field is going to see that a student has passed Level 1 of the CFA exam and immediately move their application to the top of the stack,” he said.

To support students interested in becoming CFAs, Van Alfen and lecturer Kevin O’Brien formed a student group this semester. “We had a dozen students show up for our first meeting and stay for three hours,” Van Alfen said.

At the meeting, Rico Tomasello ’24, M.S. ’26 spoke with students about his experience preparing for and passing the CFA Level 1 exam. Tomasello took on the challenge to differentiate himself for entry level jobs. He’s now a deal transaction analyst at Benchmark International.

His advice to students is to treat taking the CFA exam like a part-time job. “It requires time and effort unlike any type of test you have taken before,” he said. To prepare for the Level 2 exam, Tomasello is using artificial intelligence to create practice questions and dialogue about his answers.

For additional test preparation support, Van Alfen recommends that students join the CFA Society Tampa Bay. “It’s a great network of finance professionals right across the river, and they are very welcoming of students,” Van Alfen said.

For more information about CFA support at UTampa, email Tyson Van Alfen.