CFA Exam Personal Belongings Policy
The CFA Exam Personal Belongings Policy lists the items that may be permitted in the testing room and those that may not. View the lists below.
You are strongly encouraged to leave your personal belongings at home or in your car. As a courtesy, your test center will have an area designated for personal belongings. If you must bring items to the test center, ensure they are clearly identifiable as many look the same, particularly mobile phones.
If proctors or security personnel find items in the testing room that are not permitted, they will be confiscated or placed in the personal belongings area. CFA Institute, testing personnel, the test center, and vendors are not responsible or liable for stolen, lost, misplaced, or damaged personal property in the personal belongings area or at the test center.
The following items must be kept on your desk:
Exam admission ticket
Valid international travel passport
Approved calculators
Approved writing instruments
The following items may be kept on your desk, if needed:
Manual pencil sharpeners (no knives)
Erasers, with no paper holder or cover
Loose calculator batteries (no packaging) and screwdriver for battery replacement
Calculator cases and keystroke cards
Eyeglasses, but not the eyeglasses case
Earplugs
Wristwatches (analog and digital) with alarms and timers silenced; however, all smart watches are prohibited
The following items are permitted in the testing room but must remain in your pockets or under your chair when not in use:
Wallet (money purse)
Medicine, tissues, and other necessary medical or personal items
Gum, hard candy, cough drops
Eyeglasses case
Keys
The following items are not permitted:
Food or drinks
Baggage of any kind, including transparent bags, backpacks, handbags, tote bags, briefcases, luggage, carrying cases, passport covers, or pencil cases
Study materials, including notes, papers, textbooks, or study guides
Scratch paper, present/future value tables, or calculator manuals
Highlighters, correction fluid, correction tape, or rulers
Weapons of any kind
Mobile phones, cameras, headsets, computers, tablets, wearable technology (such as fitbit or other fitness tracking devices), smart watches, or any Bluetooth-enabled or any remote communication or photographic devices
Any type of desk clock or timer