Approved Calculators
CFA® Institute permits candidates to use only two models of business calculators on the CFA Examinations. These include:
- The Texas Instruments BA II Plus (including the BA II Plus Professional) BA II Plus Guidebook available here
- The Hewlett Packard 12C (including the HP 12C Platinum.) HP 12C guidebook available here
To order any of these calculators directly from the manufacturer, please click on the links above, and you will be brought to their ordering site.
Important Note about Calculators and Exams
The use of any calculator during the CFA Exam that hasn’t been authorized by CFA Institute is considered a violation of CFA Institute rules, regulations, and policies, and may result in a conduct investigation or sanctions, including suspension from the CFA Program and invalidation of your examination results.
Please check (and then double check) your calculator to assure it is the right model. Please also note you will be asked by your exam proctors to clear all programmable calculator memory prior to beginning your exam.
Calculator Accessories
You will be permitted to carry your calculator in its original cover to the testing room. Additionally, you can bring and refer to the keystroke cards that accompany the calculators. You may not, however, bring calculator instruction manuals into the testing room.
You should become comfortable using your calculator in advance of the exam, assuring that your time is devoted to answering exam questions and not learning how to use your calculator. We suggest you prepare for your exam by practicing exam questions using the calculator model you plan to use on exam day.
Be sure to install fresh batteries into your calculator prior to your exam. We also encourage you to bring to the exam additional loose (unpackaged) batteries and any tool needed to install them.
