Home

CFA UK DATA MASTERING FAQS

Find answers to common questions about how CFA UK masters your data.

Who is responsible for my personal data?

CFA UK and CFA Institute are separate organisations. The organisation which is the authoritative source for a particular item of information is responsible for maintaining that information within the data mastering process. This does not necessarily determine which organisation is the data controller for every use of your personal data. For further information about how CFA UK uses and shares your personal information, including its relationship with CFA Institute, please see our Privacy Notice.

What is data mastering?

Data mastering refers to how we manage and process your data to keep your personal information accurate and up to date. If you interact with both CFA UK and CFA Institute, some information may be shared between our organisations to support membership services, examinations and qualifications. Depending on your circumstances, either CFA UK or CFA Institute may be responsible for mastering certain information. This helps ensure we hold the most accurate and current details about you.

Why does CFA UK use data mastering?

Data mastering helps ensure that personal information remains accurate, consistent and up to date across CFA UK and CFA Institute systems. It also helps CFA UK meet its regulatory obligations relating to its own examinations and qualification records.

How do I know whether CFA UK or CFA Institute manages my details?

This depends on your relationship with CFA UK and CFA Institute.

For example:

  • CFA Institute members and CFA Program candidates will have key profile information managed by CFA Institute.
  • Candidates of CFA UK qualifications will have certain information managed by CFA UK during their active examination period and thereafter.

The organisation responsible for managing your details may change over time depending on your membership status, examination activity and engagement with CFA UK services.

Once logged into the CFA UK Portal and viewing your personal details, information banners will advise if you can update there and then or need to contact CFA UK or log in and update via your CFA Institute account.

Why can't I update some of my details on the CFA UK website?

If CFA Institute is the authoritative source for your details, some profile information cannot be updated directly through the CFA UK website. In these cases, you will be directed to CFA Institute to make the change. Once updated there, the information will be synchronised with CFA UK where applicable.

This may take up to 48 hours to synchronise and, if after this window you can’t see the updated information in the CFA UK Portal, then contact us at support@cfauk.org with your request and your Full name, Date of Birth and one of the following:

  • Email address you have used to log into CFA UK website
  • CFA UK ID
  • Email address used to access CFA Institute website
  • CFA Institute PersonID, as listed in your CFA Institute account and we will investigate it.

When does CFA UK become the authoritative source for my data?

If you register for a CFA UK examination or qualification, CFA UK will become the authoritative source for certain information used to administer your examination and related services.

This helps ensure that examination-related communications, materials and services are delivered using the information you provided during registration.

The period for which CFA UK remains the authoritative source varies depending on the information concerned. Some information is used only for the duration of the examination process, and a limited time after, while other information will continue to be maintained by CFA UK after this period. Further details are available in the related FAQs below.


Which information may CFA UK manage during an examination period?

During an active examination period and for up to 90 days after your exam registration or sitting date, CFA UK will manage information including:

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Email addresses
  • Telephone numbers
  • Home addresses
  • Work addresses
  • Employer details
  • Job title
  • Occupation information

During this period, updates received from CFA Institute will not overwrite this information.

How long will CFA UK manage my data after I register for a CFA UK exam?

For certain contact details, CFA UK will remain the authoritative source while you have an active exam registration and for up to 90 days after your exam registration or sitting date.

After this period, responsibility will transfer back to CFA Institute for certain details. For name and date of birth these details will continue to be mastered by CFA UK.

Why does CFA UK retain authority over my name and date of birth?

If you have taken a CFA UK qualification, then your name and date of birth records will be managed by CFA UK. This is because CFA UK is required to maintain accurate examination records and qualification histories and so name and date of birth records will continue to be managed by CFA UK for regulatory, verification and audit purposes, even after an examination has been completed.

I’m a CFA UK Candidate or have taken a CFA UK qualification, how do I update my name and / or date of birth?

Please email qualifications@cfauk.org with your request and provide a copy of a valid photo ID (such as a passport, driving licence, or national identity card).

If you are requesting a name change, please also provide supporting documentation showing the change, such as a marriage certificate or deed poll.

We use these documents only to verify the requested change and handle them in accordance with our retention and security procedures.

What happens if my details are different on CFA UK and CFA Institute systems?

In most circumstances, the organisation designated as the authoritative source will determine which information is used. If significant discrepancies are identified, CFA UK may contact you to confirm the correct information.

Will I be told if responsibility for my data changes?

Once logged into the CFA UK Portal and viewing your personal details, information banners will advise who is mastering your data and if you can update your details there and then, or need to contact CFA UK, or log in and update via your CFA Institute account.

Where appropriate, CFA UK may notify you when responsibility for maintaining certain personal information transfers between CFA UK and CFA Institute.

What happens if I stop engaging with CFA Institute?

If you are no longer within the period during which CFA UK receives relevant information from CF Institute, your record may cease to be mastered by CFA Institute. In these circumstances, you will be able to update your details directly through the CFA UK website.

Can I request a change to data mastering arrangements?

In exceptional circumstances, CFA UK may consider requests relating to how your data is managed. Each request is assessed individually, taking into account regulatory obligations, examination records and operational requirements.

Who can I contact if I have questions?

If you have any questions about our processing of your personal data, or would like to exercise one of your rights set out in our Privacy Notice, please contact us at privacy@cfauk.org.