No. Unlike the TrendUp Now L-Program, the CFOA Direct is open enrollment. You can enroll and start immediately.

CFOA Direct is a self-paced, exam-focused route designed for individuals who want to prepare for and pass the Certified Futures & Options Analyst (CFOA) exam on their own schedule — without deadlines, cohorts, or recruiting components. It includes full access to exam prep materials and covers your exam registration fee, but does not include career support, live mentorship, or eligibility for the SRP (internship) or job portal.

The L-Program, on the other hand, is a cohort-based training experience that includes three structured levels (L1–L3), mentorship, career development support, live sessions, and a sponsored exam attempt. It’s designed to help students and early-career professionals build both technical mastery and buy-side readiness — with top performers invited to join the SRP internships and access post-program opportunities.

No. CFOA Direct is a streamlined, self-paced prep program designed solely to help you pass the CFOA exam. It does not include mentorship or career placement support.

Those features are part of the TrendUp Now L-Program, which combines structured training, mentorship, and recruiting pathways.

That said, top performers in CFOA Direct may be invited to participate in an SRP bridge assessment, which can open the door to the SRP and thus further opportunities.

No. CFOA Direct gives you full access to all the training you need to pass the exam — without going through Level 1, cohort progression, or mentorship.

Yes, it’s 100% self-paced. You can study whenever and however you want. There are no fixed start dates, deadlines, or time pressure.

After completing your prep, you’ll schedule the 100-question CFOA exam directly through our prep platform. It can be taken online with remote proctoring. You choose the date and time.

Top performers in the CFOA examination may be invited to participate in an SRP bridge assessment, which can open the door to the SRP and thus further opportunities. This would be by invitation only and require an application and successful completion of the bridge assessment components.

No. CFOA Direct includes the standard 100-question exam (included in your fee), but not the sponsored version offered to graduates of the the L3 L-Program.

 CFOA Direct includes support to handle common questions about the content.

It’s designed for independent learners and busy professionals: People who want full control over their schedule, don’t need mentorship or career placement, and want guaranteed access to exam training and certification.

No, student discounts are only available for the L-Program for eligible current university students and recent graduates.

We are confident that our prep material is the best resource for successful CFOA certification. This is why we are proud to offer a money-back guarantee if you complete the entire CFOA Direct program and fail the CFOA exam on your first attempt. To qualify, you must:

• Complete all course lessons and quizzes before taking the exam

• Take the exam within 6 months of enrollment

• Provide proof of failure from the ICFDT portal

The refund covers the portion paid to TrendUp for the CFOA Direct training program ($600), but not the CFOA exam fee ($390), which is a non-refundable fee set by the ICDFT.