Choosing CAIA study materials matters more than most candidates expect. Get it right and you save real time, get it wrong and you may be looking at lost study time and retake fees.
With only a handful of providers actually licensed by CAIA Association, the choice is narrower than for CFA, but that doesn’t make it obvious.
Quick summary
- CAIA Association licenses a small set of third-party prep providers. We cover the top three CAIA study materials frequently used: Kaplan Schweser, Uppermark, and Edge Designations
- Studying from CAIA’s own official curriculum alone, with no third-party provider, is a genuinely viable option, not just a budget fallback
- Uppermark has the largest question bank at both levels (2,000+); Kaplan Schweser is the only one with a pass guarantee; Edge Designations is the clear budget option with live Zoom access uncommon at that price point
Key factors in choosing CAIA study materials
Your learning style, budget, and how much you value question bank depth versus video instruction are the main drivers here.
- Your learning style. Are you someone who learns best from video, or do you prefer reading dense text closely? Do you need a large volume of practice questions to feel confident, or does quality over quantity work better for you?
- Budget. CAIA’s provider pool is smaller than CFA’s, and pricing reflects that: third-party options range from $125 (a single standalone item) to over $1,000 (a full premium tier) per level, plus the option of studying from the official CAIA curriculum alone at no extra cost.
- Course features and format. Aside from quality, look for features in a study package that you value as each prep provider have their unique selling point. Select for features that are important to you: e.g. video lectures, physical books, e-books, question bank quality, pass guarantee, instructor access etc.
- Licensed status. CAIA Association licenses a specific, limited set of third-party providers. Materials from an unlicensed provider may not reflect the current curriculum, it’s worth double checking this before you buy.
Our evaluation criteria
We assessed each CAIA prep provider on:
- Content quality and alignment with the official CAIA curriculum to ensure third part prep materials are truly saving candidates time
- Question bank quality, verified by comparing a sample of each provider’s practice questions vs CAIA Association’s sample for Level 1 and 2
- Package composition, what’s included at each price point
- Pricing and perception of value for money for Level 1 and Level 2
- Licensed status, confirmed against CAIA Association’s own official list of licensed prep providers
Top CAIA study materials compared
| Feature | Official CAIA curriculum | Kaplan Schweser | Uppermark | Edge Designations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed by CAIA Association? | N/A | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| CAIA L1 price range | Included in registration | $549-$1,049 | $499-$979 | $150-$450 |
| CAIA L2 price range | Included in registration | $599-$1,099 | $499-$979 | $150-$450 |
| Question bank size, Level 1 | CAIA’s own question bank | 850+ | 2,000+ | 1,100 |
| Question bank size, Level 2 | CAIA’s own question bank | 850+ | 2,000+ | 800 |
| Study notes format | Official text only | SchweserNotes (condensed) | Study handbooks | Full notes or revision-only notes |
| Video lectures | ❌ | ✅ Premium tier only (prerecorded) | ✅ Diamond /Platinum tiers only (prerecorded) | ✅ All tiers except Revision-only |
| Live classes | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Zoom + Online tier only |
| Instructor access | ❌ | ✅ Premium tier, community forum | ✅ Diamond & Platinum tiers, email | ✅ Zoom + Online tier only, Whatsapp |
| Mock / practice exams | CAIA’s own | ✅ EssentialPlus tier and above | ✅ Premium Suite and above | ✅ All tiers except à la carte |
| If you don’t pass | N/A | ✅ PassProtection | ✅ Assurance (access-based, not refund) | ❌ |
| Free trial | N/A | ✅ 7 days | ✅ 7 days | ✅ |
Official CAIA curriculum
CAIA Association includes the digital curriculum with your exam registration at no extra cost, print copies costs $150 extra per Level, which includes free shipping within the US.
It’s the only material every candidate has by default, and it’s worth taking seriously as a standalone option rather than assuming you need a third-party provider, particularly if you already have a strong finance background.
- Best for: Disciplined self-starters, especially those with a strong existing finance background
- Strengths:
- No additional cost beyond registration
- Complete curriculum as reference
- Weaknesses:
- Dense, textbook-style writing
- No supplementary practice beyond CAIA’s own question bank and end of chapter questions.
Kaplan Schweser CAIA
Kaplan Schweser offers three self-study tiers, priced separately for each level:
| Kaplan CAIA study packages | Essential | Essential Plus | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study notes | ✅ Printed, ebook or online version included. | ✅ Printed, ebook or online version included. | ✅ Printed, ebook or online version included. |
| Formula sheet | ✅ Printed, ebook or online version included. | ✅ Printed, ebook or online version included. | ✅ Printed, ebook or online version included. |
| Video lectures | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ On-demand. |
| Question bank | ✅ (850+ questions for each Level) | ✅ (850+ questions for each Level) | ✅ (850+ questions for each Level) |
| Mock exams | ✅ 2 full-length mock exams | ✅ 2 full-length mock exams | ✅ 3 full-length mock exams |
| Review lessons | ❌ | ✅ On-demand videos | ✅ On-demand videos |
| Review notes | ❌ | ✅ Secret Sauce | ✅ Secret Sauce |
| Instructor access | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Pass Protection | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free trial? | ✅ 7 days | ✅ 7 days | ✅ 7 days |
| CAIA Level 1 Price | $549 | $749 | $1,049 |
| CAIA Level 2 Price | $599 | $799 | $1,099 |
All Kaplan CAIA packages are backed by their PassProtection guarantee, and a 7-day free trial is available.
- Best for: Candidates who want structured, tiered options with a genuine live-instruction upgrade path at the top tier
- Strengths:
- Backed by a PassProtection guarantee
- Clear tier structure where each level adds a specific, named component (final review, then live classes) rather than vague bundling
- Solid reputation and one of the most experienced prep provider for consistent quality
- Printed notes option available and included at every package tier
- Weaknesses:
- Live instruction only available at the top Premium tier
- Essential tier has no final review or mock exam component at all
- Video lectures available only at Premium tier
Uppermark CAIA
Uppermark is a CAIA-only specialist prep provider that has recently branched into Sustainable Investing Certificate. They are known for relatively more difficult practice questions and mock exams, which some candidates find highly beneficial for building exam-day confidence.
Here are the Uppermark’s CAIA study packages compared:
| Uppermark CAIA study packages | Suite | Premium Suite | Diamond Suite | Platinum Suite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study notes | ✅ Printed and/or e-book included. | ✅ Printed and/or e-book included. | ✅ Printed and/or e-book included. | ✅ Printed and/or e-book included. |
| Formula sheet | ✅ Printed and/or e-version included. | ✅ Printed and/or e-version included. | ✅ Printed and/or e-version included. | ✅ Printed and/or e-version included. |
| Video lectures & lecture notes | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Question bank | ✅ (2,000+ questions per Level) | ✅ (2,000+ questions per Level) | ✅ (2,000+ questions per Level) | ✅ (2,000+ questions per Level) |
| Review lessons | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Review notes | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Instructor access | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (Email only) | ✅ (Email only) |
| UpperMark Assurance | ✅ 2 exams | ✅ 2 exams | ✅ 2 exams | ✅ 2 years |
| Free trial? | ✅ 7 days | ✅ 7 days | ✅ 7 days | ✅ 7 days |
| Price per Level | $499 | $649 | $849 (15% off $721.65) | $979 (20% off $783.20) |
Uppermark’s question bank contains 2,000+ questions per level, the largest question bank of the three providers we reviewed. In terms of question difficulty, they are higher in difficulty vs CAIA exam’s, which may be helpful to some students in over-preparing for the exam, although some may struggle with confidence on the same issue.
- Best for: Candidates prioritizing question bank depth, and CFA charterholders using the stackable program to skip CAIA Level 1
- Strengths: Largest question bank among the three providers for both Levels, questions are more challenging than CAIA exams itself which are preferable for some.
- Weaknesses: Some candidates report that the practice questions are over-convoluted, and video lectures are less focused and the platform feels archaic and hard to use.
Edge Designations CAIA
Edge Designations is the clear value-for-money option, especially for those who prefer video and/or live instruction options at a more cost effective rate.
Edge is also well known for a more personable approach, and the flexibility of mixing and matching different elements of their products to suit your study needs.
Here are the Edge Designations’ CAIA study packages compared:
| Edge’s CAIA packages | Zoom + Online | Online | Revision & Exam | Online + Revision & Exam | QBank + Exams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study notes | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Formula sheet | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Video lectures | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Live Zoom classes | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| WhatsApp instructor access | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Question bank | ✅ (1,100 for L1, 800 for L2) | ✅ (1,100 for L1, 800 for L2) | ❌ | ✅ (1,100 for L1, 800 for L2) | ✅ (1,100 for L1, 800 for L2) |
| Review lessons | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (On demand) | ✅ (On demand) | ❌ |
| Review notes | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Mock exams | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (3 full exams, plus 600 questions for L1, 9 constructed response for L2 ) | ✅ (3 full exams, plus 600 questions for L1, 9 constructed response for L2 ) | ✅ (3 full exams, plus 600 questions for L1, 9 constructed response for L2 ) |
| Free trial? | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Price per Level | $450 | $300 | $150 | $225 | $199 |
Edge Designations is unique in that Live Zoom classes and direct WhatsApp instructor contact are unusual at this price point, neither Kaplan Schweser nor Uppermark offer anything comparable for live candidate interaction.
- Best for: Budget-conscious candidates, or those who specifically want live instructor access without paying premium-tier pricing elsewhere
- Strengths:
- Clear value-for-money option at every price point
- Live Zoom classes and direct instructor WhatsApp access are unusual at this price
- Fully modular, buy only what you need
- All CAIA curriculum questions included in the question bank as well, with fully worked solutions and video explanations.
- Weaknesses:
- Smaller but sufficient question bank at both levels
- Shorter track record – although gaining traction – vs the other two providers
Best CAIA study materials: our verdict
There’s no single best answer here, the CAIA prep market is small enough that the real insight isn’t which single provider to pick, it’s understanding exactly what you’re paying for at each tier, since the differences between tiers are specific and named (a final review here, live instruction there), not vague marketing bundling.
The good news is, all 3 are good quality CAIA prep providers:
- If question bank depth matters most to you, Uppermark’s 2,000+ questions at both levels is the largest we found.
- If you want a pass guarantee attached to your purchase, Kaplan Schweser’s PassProtection is the only one of the three with an explicit pass guarantee.
- If budget or live instructor access matters most, Edge Designations’ modular pricing and Zoom classes are hard to match at that price point.
Blending is also common and effective: pairing one provider’s content with another’s question bank is a normal, low-risk way to cover gaps rather than a sign you chose wrong the first time.
Whichever combination you land on, our free CAIA study planner can help you sequence it against your exam date.
Frequently asked questions
There’s no single best option. It depends on what you value most: Uppermark for question bank depth, Kaplan Schweser for a pass guarantee and tiered live-instruction upgrade path, or Edge Designations for budget and live instructor access.
Yes, it’s a genuinely viable option, particularly for candidates with a strong existing finance background. The official curriculum and question bank are included in your exam registration at no extra cost.
Some candidates do, most commonly pairing one provider’s notes or videos with another’s question bank. This is a normal, effective approach rather than a sign of an initial wrong choice.
Third-party CAIA study materials range from $125 (a single standalone item from Edge Designations) to over $1,000 (Kaplan Schweser’s Premium tier) per level. The official CAIA curriculum is included in your exam registration fee at no extra cost.
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