CAIA curriculum updates: how to check what has changed before you study
A cautious, source-led guide to checking current CAIA curriculum materials and avoiding stale study content.
CAIA candidates should not assume that last year's notes are enough. CAIA Association materials say the curriculum is revised annually and that curriculum materials are exam-year specific. That does not mean every topic changes every year, but it does mean you should check the current official materials before you build a study plan.
This article is not a list of claimed syllabus changes. It is a practical guide to checking what has changed using official sources.
Who this article is for
This guide is for candidates starting CAIA study, returning after a failed attempt or using older notes from a previous exam cycle. It is also useful if you are comparing tutor materials, question banks or summaries and want to know whether they align with the current curriculum.
It is especially important for learners who plan early. A study plan can look efficient but still be risky if it is built from stale content.
What you need to know
The CAIA exam curriculum overview says the CAIA Charter curriculum consists of two exam levels and is revised annually to incorporate relevant, practical industry developments and the latest academic research. The same page states that both levels have been updated for the 2026 exam cycle and that each exam reflects content from the 2026 digital or digital plus print curriculum only.
CAIA's curriculum and study tools page says the official curriculum is updated annually and gives a practical example: the 2026 CAIA curriculum in print and digital should be studied for exams taken in March 2026 or September 2026.
The 2026 CAIA Exam Handbook also says candidates should note that curriculum materials are regularly revised and specific to the exam cycle for a particular year. It identifies the 2026 curriculum materials and curriculum companions as the only preparation materials endorsed by CAIA Association.
The curriculum companion for your level and exam year is the document that defines examinable content, so treat older curriculum editions as background rather than active study sources. Qualifico organises its CAIA practice around the 2026 Level I and Level II companions for that reason.
Key points
CAIA curriculum materials are exam-year specific.
Official CAIA pages verify that the curriculum is revised annually.
Candidates should check the curriculum companion for their level and exam year.
Older notes may still be useful for background but should not control your study plan.
Avoid unverified online change lists unless you can trace them to CAIA materials.
If you cannot verify a claimed change, treat it as a review item rather than a fact.
How to prepare, decide or use this guidance
Start with the official CAIA curriculum page for your exam cycle. Confirm the year, level and topic list. Then download or access the curriculum companion for your level. The handbook says the curriculum companion provides learning objectives and keywords that define content eligible to be measured on the exam. Once the current curriculum is confirmed, a practical CAIA study plan turns it into weekly work.
Next, check your study materials against that official structure. If a provider or old note set uses different topic names, missing readings or older terminology, do not panic, but do not ignore it. Create a simple gap list: current topic, current reading or learning objective, matching material and missing material.
Be careful with "what changed" summaries. They can be helpful, but they are not a substitute for the current curriculum companion. This is particularly important for candidates repeating an exam because familiar topics can still have revised learning objectives or emphasis.
Finally, update your practice plan. If new or revised areas appear in the official materials, schedule them early enough to practise. If older material has been superseded, keep it only as background and avoid spending your strongest revision time there.
Use a two-column source check. In the first column, list the official 2026 topic, reading or learning objective. In the second, list the study material you plan to use. If a row has no match, it becomes a gap. If your material covers a topic that is not in the current companion, mark it as background until you can verify it.
How Qualifico helps
When the curriculum changes, use Qualifico practice data as a diagnostic tool. Focus on current topic areas, watch for repeated weak spots and keep your study plan tied to the official companion for your exam year. Do not use any third-party tool, including Qualifico, as the final authority on what is examinable.
Next steps
Once you have confirmed the current companion for your level, a Level I study plan turns it into a schedule, and what changes at Level II explains why the same materials need a different study output at the second level.
Sources checked
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