CFA is a pretty tough one, but it's a very good support to those who're seeking a career in investment or securities sectors. The exam contains three levels. Level 1 is a test on general economic/finance/accounting knowledge. This level isn't very hard if one has educational background in finance/accounting. Level 2 and 3 are rather challenging since they require a lot of experience and judgemental skills in investment cases. At Ottawa location, level 1 is held twice each year, while level 2 and 3 are only held once each year. So if a person is lucky enough to pass all three exams without any failure, the shortest time would be 2 and half years.
there're organizations providing study notes.