The value of the CFA charter has been increasing overseas, fueling phenomenal growth in CFA programs worldwide. Unlike some other professional certifications, you don't need a new one for each city you go to.
Analysts can move around the world and have their designation recognized.
There's no other designation that's really global. The growth prompted AIMR to open its first branch office in Hong Kong in 1997. The CFA program continues to grow in North America and Canada as well. The growth in registrations is good news for societies and for the investment profession overall, as more people see the CFA charter as a necessary tool for success. There is no Harvard or Wharton CFA charter, so the designation is equal for everyone.