A statement by CFA Societies Australia said that among new candidates sitting exams in December 2016, 46 per cent were women and 54 per cent were men.
Female candidates returning to re-sit exams accounted for 44 per cent of total candidates.
The CFA Institute has a broader target of women making up 30 per cent of investment management professionals.
CFA Society Sydney president Anthony Serhan said there is still "much to be done" to achieve the 30 per cent target.
"We are encouraged that the programs put in place though our member, candidate and university engagement are making a difference," Mr Serhan said.
"As we’ve noted in the past, the world is a diverse place and the principles by which a society’s belief system and practices are based must reflect this fact.
"CFA wants financial services to lead Australian business as advocates and practitioners of diversity and inclusion, with an initial focus on gender equality. Our societies, locally and globally, are still under-represented in terms of female members so we are very much part of the change movement."
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