I assume the question refers to be being a trader for a bank or fund, as it asks about MBAs, CFAs, etc.
As Gerry will tell you, in the early days of foreign exchange in London and New York, traders were mostly street-smart kids. Smart, hungry and poor (with a desire to be rich) is how Ace Greenberg used to describe his idea recruit.
These days everyone is an MBA, PhD or some-such, with a degree in electrical engineering and the ability to write algorithms in their sleep.
Forgetting academic qualifications, any one who is patient, calculating and willing to learn from mistakes can be a successful trader. Markets have a way of following patterns; if you take the time to watch markets up close for a long period of time, your odds of success will increase dramatically.
