Beginning in 2012, the education requirements for CFP® certification will include completion of a financial plan development course registered with CFP Board. This capstone course requirement has been designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities of individuals seeking to attain CFP® certification and implement an assessment of their ability to deliver professional and competent financial planning services to the public.
Who is required to take the capstone course?
All students of CFP Board-Registered Programs whose initial dates of matriculation (initial enrollment) occur on or after January 1, 2012 will be required to take the capstone course. Individuals who register to take the CFP® exam under "Challenge" status will be required to take the capstone course if their first sitting for the exam is March 2012 or later. Individuals who enroll in multiple registered programs will be required to take the course if they enrolled in their latest program after January 1, 2012, regardless of when they began their first program.
When should the capstone course be completed?
This course should be completed at the end of one’s program of study, as the course is designed to require integration and application of content across all financial planning subject areas.
Where can I take the capstone course?
All CFP Board-Registered Programs have registered a capstone course with CFP Board. Please contact CFP Board-Registered Programs directly for information on the dates and times of their capstone course offerings.
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How do I report completion of the capstone course?
When you complete an application for the March 2012 or later administrations of the CFP® Certification Examination, you will be asked to provide information about how you completed CFP Board’s education requirement, including completion of the capstone course, if applicable. Acceptable documentation of capstone course completion includes a transcript, score report or letter of completion from the CFP Board-Registered Program where you completed the capstone course. Documentation must include the date of course completion and identification of the institution at which you completed the course.
If I took the November 2011 exam and did not pass, will I need to take the capstone course before re-taking the exam?
No. Students who completed a CFP Board-Registered Program before November 2011, and those whose initial dates of matriculation (initial enrollment) in a CFP Board-Registered Program occurd before January 1, 2012, will not need to take the capstone course in order to re-take the exam. Individuals who "challenged" the exam in November 2011 or earlier will not be required to take the capstone course in order to re-take the exam.
If I registered for the November 2011 exam under challenge status but did not actually take the exam, will I need to take the capstone course?
Yes. Individuals who registered for the November 2011 or earlier exam under "Challenge" status must actually have sat for the exam in order to be exempt from the capstone course requirement.