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Scholarship FAQs
The following information provides answers to common questions. If you cannot find an answer here, please reach out to us via email.
Please visit each scholarship program’s webpage to learn about eligibility requirements. Please read carefully as eligibility differs across programs.
To be eligible for most of our scholarships, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident attending a Registered Program within the U.S. The Ballentine Partners Scholarship to Create a Diverse Financial Planning Profession is also open to those who have a student or work visa.
Having a bachelor's degree of any kind is acceptable to attend a certificate program. Individuals from any profession may apply as we encourage career changers to enter the financial planning profession. However, you must attend a CFP Board Registered Program in financial planning to be eligible for scholarship opportunities. Please visit our website to find an eligible education program that fits you.
Most programs require:
- Resume
- Up-to-date unofficial undergraduate transcript
- Four short essay responses
- Headshot (not to be used in application evaluation)
The spring application window is typically open from late February to early April. The fall application window is typically open from late August to early October.
The application window typically opens in October of the previous year for the March CFP® exam, in February for the July CFP® exam and in June for the November CFP® exam.
You may apply for as many scholarships as you are eligible for, however you may only receive a maximum of one education scholarship. After you complete your education at a Registered Program, you may apply for one of the exam review or CFP® exam scholarships.
Education Scholarships — Applicants often disqualify themselves by not carefully reading the eligibility criteria and addressing their eligibility in the essay questions.
Exam and Exam Review Scholarships — Applicants often disqualify themselves by applying for an exam scholarship when they are already registered for the upcoming exam or applying for an exam review scholarship when they are NOT registered for the upcoming exam.
The use of AI to compose your essay response is strongly discouraged. Evidence of overreliance on AI will result in a lower score.
The deadline to submit applications for education, exam and exam review scholarships can be found on the individual scholarship programs website under Application Deadline.
If the application cycle is closed, refer to questions above: When can I apply for an education scholarship? and When can I apply for an exam review or CFP® exam scholarship?
Yes! We highly encourage you to reapply.
Applicants are notified via email to inform them whether or not they receive an award. The process takes approximately 14 weeks from when education scholarship applications open to when notifications are distributed. The process takes approximately 7 weeks from when exam and exam review applications open to when applicants are notified.
To confirm your application was received, email our Scholarships team.
To inquire about award notice, refer to the specific scholarship webpage for the awardee notification timeline.
- Proof of enrollment, such as an unofficial transcript or welcome/enrollment email.
- Proof of full cost of tuition, such as an order confirmation, promissory note/invoice or receipt.
Scholarship awards are disbursed in two equal installments.
- To receive the first installment, recipients will have to demonstrate proof of enrollment in a CFP Board Registered Program.
- If not currently enrolled in a program, recipients will have up to 3 months to enroll after being notified of the award.
- The second installment will be awarded either upon completing the program (if the awardee has already started coursework), or when the awardee is halfway through the program (if the awardee has not yet started coursework).
Please allow 6-8 weeks to receive your scholarship payment after you submit the required documentation.
For further questions, email the Scholarships team.
If you’re interested in becoming a Scholarship Review Panelist, sign up here.
If you have questions about the Scholarship Review Panel, please email the SPR Management team.