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The CFP Board Scholarship
About the Scholarship
The CFP Board Scholarship provides financial assistance to aspiring CFP® professionals who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to supporting a broad range of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences within the profession
The scholarship awards up to $5,000 to students seeking to complete a certificate or undergraduate degree in Financial Planning from a CFP Board Registered Program that would qualify them to sit for the CFP® exam.
Applications will be reviewed by an independent Scholarship Review Panel comprised of CFP® professionals.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must not be a prior recipient of a CFP Board Center for Financial Planning education scholarship;
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident;
- Must demonstrate financial need AND a commitment to supporting a broad range of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences in the financial planning profession as explained in an essay submitted during the application process;
- To receive the award, must be enrolled in an undergraduate or certificate-level CFP Board Registered Program. Click here for a list of eligible programs.
- If not enrolled at the time of applying, scholarship awardees will have up to 3 months to enroll or forfeit the award;
- If applying for an undergraduate level scholarship, must not be in the final semester at the time of the application;
- If applying for a certificate-level scholarship, must possess an undergraduate degree and must not have completed 6 or more courses in the certificate-level program at the time of application.
- Must provide documentation of enrollment in an eligible program and costs prior to receiving the award;
- Applicants will be required to pass a background check conducted by CFP Board, and must enhance and maintain the profession’s public image.
Submission Requirements
Applications will only be accepted through the application portal. Please do not attempt to submit application materials via mail, fax or email.
When submitting application essays and materials, please pay close attention to spelling and grammar, as that will be factored into the grading process.
Award Process
Scholarship awards will be disbursed in two equal installments. To receive the first installment, recipients will have to demonstrate proof of enrollment in a Financial Planning certificate or undergraduate degree 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).
Application Deadline
The application window will be open until September 29, 2025.
Award Decision
Scholarship applicants will be notified of award decision via email on November 26, 2025. If you have a question about the status of your application, please contact us.