Why CFP® Certification

The Standard of Excellence

For 50 years, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification has been the standard of excellence for financial planners. CFP® professionals have met extensive training and experience requirements, and commit to CFP Board's ethical standards that require them to put their clients' interests first. That's why partnering with a CFP® professional gives consumers confidence today and a more secure tomorrow.

The Mark of excellence

CFP® professionals take a holistic, personalized approach to bring all the pieces of your financial life together. As part of the CFP® certification, CFP® professionals also have made a commitment to CFP Board to act as a fiduciary when providing financial advice to a client. This means they have agreed to put your best interests first, so they can provide you confidence today and a secure tomorrow.

86%

Percentage of consumers that prefer an advisor who has passed a certification exam and rigorous education program.

81%

4 out of 5 consumers prefer an advisor who takes all areas of their financial life into account.

90%

Percentage of consumers that see an advisor's certifications as important.

Valued by financial firms & consumers

Major financial institutions and firms trust CFP® professionals to serve their clients. More than 10,000 firms across the U.S. are employers of CFP® professionals. They know that CFP® certification inspires confidence and satisfaction with consumers. In fact, 84% of consumers who work with a CFP® professional say they are extremely or very satisfied — and 71% are more confident about their finances.

Third-party accreditation: NCCA

In 1995, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredited the CFP Board certification program, the first such accreditation for a non-health related certification in the U.S.

CFP Board has earned and maintained NCCA accreditation because we've continued to demonstrate that our certification program is grounded in and meets legal testing requirements — as well as generally accepted certification standards.

Our Commitment

CFP Board is committed to upholding and enforcing ethical standards — a critical element of the public's confidence in CFP® professionals.

Uniquely Qualified

Before anyone can call themselves a CFP® professional, they must meet rigorous education, examination, experience and ethical requirements (also known as the "Four E's").

Find a CFP® Professional

CFP® professionals are rigorously trained in 72 areas of financial expertise and must accrue thousands of hours of experience prior to earning their certification.