Two Ways to Fulfill the Coursework Requirement for CFP® Certification

The first step toward earning CFP® certification is completing the required coursework at a college or university with a financial planning program registered with CFP Board.

There are two ways to satisfy the coursework requirement:

• Financial Planning Degree Option
  
  This option is ideal for:
  • college students in undergraduate or graduate financial planning programs that are registered with the CFP Board and meet the education requirement for CFP® certification
  • those preparing to enter college

If you are already a college student or are entering college soon, there are many undergraduate and graduate programs in financial planning that are registered with the CFP Board and meet the education requirement for CFP® certification.

These programs:

• provide the fundamental education, competencies and fluency needed for a successful financial planning career
• prepare you to sit for the CFP® exam after graduating

After completing your degree program, you must pass the CFP® exam and also meet the experience requirement to become a CFP® professional. A variety of positions at financial services companies can enable you to meet the experience requirement. You can fulfill this requirement up to 10 years before or 5 years after passing the CFP® exam.

Time: The typical timeframes to complete financial planning degrees are the same as degrees in other fields.

Degree:

Bachelor’s: 4 years
Master’s: 1 to 2 years
Ph.D.: 3 to 5 years

• Certificate Option
  This option is ideal for:
  • Those who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in a field other than financial planning and do not wish to pursue a graduate degree
  • college students enrolled at a college or university that does not offer a financial planning program registered with the CFP Board

The education coursework requirement for CFP® certification can be met through a certificate-level CFP Board Registered Program. These certificate programs cover the courses and topics you need to master to pass the CFP® exam.

These programs can typically be completed within 1 year. They also provide flexibility for busy adults by being offered in a variety of formats including:

• in person
• online
• recorded sessions
• live lecture

Time: Usually 12 to 18 months, though some programs offer accelerated options, including self-paced study.

If you need financial assistance, scholarships for funding the coursework requirement are available on the CFP Board website at CFP.net/scholarships.

Find a CFP Board Registered Program at CFP.net/FindEducation.