Eligibility

Candidates who have fulfilled CFP Board's certification coursework requirement are eligible to sit for the CFP® exam. Here's how:

1. By completing a CFP Board Registered Program.

Or

2. By completing equivalent coursework subject to CFP Board’s Transcript Review process.

CFP Board Registered Programs provide education verification directly to CFP Board. The transcript review and the Accelerated Path options require you to arrange for specific documentation to be provided to CFP Board for review.

You can register for the CFP® exam before fulfilling the certification coursework requirement. However, CFP Board must receive verification of your coursework completion by the Education Verification Deadline for your selected exam administration.

If verification is not received by the deadline, your exam registration will be withdrawn, and a $500 postponement fee will be applied. If you fail to register within the next two exam administrations, request postponement or withdrawal, your entire exam credit will be forfeited.

You do not need to complete the Bachelor's degree requirement before sitting for or registering for the CFP® exam. Note that you must fulfill the Bachelor's degree requirement within 5 years of passing the CFP® exam.

You should review CFP Board’s Fitness Standards before applying to assess whether you meet the ethics requirements for certification. The Fitness Standards outline the criteria CFP Board uses to evaluate the ethical fitness of candidates pursuing CFP® certification and former CFP® professionals seeking reinstatement. Certain conduct, such as professional discipline, felony convictions, misdemeanor convictions involving fraud, theft, misrepresentation, drugs or alcohol, or bankruptcy, may disqualify an individual from becoming certified. For full details, please review the Fitness Standards or contact CFP Board at [email protected].

Resources: Paths to CFP® Exam Eligibility

1. CFP Board Registered Programs

Fulfill the certification coursework requirement by completing a CFP Board Registered Program. Find a program near you.

2. Previous Education 

CFP Board recognizes that you may have covered some components of the certification coursework content through previous educational courses that you did not take through a CFP Board Registered Program. Learn more about how to submit your transcripts and find out whether you qualify to sit for the CFP® exam.

More on Transcript Review 

3. Professional Designations & Credentials

Holding certain professional designations, credentials or academic degrees pre-approved by CFP Board can qualify you for the Accelerated Path to certification. You may be able to bypass the majority of the education coursework requirement to sit for the CFP® exam upon completion of the Capstone course or the Capstone Alternative.