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Earn Your CFP® Certification

Become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional
For 50 years, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification has been the gold standard for financial planning excellence. Partnering with a CFP® professional gives consumers the confidence they deserve, while earning the mark can open up tremendous opportunities to accelerate your career. Build a high-demand career that offers both personal reward and the power to transform lives through financial security.

How the CFP® Mark Sets You Apart

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Increase Career Satisfaction

  • Gain additional education and knowledge of all aspects of your customers' financial planning needs.
  • 84% of financial planners are highly fulfilled with their career.
  • Career satisfaction is high with: stability, work-life balance and advancement opportunities
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Attract More Clients

  • 83% of CFP professionals say they have a competitive edge over other financial advisors.
  • 4 out of 5 consumers prefer an advisor who takes all areas of their financial life into account.
  • 90% of consumers say they feel more confident working with an advisor with a financial planning designation.
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Enhance Your Earning Potential

  • CFP® professionals earn 13% more than other financial planners.
  • $185,000 was the median total compensation for financial planners in 2024.
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Steps To Become a CFP Professional

Get to know the 4 E’s—the four steps you’ll take to become a CFP professional.

  • Education: Complete a CFP Board Registered Program and hold a bachelor’s degree.

  • Exam: Pass the CFP® Certification Exam, which tests the application of financial planning to real-life scenarios.

  • Experience: Complete 6,000 hours of professional experience (or 4,000 hours via an apprenticeship).

  • Ethics: Commit to high ethical standards and act as a fiduciary, always putting the client’s best interests first.

Learn More
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Not Sure if You’re Ready for CFP® Certification?

We offer a variety of professional designations that will help you set yourself apart as a financial advisor while preparing you for the rigors of the CFP® exam program. Our professional designations allow you to focus on a subject area to specialize or build a foundation across all the principles of financial planning.

Learn More
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CFP® Certification Programs Designed for Working Professionals

View Program Options

Getting Started in Your Career Articles

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Getting Started in Your Career

How to Become a CFP Professional

by Kaplan Financial Education

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Getting Started in Your Career

Frequently Asked Questions About the CFP® Exam

by Kaplan Financial Education

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Getting Started in Your Career

How to Pass the CFP® Exam

by Kaplan Financial Education

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Getting Started in Your Career

What Jobs Can I Get After Earning the CFP® Mark?

by Kaplan Financial Education

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, and CFP®(with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

The College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, and CFP (with plaque logo) certification marks. CFP® certification is granted only by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met its ethics, experience, and examination requirements. The College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company is an education and exam prep review provider for the CFP® Certification Examination administered by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. CFP Board does not endorse any education or review course or receive financial remuneration from education or review course providers.

72% Increase in Client Base: Increase in client base is dependent on numerous factors other than, or in addition to, completion of the specialized financial designation including specific employment conditions and individual experience. The College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company does not guarantee any increase in clients resulting directly from such designation. Results are the findings of a quantitative survey conducted by the College for Financial Planning® between June 27 and August 7, 2023. For this survey, a sample of 951 2022 and 2023 graduates of the College for Financial Planning was interviewed online in English. The sample includes 541 graduates who earned a professional designation, license, or certification; worked in a financial planning role both the year before and year after receiving their last professional designation, license, or certification, and answered this question.

16% Earnings Increase: Earnings increases are dependent on numerous factors other than, or in addition to, completion of the specialized financial designation including specific employment conditions and individual experience. The College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company does not guarantee any earnings increase resulting directly from such designation. Results are the findings of a quantitative survey conducted by the College for Financial Planning between June 27 and August 7, 2023. For this survey, a sample of 951 2022 and 2023 graduates of the College for Financial Planning was interviewed online in English. This earnings increase was based on 155 graduates whose most recent designation was the CFP® designation and who were employed in a financial planning role both the year before and year after receiving the CFP® designation.