Certification Education Program

The CFP® certification, which stands for Certified Financial Planner™, was created in 1975 as a mark that would stand for professional, competent, and ethical financial planning services. Since then, the CFP® certification has become well-known among financial professionals and the public and is considered a foundational financial advisor certification for those who wish to enhance their business outcomes. The CFP® certification is governed by the CFP Board, which oversees the CFP® exam needed to earn the credential and monitors those who use the mark through CFP® CE (continuing education) and other means to ensure continued excellence in planning. Most CFP® certification education courses focus on fundamental financial planning knowledge needed to be a certified financial advisor, including planning roles and responsibilities, taxation and investments, retirement and estate planning, insurance planning, and more.

To become a certified financial planner, many professionals start by earning the CFP® certification. Generally, CFP® exam prep and education is needed to prepare for the rigorous exam, as only around 60% of exam takers pass on their first attempt. Online CFP® programs such as The American College of Financial Services’ CFP® Certification Education Program provide the knowledge to satisfy CFP® requirements and succeed on the exam; many also choose to take specific exam prep CFP® courses. Once you pass the CFP® exam and meet all the necessary qualifications mandated by the CFP Board — including holding a bachelor’s degree and completing 4,000-6,000 hours of professional apprenticeship or experience — you are eligible to receive the CFP® certification.

While the CFP® certification is not required to become a financial advisor, many in the profession consider it a foundational financial advisor certification. CFP® courses cover fundamental financial planning knowledge needed to be a certified financial advisor, including planning roles and responsibilities, taxation and investments, retirement and estate planning, insurance planning, and more. In addition, studies by the CFP Board have found CFP® professionals earn about 12% more than those without the certification.

There are many options to choose from when seeking CFP® exam prep or the education needed to pass the CFP® exam; however, The American College of Financial Services’ CFP® Certification Education Program offers several advantages over comparable programs. The College’s 2024 Designation Outcomes Study, in conjunction with FUSE Research Network, showed those who completed The College’s online CFP® program were more likely to value the education they received and recommend these CFP® courses to others, demonstrated by an overall Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 85; this indicates a world-class satisfaction with The College’s CFP® courses. In addition, data from the CFP Board shows those who complete The College’s program to meet CFP® requirements pass the CFP® exam the first time at rates 5% above the national average.

Other advantages to The College’s CFP® Certification Education Program include access to industry-leading experts for powerful planning insights and an on-demand, e-learning model students can tailor to fit their busy schedule. Most who start the program are ready to take their CFP® exam within 12 months, and The College’s premium educational packages are overall more affordable than many other options. The College’s program also sets those who pass their CFP® exam up for success in the rest of their career by opening doors to further specialized knowledge and expertise — including the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation, which can be earned with just one additional course, and other specialized designations focusing on retirement planning, wealth management, philanthropic planning, and more.

You only need a high school diploma or the equivalent to begin our online CFP® certification program; however, you must meet all necessary requirements of the CFP Board to be awarded the certification and meet CFP® certification qualifications.

You will have 10 weeks to complete all our financial planning courses. Upon completion of your CFP® certification education courses, a four-week exam window opens for you to schedule, prepare for, and take the course exam to move onto the next course online.

Studying in the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) Program with The College lets you work toward two prestigious professional achievements simultaneously – saving you time and money to maximize your knowledge ROI and power your financial advisor career. The programs share a common core curriculum with the structure and flexibility of our Personal Pathway® learning experience to allow you to choose your path to success and satisfy your CFP® certification education requirements. Learn more about the benefits of combining programs.

While The College’s CFP® Certification Education will prepare you in many ways for the CFP® exam, it is generally recommended that you seek additional CFP® exam prep courses. CFP® exam reviews will not only cover the materials, knowledge, and principles to be included in this challenging financial planning exam, but will walk you through testing strategies, dynamics, question format, and other information critical to success.

We partner with the following providers to offer CFP® exam review courses:

• Dalton Education – The Dalton Review^TM
• Boston Institute of Finance – The Core BIF Review

Yes! The College’s subscription-based learning platform Knowledge Hub+ offers 65+ hours of CFP® CE content from the top thought leaders in financial planning education today – including valuable CFP® ethics CE. CFP^® Certification Education Program completers gain access to Knowledge Hub+ free for their first year! Learn more and subscribe now.