Become a CFP® Professional

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Latest CFP® Exam Update


March 2013 CFP® Exam Update

(April 18, 2013):  Exam results are available online via your online CFP Board account.

CFP Board wishes all candidates the best as they receive their results.
 


Register for the Next CFP® Exam: July 19-20, 2013

The next CFP® Certification Examination will be administered July 19-20, 2013 at sites across the country.  Encourage your qualified colleagues to register today.

Register for the CFP® Exam


Exam Scoring Process

Exam results are posted online to examinees' secure accounts approximately five weeks after the exam dates. CFP Board does not disclose exam results over the phone or by fax.

The activities involved in the exam scoring process include:

  • Collecting and reconciling exam materials (including for examinees who, due to religious requirements or disabilities, may be provided alternate exam administration dates up to a week following the standard exam dates);
  • Reviewing all exam site concerns, exam item challenges and medical/emergency withdrawal requests submitted by examinees;
  • Determining the scoring disposition of any exam items that are challenged;
  • Preparing a statistical analysis of the exam administration;
  • Determining the scoring parameters and cut score; and
  • Preparing and conducting a quality control review of the exam results files.

The CFP® Certification Examination is a pass or fail exam. In addition to a pass or fail result, diagnostic feedback is also provided as part of the examination results to help identify areas of relative strength and weakness.


Upcoming Exams
 

Exam Date Application Deadline Withdrawal Deadline Registration
November 16-17, 2012 October 2, 2012 October 9, 2012 Closed
March 15-16, 2013 January 29, 2013 February 5, 2013 Closed
July 19-20, 2013 June 4, 2013 June 11, 2013 Open
November 15-16, 2013 October 1, 2013 October 8, 2013 Open

About the CFP® Certification Examination

The CFP® Certification Examination is designed to assess your ability to apply financial planning knowledge to real-life financial planning situations. By passing this exam, you demonstrate to the public that you are at the appropriate level of competency required to practice financial planning.

The CFP® Certification Examination is scheduled to last 10 hours over a day and a half and is held three times a year, generally on the third Friday and Saturday of March, July and November. The exam is a pencil-and-paper format and consists of one four-hour session on Friday afternoon, and two three-hour sessions on Saturday. Exam locations are available in more than 50 locations around the U.S.

The CFP® Certification Examination is a pass or fail exam. Exam results are released approximately five weeks after the exam date.

You can apply for the CFP® Certification Examination when you have successfully fulfilled CFP Board's education coursework requirement.

Learn more and register for an upcoming exam

Exam Dates

Upcoming:

Most Recent Exam:

Find An Education Program

2012 Household Financial Planning Survey: Financial Planning Helps Americans Of All Income Levels, Even During Hard Times

Employment for personal financial advisors is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2020. Bureau of Labor Statistics

In a March 2012 survey of American consumers, 60% indicated they would benefit from the counsel of a financial planner or advisor.

If you hold one of several degrees, licenses or credentials, you can take the CFP® Exam after completing a single capstone course.

Achieve the certification that is rapidly becoming the industry standard: CFP® certification.

Professionals who have already earned their CFP® certification have enjoyed an average income increase of 30%.

Demand for personal financial advisors is expected to grow 41% by 2016, according to Money Magazine and Payscale.com.

More clients who work with a CFP® professional are satisfied or very satisfied, compared those who work with an advisor without certification.

If you're up for the challenge of helping people achieve their financial goals, financial planning is the career for you.

Classroom or online learning? Full-time or part-time studies? There are CFP Board-Registered Programs designed to meet your needs. 

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