Certified Financial Planner
CFP certification signals competence in comprehensive personal financial planning and a commitment to act as a fiduciary for clients. Candidates complete approved coursework, pass a one-day exam, log supervised or professional experience, and meet ethics standards.
Issued by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) · Official page
Who can apply
- Education: complete coursework through a CFP Board Registered Program before taking the exam, and hold a bachelor's degree or higher in any field from an accredited school (the degree can be finished up to 5 years after passing the exam).
- Exam: pass the CFP exam.
- Experience: 6,000 hours of professional experience related to the financial planning process (Standard Pathway), or 4,000 hours of apprenticeship experience that meets additional requirements (Apprenticeship Pathway). Experience must fall within 10 years before or 5 years after passing the exam.
- Ethics: sign the Ethics Declaration, pass a CFP Board background check, and agree to act as a fiduciary under CFP Board standards.
Exam
- Exam
- CFP Exam
- Format
- Computer-based multiple choice exam delivered by Prometric, in two 3-hour sections over one day
- Questions
- 170
- Time
- 6 hours of testing time (about 7 hours total appointment including check-in and a lunch break)
Offered three times a year in March, July, and November. Upcoming windows: Oct 29 to Nov 5, 2026; Mar 16 to 23, 2027; Jul 13 to 20, 2027.
Official fees
| Fee | Amount | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam registration, early bird | $825 | October 2026 exam, registration June 2 to Sept 1, 2026. | Official page |
| Exam registration, standard | $925 | October 2026 exam, registration Sept 2 to Oct 6, 2026. | Official page |
| Exam registration, late | $1,025 | October 2026 exam, final week before registration closes Oct 13, 2026. | Official page |
| Annual certification fee | $575 | Effective October 1, 2025 for renewals and new certificants. | Official page |
Only fees published by the issuer or regulator are listed. Blank amounts mean no official figure was available to verify.
Renewal and continuing education
- Cycle
- Every 2 years for continuing education, plus an annual certification fee
- Requirement
- Complete 30 hours of CE every two years, including a 2-hour CFP Board pre-approved ethics course.
Timeline
CFP Board says the education coursework takes 12 to 18 months on average.
Related careers
| Occupation | National median wage |
|---|---|
| Personal financial advisors | $105,070 |
Sources
- CFP Board: How to Become a Certified Financial Planner, accessed October 18, 2026
- CFP Board: The Experience Requirement, accessed October 18, 2026
- CFP Board: Upcoming Exam Dates and Registration Process, accessed October 18, 2026
- CFP Board: Exam Candidate Handbook, October 2026, accessed October 18, 2026
- CFP Board: Renewal Policies, accessed October 18, 2026
- CFP Board: New CFP Certification Fee, Effective October 1, 2025, accessed October 18, 2026
Verification notes
The late registration start date differs slightly between the registration page (Oct 6, 2026) and the handbook (Oct 7, 2026). The additional requirements for the 4,000 hour Apprenticeship Pathway are not detailed on the pages reviewed.
ConnectPrep is not affiliated with Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board). Credential names may be trademarks of their owners.