The CFP certification marks may only be used in conjunction with the names of individuals who meet FPSC's rigorous pre- and post-certification standards. These standards include requirements in education, examination and experience, as well as continuing education and ongoing adherence to the CFP Code of Ethics and the CFP Financial Planning Practice Standards. This guide will help your organization and its representatives stay on the right track with CFP certification.
Getting and Keeping the CFP Designation
Individuals may qualify to write the CFP Examination by completing one of the many FPSC-accredited educational programs delivered through distance-learning and in-class courses by education institutions across Canada.
Additionally, individuals who hold the following professional and educational credentials and meet FPSC's work experience requirement may qualify to write the CFP Examination through the Approved Prior Credentials Policy:
Contact FPSC at 416-593-8587 or 1-800-305-9886; or
Request the individual show you their current wallet-size licence card.
Important Dates
March 31 — CFP licence renewal deadline. Renewals received postmarked after this date will be subject to the late fee. All current CFP professionals receive renewal reminders by e-mail and/or post in February each year.
April — deadline for the early fee for the application submission for the June CFP Examination.
May — deadline for the application submission for the June CFP Examination.
June 30 — CFP professionals who fail to renew by this date will have their licence cancelled and must reinstate.
September — deadline for the early fee for the application submission for the November CFP Examination.
October — deadline for application submission for the November CFP Examination.
By December 31 — CFP professionals must have attained 30 continuing education credits.
Code of Ethics
Read the CFP Code of Ethics in full in the CFP Professionals/CFP Standards, Requirements & Policies section of our website.
For more information about annual CFP licence renewal
FPSC has brochures and other resources available to assist organizations and individual CFP professionals in their own efforts to inform Canadians about the financial planning process, the CFP designation and the financial planning profession. To view and order these materials, visit CFP Professionals/Resources/Marketing Support.
Continuing Education (CE) Requirements
To remain a CFP professional in good standing, individuals must complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE) credits annually (minimum of 20 technical credits and up to 10 general credits). The general guideline for assessing CE activities is that one CE credit is awarded for each hour of educational activity. The CFP Examination Syllabus should be used as a guide in determining whether or not an educational activity qualifies for a "technical" CE credit under FPSC's CE requirements. The CFP Examination Syllabus is posted on our website. FPSC encourages organizations to remind CFP professionals under their employ to accumulate the annual CE credits required to renew their CFP licence.
Continuing Education Exemptions
FPSC provides continuing education exemptions for medical and other reasons including maternity. For up-to-date information about CE requirements or for information about how to qualify for continuing education exemptions, visit CFP Professionals/Continuing Education.
Disciplinary Rules and Procedures
All CFP professionals must abide by the CFP Code of Ethics to maintain their right to use the CFP certification marks. FPSC reviews all written inquiries from members of the public, regulatory bodies and members of the financial services industry regarding a CFP professional's conduct. Individuals aware of CFP professionals currently under investigation by other organizations or authorities are asked to contact us at standards@cfp-ca.org or by fax at 416-593-6903.
FPSC's communications staff is available to provide CFP and FPSC related content for organization’s internal publications and intranet sites. FPSC provides information about the CFP designation, current events and projects relevant to the industry. Contact FPSC by e-mail at communications@cfp-ca.org.
FPSC’s Affiliating Branding/Sponsorship Campaigns
FPSC's branding and information campaigns inform Canadians about financial planning — why it is important and how CFP professionals in all business sectors and practice styles are best qualified to serve their clients’ needs. FPSC welcomes industry collaboration in our efforts to empower Canadians to make informed decisions about their personal financial affairs.
We recognize that there are many organizations employing CFP professionals who are committed to the highest standards of professionalism in financial planning. We have been told by many that there is a general desire to inform and empower Canadians with unbiased and helpful information delivered through programs that will not be perceived as overtly self-serving of industry participants. FPSC can assist in the attainment of this worthy goal, which supports our mission. We are developing a number of opportunities for industry supporters of the CFP designation to affiliate their organizations' brands with the authoritative, non-for-profit, third party voice of FPSC in jointly sponsored public information and marketing campaigns. For more information, contact Ann Bowman, Vice President Communications & Corporate Relations at abowman@cfp-ca.org or 416.593.8587 ext 225.
www.cfp-ca.org - Your Resource a Click Away
There are resources on the FPSC website that will be of particular interest to all FPSC’s stakeholders and employers of CFP professionals. Our site is the best source for current information about FPSC's policies and industry procedures as well as information about the development of the financial planning industry toward recognition as a profession.
Job Site
This feature is available to any employer seeking CFP professionals or individuals who are working to attain the CFP designation. Visit CFP Professionals/Resources/Job site.
Event Calendar
Events, workshops and seminars on financial planning related topics for the public or industry representatives may be publicized on our online calendar free of charge. To post an event, contact FPSC by e-mail at communications@cfp-ca.org to receive a username and password.
Examination applications, approved educational course providers, online study groups and much more, can all be found in the "Candidates" hub of our website. This is a valuable resource for anyone considering the attainment of the CFP designation.
Financial Planners Standards Council is the licensor of CFP® marks, the term CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and the logo: (the "CFP Marks") in Canada. As such, FPSC carefully monitors their use to ensure they are being used properly and only by persons who are licensed by Financial Planners Standards Council. This is a brief summary of how the CFP marks may and may not be used under trademark law.
Newspaper Announcement Samples - Passing the Examination
EMPLOYER'S NAME OR COMPANY NAME would like to congratulate EMPLOYEE'S NAME on passing the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) Examination offered by Financial Planners Standards Council. EMPLOYEE'S NAME is now one step closer to earning the internationally recognized mark of the professional CFP®.
Newspaper Announcement Samples - Achieving the designation
EMPLOYER'S NAME OR COMPANY NAME would like to congratulate EMPLOYEE'S NAME on achieving the internationally recognized CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) designation granted by Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC). EMPLOYEE'S NAME completed the designation's rigorous educational, examination and experience requirements and joins Canadian CFP® colleagues in abiding by the Code of Ethics and continuing education requirements as set out by FPSC.
CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and are certification marks owned outside the U.S. by Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB). Financial Planners Standards Council is the marks licensing authority for the CFP marks in Canada, through agreement with FPSB.
(the "CFP Marks") in Canada. As such, FPSC carefully monitors their use to ensure they are being used properly and only by persons who are licensed by Financial Planners Standards Council. This is a brief summary of how the CFP marks may and may not be used under trademark law.
are certification marks