INSTITUTE OF CANADIAN BANKERS' FINANCIAL PLANNING PROGRAM LEADS TO CFP®
February 4, 2003, Toronto — Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC) has approved the financial planning education program offered by The Institute of Canadian Bankers (ICB) as a course of study that meets the educational requirements for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) certification.
The ICB is one of four national education program providers that have courses of study accredited by FPSC. In conjunction with academic partners, these courses are accessible to students across Canada through in-class and distance-learning programs.
"Industry acceptance and increased public awareness of the CFP designation as the hallmark of financial planning professionalism naturally increases the demand for education leading to the CFP," says FPSC President Don Johnston. "We are delighted to add the ICB to our growing list of accredited program providers."
"Encouraging more reputable educational institutions to develop courses of study that prepare individuals to write the CFP Examination is one of our mandates," says FPSC Vice President, Standards & Certification, Cary List. "With the ICB's program on board, we continue to increase accessibility to quality financial planning education that prepares individuals for the CFP Examination."
There are 28 programs directly accredited by FPSC that are delivered by 24 institutions (including colleges and universities). However, some program providers have entered into academic partnerships bringing the number of institutions that offer courses of study leading to the CFP designation to over 70. Successful completion of these programs qualifies individuals to write the CFP™ Examination, offered twice a year in centres across Canada.
"The ICB's goal is to prepare professionals to succeed in the financial services industry," says Gaetano Di Foglio, ICB Director - Marketing and Client Relations. "Obtaining FPSC accreditation is a logical step for the ICB to offer its students more choices in pursuing their careers."
Individuals who have already successfully completed the ICB Personal Financial Planning program are asked to visit www.icb.org or call the ICB at 1-800-361-7339 for information on their eligibility requirements for the CFP Examination.
FPSC evaluates education programs submitted for approval based on a number of criteria. For example:
The program must be a certificate, degree, diploma or professional designation program;
The curriculum must include courses that cover the entire CFP examination syllabus; and
FPSC requires that educators responsible for the development and teaching of each course and related program components are appropriately qualified.
The successful completion of an FPSC accredited educational program is one step toward satisfying all the requirements for CFP certification in Canada. Candidates must also satisfy FPSC's pre- and post-certification requirements in examination, work experience ethics and professional development to be awarded the annual licence to use the internationally recognized certification marks: CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, CFP® and CFP® flame logo.
Financial Planners Standards Council is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to benefiting Canadians and the financial planning profession by establishing and enforcing education, examination, experience and ethics requirements for individuals who choose to earn the CFP designation. There are currently more than 15,000 planners licensed to use the CFP marks in Canada, and approximately 72, 000 CFP professionals in 17 countries around the world. See www.cfp-ca.org for further information.
Media Contacts:
Ann Bowman/FPSC 416.593.8587 x 225 or
abowman@cfp-ca.org or Margot Merner/ICB 416.304.2126
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.
are certification marks