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//What is a CFP® professional?
A CFP professional is a financial planner who has completed the CFP Certification Program - a rigorous and integrated education and experience program developed by the
Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) in America. The program is offered in 23 countries around the world. In Australia, the FPA is the only licensing authority
of where you can complete the CFP Certification Program and become a registered CFP professional.
Being a CFP professional demonstrates to the public and your peers, your commitment to financial planning. It shows that you are competent, ethical and are experienced
financial planner, who follows a well-defined process that puts their client's interests and needs first when providing financial planning advice.
Rigorous requirements for the award of certification have meant the CFP certification has quickly become the highest standard in financial planning world wide. There are over
126,000 CFP professionals around the globe, and 5,700 in Australia.
The CFP Certification Program
The CFP Certification Program is an advanced education program that covers the knowledge a financial planning professional must be able to draw on to deliver financial planning to clients, or when interacting with colleagues or others in a professional capacity.
To be admitted as a CFP professional, you are required to meet four initial certification requirements (known as the four Es); Education, Examination, Experience and Ethics.
Education & Examination
The program consists of five units; four education units and one assessment (examination) unit, and is conducted by distance learning through Deakin University. The CFP Certification Assessment unit tests your ability to apply your knowledge to financial planning situations.
The assessment consists of the preparation of a comprehensive financial plan, written verification of your communication and interpersonal skills by your supervisor and a multiple choice question examination.
Experience
CFP certification shows the public that you have practical experience in providing financial planning advice.
At least three years of financial planning experience is required. Qualifying experience includes work that can be categorised into the FPA's Six Step Financial Planning Process.
You can complete up to two (2) years experience in the delivery of any step in the financial planning process to a client. This can be in a position such as para-planning, associate planner or technical specialist.
You will then need a minimum of twelve (12) months experience in providing face-to-face comprehensive financial planning advice before you can enter the CFP certification program.
Ethics
As part of the application to obtain your CFP professional designation, you must disclose any involvement in any criminal, civil, self-regulatory organisation or government agency enquiry,
investigation or proceedings and agree to:
- Adhere to the FPA Code of Professional Practice which includes the Code of Ethics, Rules of Professional Conduct and Practice Standards;
- Undertake the quantity and quality on ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD); and
- Conditions of use of the CFP Marks.
When you have met the education, examination and experience requirements, you then will need to apply to become a CFP professional member through the FPA.
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CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and  are certification marks owned outside the U.S. by Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. Financial Planning Association of Australia Limited is the marks licensing authority for the CFP Marks in Australia, through agreement with FPSB
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