United States
Hong KongTesting accommodations for the CFP exam
CFP Board provides accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, including additional time, a separate testing room, additional breaks and assistive technology. Requests are made with documentation and well before the deadline.
Available, routine, and requested by far fewer eligible candidates than are entitled to them.
What is commonly available
- Additional testing time, often 50 or 100 per cent.
- A separate testing room, or reduced-distraction environment.
- Additional or extended breaks.
- Permission for food, drink, medication or medical equipment in the room.
- Screen magnification, high contrast, or compatible screen reader software.
- A reader or a scribe.
Additional time is the most requested and the most relevant to this exam, because six hours of sustained reading is where a processing or attention difference has the largest effect.
How to request
- Start before registering, or at the point of registration.
- Obtain CFP Board's accommodation request form.
- Provide documentation from a qualified professional: the diagnosis, the functional limitation, and the accommodation that addresses it.
- Submit well before the published deadline for the window.
- Confirm approval before scheduling the Prometric appointment.
An accommodation has to be attached to the appointment before it is booked, and centers have limited capacity for accommodated sessions. Requesting late frequently means deferring to the next window.
The documentation
From a qualified professional, describing the condition and its effect on test-taking specifically rather than in general terms.
A recent educational assessment, an IEP or 504 plan, or a letter from a treating clinician are the usual forms. Older documentation is often accepted for permanent conditions, and recent evidence is generally stronger.
What is not an accommodation
English as a second language. The exam is offered in English only, and language is not a disability for this purpose.
Nerves, without a diagnosed condition. Anxiety disorders are a different matter and documentation supports a request.
What it does not change
The questions, the standard, or the certification. An accommodated exam is the same exam under conditions that let the candidate demonstrate what they know.
Nothing on the certification indicates an accommodation was used, and no employer or client is told.
CFP® is a registered mark of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. We are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, CFP Board. Confirm exam details against cfp.net before your sitting.
Common questions
Are accommodations available for the CFP exam?
Yes, under the Americans with Disabilities Act - additional time, a separate room, extra breaks, permission for medication or equipment, assistive technology, and a reader or scribe.
When should you request one?
Before or at registration, and well before the published deadline. Approval must be attached to the appointment before scheduling, and accommodated capacity at centers is limited.
What documentation is required?
A statement from a qualified professional describing the diagnosis, the functional limitation and the accommodation that addresses it - an assessment, an IEP or 504 plan, or a clinician letter.
Is English as a second language an accommodation?
No. The exam is offered in English only and language is not a disability for this purpose. A diagnosed anxiety disorder is a different matter and can be documented.
Does the certification show you had accommodations?
No. Nothing indicates it, no employer or client is told, and the exam, standard and certification are identical.