United States
Hong KongCFP Exam Dates and Registration 2026 and 2027
CFP Board has announced exam windows for October 29 to November 5, 2026, March 16 to 23, 2027, and July 13 to 20, 2027.
- Registration, education verification, and Prometric appointment booking are separate steps with separate deadlines.
- The 2026 fee is $925 standard, rising to $1,025 for late registration.
On this page6 sections
Planning for the CFP exam means tracking three separate things: the exam window CFP Board announces, the deadline to register and pay CFP Board, and the date and location you reserve with Prometric. Registering does not itself reserve a testing appointment.
Announced exam windows
| Exam window | Registration opens | Education verification deadline | What is confirmed |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 29 to November 5, 2026 | June 2, 2026 | October 6, 2026 | The window and registration dates are announced. Registration is open now; the standard price cutoff is October 6 and the final registration deadline is October 13. |
| March 16 to 23, 2027 | October 21, 2026 | February 23, 2027 | The window, opening date, and verification deadline are announced. CFP Board has not published this administration's full fee tier dates in the schedule reviewed here. |
| July 13 to 20, 2027 | February 17, 2027 | June 22, 2027 | The window, opening date, and verification deadline are announced. CFP Board has not published this administration's full fee tier dates in the schedule reviewed here. |
These are testing windows, not a promise that every center has appointments on every day. CFP Board says Prometric appointments are first come, first served and recommends registering 60 days or more ahead for the best choice of dates and locations. Choose an appointment in the window that appears in Prometric after your registration is confirmed.
CFP Board has announced the three windows above. It has not published later 2027 windows or all registration fee dates for the 2027 administrations in the schedule. Do not treat a usual March, July, or fall pattern as a confirmed future date. Recheck the official schedule before making plans.
October 2026 fees and deadlines
| Registration tier | Published dates | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early bird | June 2 to September 1, 2026 | $825 |
| Standard | September 2 to October 6, 2026 | $925 |
| Late | October 6 to October 13, 2026 | $1,025 |
CFP Board's schedule lists October 6 as both the standard tier close and the late tier opening. Its September 2026 notice says registering by October 6 costs $925 and the price increases to $1,025 after October 6. Because the schedule does not specify an hour for the change, use the price shown in your CFP Board account and complete payment before the displayed cutoff. October 13 is the final registration deadline published for this exam.
For March and July 2027, CFP Board has announced the registration opening dates but not a complete early, standard, and late fee calendar on the page reviewed for this update. Do not assume the 2026 tier dates apply. Check the official registration schedule and the fee shown in your account when those periods open. See CFP exam cost for what the exam fee does and does not cover, and CFP registration deadlines for the deadline distinctions.
Three separate steps
| Step | What you do | What it does not mean |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Register with CFP Board | Complete the exam registration form in your CFP Board account and pay the exam fee before registration closes. | Payment alone does not book a seat, date, or time at Prometric. |
| 2. Meet the education verification deadline | Make sure CFP Board receives confirmation that you completed the required coursework by the deadline for your chosen administration. | You may register before coursework is complete, but you cannot sit unless completion is verified by the deadline. |
| 3. Book with Prometric | After CFP Board confirms eligibility, follow its email link to choose an available date, time, and test center, then save Prometric's confirmation. | A testing window is not an individual appointment. Availability varies by center and date. |
A CFP Board Registered Program generally sends completion verification directly. If you qualify through Transcript Review or the Accelerated Path, check CFP Board's instructions because you may need to arrange the verification yourself. Confirm that the status appears in your account rather than relying only on a school completion date.
The July 2026 Candidate Handbook explicitly allows registration before coursework is complete. CFP Board must receive proof of completion by the Education Verification Deadline. If verification is missing, CFP Board says the registration is postponed and a $500 postponement fee applies. Registration before completion is not permission to sit before the education requirement is verified.
Register and book an appointment
- Choose an announced exam window that leaves enough preparation time and fits your education completion plan.
- Sign in to your CFP Board account, open the exam area, complete the registration form, and pay the displayed fee before the registration deadline.
- Ask your Registered Program when it will report coursework completion. If you use Transcript Review or the Accelerated Path, follow CFP Board's verification instructions and allow time for processing.
- Watch for CFP Board's eligibility confirmation and Prometric scheduling email. Follow its link and book an available appointment in the exam window.
- Check the Prometric confirmation for the exact date, time, and address. Save it, and review the official candidate handbook for identification and test-day requirements.
If a preferred center or day is unavailable, search nearby locations and other dates within the window. CFP Board recommends registering at least 60 days in advance to improve appointment choice. Accommodation and remote testing requests have their own eligibility rules and deadlines; review CFP Board's current instructions before registering if you need either.
Choose a testing window
Start with the education verification deadline, then allow time for coursework reporting, CFP Board eligibility confirmation, and Prometric booking. Add your own study period before that. The exam is a 170-question, six-hour test, so the right window is the one for which you can prepare consistently, not simply the first date still open.
If you are not sure you meet the education requirement, read CFP certification requirements before paying. For preparation, use the official CFP exam outline and the free practice exam CFP Board includes with exam registration. Sitonce's lessons and practice are available through the CFP exam preparation course.
Unannounced future dates
CFP Board typically offers three administrations a year, but a recurring pattern is not an official date. For a window beyond July 2027, wait until CFP Board publishes its dates. Once a window is announced, record the exact testing dates, registration opening, registration deadline, education verification deadline, and any published fee tiers separately. Check the live account for the operational cutoff and Prometric for the appointments currently available.
Common questions
What are the next CFP exam dates?
The announced exam windows are October 29 to November 5, 2026, March 16 to 23, 2027, and July 13 to 20, 2027. Later testing windows have not yet been announced.
When does registration open for the March 2027 CFP exam?
CFP Board lists October 21, 2026 as the opening date for the March 16 to 23, 2027 exam window. Its schedule also lists February 23, 2027 as the education verification deadline. Check the live CFP Board schedule for the full registration close and fees when published.
Can I register for the CFP exam before I finish coursework?
Yes. CFP Board allows candidates to register before completing the education coursework. It must receive verification of completion by the Education Verification Deadline for that exam administration. If verification is not received, CFP Board says the registration is postponed and a $500 fee applies.
Does registering with CFP Board reserve a Prometric appointment?
No. CFP Board registration and payment are followed by a separate appointment booking with Prometric after eligibility is confirmed. You select an available date, time, and location there. Appointments are first come, first served, so the announced window does not guarantee a seat at a particular center.
How much is the October 2026 CFP exam?
CFP Board lists $825 for early registration through September 1, $925 for standard registration from September 2 through October 6, and $1,025 for late registration from October 6 through October 13. Because October 6 appears at both tier boundaries, check the price and cutoff shown in your CFP Board account.