United States
Hong KongContinuing education: thirty hours, two of them ethics
Thirty hours of continuing education every two-year reporting period, of which two must be CFP Board-approved Ethics CE. The remaining twenty-eight must fall within CFP Board's accepted subject areas.
Straightforward, cheap to satisfy, and occasionally left to the last month by people who then discover the ethics component is specific.
The requirement
| Component | Hours |
|---|---|
| CFP Board-approved Ethics CE | 2 |
| Other accepted subject areas | 28 |
| Total per two-year period | 30 |
The two ethics hours must be from a CFP Board-approved Ethics CE program specifically. General ethics training from another body does not satisfy it, which is the detail that catches people. Approved means approved.
What counts for the other twenty-eight
Programs in CFP Board's accepted subject areas - the Principal Knowledge Topics, essentially - delivered by registered CE sponsors or otherwise accepted.
- Conference sessions and professional development days.
- Online courses and webinars from registered sponsors.
- Certain academic courses.
- Teaching or presenting, within limits.
- Writing published material, within limits.
Many employers provide enough qualifying CE through internal training and conference attendance that the requirement is met without any separate purchase.
CE taken for a state insurance license, a CPA license or another designation frequently qualifies for CFP CE as well. Checking the overlap before buying anything separately is worth doing.
Reporting
Reported to CFP Board, with registered sponsors often reporting on your behalf. Keep records regardless, since the responsibility for accuracy is yours. Keep your own records.
Programs attended late in a period can take time to be reported by the sponsor, which is one reason not to complete the requirement in the final fortnight.
If you fall short
Certification cannot be renewed until the requirement is met. That means a lapse, which means not using the marks until it is resolved.
Using the marks while lapsed is a Standards violation in its own right, which converts an administrative oversight into a conduct matter.
Doing it well
Fifteen hours a year is a session or two a quarter. Spreading it removes the deadline problem entirely. Spread it.
And choosing CE in the domains you know least does more for your practice than repeating the areas you are comfortable in - the same reasoning that applied to exam preparation.
CFP® is a registered mark of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. We are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, CFP Board. Confirm requirements against cfp.net, which is the authority.
Common questions
How much CE does a CFP professional need?
Thirty hours every two-year reporting period, of which two must be CFP Board-approved Ethics CE and twenty-eight in accepted subject areas.
Does any ethics training count?
No. The two hours must come from a CFP Board-approved Ethics CE program specifically. General ethics training from another body does not satisfy it.
Can CE for another credential count?
Frequently. CE taken for a state insurance license, a CPA license or another designation often qualifies, so check the overlap before buying anything separately.
What happens if you fall short?
Certification cannot be renewed until the requirement is met, which means a lapse. Using the marks while lapsed is a Standards violation in its own right.
How should you spread it?
Fifteen hours a year, a session or two a quarter. That removes the deadline problem and avoids the risk of a sponsor reporting late.