United States
Hong KongThe total cost
Registration is USD 825 to 1,025 depending on when you book. The Registered Program coursework, prep materials at roughly USD 200 to 1,500, and 250 to 300 study hours sit around it.
People budget for the exam and are surprised by everything either side of it.
The registration fee
| When you register | Fee |
|---|---|
| Early bird | USD 825 |
| Standard | USD 925 |
| Final week | USD 1,025 |
A retake is a fresh registration at the same rates, which is the strongest financial argument for not sitting before you are ready.
Two hundred dollars between early bird and the final week, for a decision about a date rather than anything to do with preparation. It is the easiest money on this list to keep.
The coursework
A CFP Board Registered Program must be complete before you sit and averages 12 to 18 months. It is a separate purchase from a separate provider and for most candidates it is the largest single line.
Prices vary widely by provider and delivery mode, so treat that as a quote to obtain rather than a figure to assume.
Preparation
Materials run roughly USD 200 to 1,500 depending on whether you buy a question bank alone or a full review course.
What is not on the invoice
Two hundred and fifty to three hundred hours. At 15 to 19 hours a week that is a 16-week commitment sitting on top of a job.
For most candidates that is the real price, and it is why an avoidable retake is expensive in a way the fee alone does not capture.
The requirements that cost time rather than money
- A bachelor's degree in any discipline, which may be completed within five years after passing
- 6,000 hours of professional experience, or 4,000 through the apprenticeship pathway, before or after the exam
- A background check and commitment to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct
Budgeting sensibly
Get the coursework quote first, since it dominates. Register early. Then spend on preparation in the order that makes the 250 to 300 hours count, rather than on the order the marketing suggests.
Common questions
How much does the CFP exam cost?
USD 825 early bird, 925 standard and 1,025 in the final week, per attempt.
What is the largest cost?
For most candidates the Registered Program coursework, which averages 12 to 18 months and varies widely by provider.
What do materials cost?
Roughly USD 200 to 1,500 depending on what you buy.
What is the hidden cost?
250 to 300 study hours, about 15 to 19 hours a week across 16 weeks.
How do I keep costs down?
Register early to save the 200 dollars, get the coursework quote first, and do not sit before you are ready.