United States
Hong KongRegistration deadlines and the three fee tiers
Registration opens well before each window with three fee tiers: early at USD 825, standard at 925, and a final period at 1,025. Coursework must be complete before you sit, and a Prometric appointment must be scheduled separately.
Three prices for the same exam, and the difference is entirely when you commit.
The tiers
| Tier | Fee |
|---|---|
| Early registration | USD 825 |
| Standard registration | USD 925 |
| Final registration period | USD 1,025 |
A USD 200 spread. Exact closing dates for each tier are published per window on cfp.net, and they move, so confirm rather than working from a remembered date.
What you need to register
- A CFP Board account.
- The education requirement met, or a plan to complete it before the window - coursework must be finished before you sit.
- Payment.
- Agreement to the exam policies and the candidate conduct requirements.
Registration and scheduling are separate steps. Registering with CFP Board does not give you a seat; you then schedule an appointment with Prometric, and popular centers and times fill.
The commonly cited failure is registering early, delaying the scheduling, and finding the convenient center full for the whole window. Schedule the same day you register.
Why early registration is the better decision
The USD 100 saving is the smaller part.
The larger part is commitment. A registered candidate with a date in the calendar studies differently from one intending to register later, and the deferral of a decision is how a window gets missed entirely.
The education requirement
The CFP Board Registered Program must be complete before you sit - not before you register. Candidates can register while finishing coursework, provided it will be complete in time.
A verified completion is required, and leaving it to the final weeks is a genuine risk where a provider is slow to report.
What happens after registering
- Schedule the Prometric appointment.
- Confirm the name on the registration matches your identification exactly.
- Note the reschedule deadline and any associated fee.
- Check the approved calculator list.
- Build the study plan backwards from the date.
Point two is the mundane one that turns candidates away at the door, and it takes a minute to check.
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
How much does CFP exam registration cost?
USD 825 at the early rate, 925 standard, and 1,025 in the final registration period - a 200 dollar spread for the same exam.
When do registration tiers close?
Dates are published per window on cfp.net and they move, so confirm the current deadlines rather than working from a remembered date.
Does registering give you a seat?
No. Registration with CFP Board and scheduling a Prometric appointment are separate steps, and popular centers and times fill up.
Must coursework be complete before registering?
Before sitting, not before registering. You can register while finishing, provided completion is verified in time - and leaving it to the final weeks is a genuine risk.
Why register early beyond the saving?
Commitment. A candidate with a date in the calendar studies differently, and deferring the registration decision is how a whole window gets missed.