United States
Hong KongRescheduling or withdrawing, and what it costs
Rescheduling a Prometric appointment within the same window, deferring to a later window, and withdrawing entirely are three different actions with different deadlines and fees. Check the current policy on cfp.net before acting.
Three different things, frequently confused, and each with its own deadline.
Moving the appointment
Changing the date or time within the same testing window, through Prometric. Simplest of the three.
Subject to availability and a deadline, and there may be a fee depending on how close to the appointment you act. It is the simplest of the three and the one to use where the exam date is inconvenient but you are still ready.
Deferring to a later window
Moving your registration to a subsequent window, through CFP Board rather than Prometric. Deadline applies.
There is a deadline and a fee, and after the deadline the registration is generally forfeited. It is the right action for a candidate who has realized they will not be ready.
A deferral fee is smaller than a fresh registration at USD 825 or more, and considerably smaller than four months lost after a failure. Where a full mock two weeks out is well below target, deferring is usually the better decision.
Withdrawing
Canceling the registration entirely. Refunds, where available, are partial and subject to a deadline, and after a certain point there is no refund at all.
A candidate who simply does not attend forfeits the fee and is recorded as an absence.
How to decide
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| The date is inconvenient, preparation is on track | Reschedule within the window |
| Preparation is behind, mocks are below target | Defer to a later window |
| A serious personal or medical event | Contact CFP Board about the options available |
| Circumstances have changed entirely | Withdraw, understanding the refund position |
| Two days out and nervous but prepared | Sit it |
The last row matters. Nerves are not the same as being unprepared, and deferring on nerves alone usually just moves the same feeling four months later.
Emergencies
Where illness, bereavement or a comparable event prevents attendance, contact CFP Board as soon as possible rather than simply not attending.
Documented circumstances are treated differently from a no-show, and the difference depends on having made contact.
Before you register
Read the current policy and note the deadlines in the same calendar as the exam date. Schedule them.
They are the kind of dates nobody looks up until the week they need them, by which point one has usually passed.
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
Can you reschedule the CFP exam?
Yes - moving the appointment within the same window is done through Prometric, subject to availability, a deadline and possibly a fee.
How do you defer to a later window?
Through CFP Board rather than Prometric, before the published deadline and subject to a fee. After the deadline the registration is generally forfeited.
Is deferring better than sitting unprepared?
Usually. A deferral fee is smaller than a fresh registration at USD 825 or more and much smaller than four months lost after a failure.
What if you have an emergency?
Contact CFP Board as soon as possible rather than simply not attending. Documented circumstances are treated differently from a no-show, and that depends on having made contact.
Should nerves make you defer?
No. Nerves are not the same as being unprepared, and deferring on nerves alone usually moves the same feeling four months later.