Quick answers

Short answers to the specific things candidates ask.

How many questions are on the CFP exam?170 questions, all scored, split across two three-hour sessions of 85 each. The mix is stand-alone questions, short scenarios and longer case studies …
What happens if you fail the CFP exam?You wait for the next testing window and register again at the standard rates - a retake is a fresh registration, not a discounted resit. CFP Board gi…
How many times can you take the CFP exam?Attempts are limited. The commonly cited figures are three within any twelve-month period and five in a lifetime. Confirm the current policy on cfp.ne…
Do you need a degree for the CFP?Yes, a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution, in any discipline. But it can be completed within five years after passing the exam…
Can you take the CFP exam online?The exam is delivered at Prometric test centers. Confirm the current delivery options on cfp.net before assuming a remote sitting is available, since …
How long does CFP certification take?Two to three years for most people. Coursework takes twelve to eighteen months, exam preparation three to four, and experience two to three years - an…
Is there a CFP pass mark?No. CFP Board publishes no pass mark in any form. It publishes the pass rate - around 64 per cent across recent windows - which is the share of candid…
When can you start using the CFP marks?Only once certification is granted, after every requirement is complete. Passing the exam does not permit use of the marks, and using them beforehand …
Does CFP certification expire?It does not expire on a fixed date the way a five-year certificate does. It continues as long as the annual fee is paid, thirty continuing education h…
Can you sit the CFP exam without experience?Yes. Only the CFP Board Registered Program coursework must be complete before you sit. Experience may be accumulated before or after, and it counts fr…
What does CFP certification cost in total?A low five-figure total in most cases: coursework of several thousand dollars, exam registration of USD 825 to 1,025, materials of USD 200 to 1,500, a…
Is the CFP exam open book?No. The exam is closed book and proctored at a test center. The only items permitted at the workstation are government-issued photo identification and…
What calculator should you use for the CFP exam?A financial calculator from CFP Board's current approved list. Anything with alphanumeric text storage, printing or communication capability is prohib…
How long is the CFP exam?Six hours of testing - two sessions of 180 minutes with 85 questions each, and a scheduled break between them. Allow around seven hours for the whole …
What is a CFP Board Registered Program?An education provider whose program CFP Board has registered as covering the Principal Knowledge Topics and including a capstone. Completing one satis…
Can international candidates sit the CFP exam?US CFP certification is available to candidates who meet the requirements regardless of residence, though the exam tests US law and tax. Many other te…
Does a CFA exempt you from the CFP coursework?A CFA charter may satisfy the CFP coursework through transcript review under the accelerated path. The capstone generally remains, the exam certainly …
How soon can you retake the CFP exam?The next testing window, roughly four months later, subject to the limits on attempts. Results arrive within four weeks of a window closing, which can…
How do you verify someone is a CFP professional?CFP Board maintains a public search tool showing whether an individual currently holds certification and whether they have any public discipline histo…
Who regulates CFP professionals?CFP Board is a private certifying body that can remove the right to use the marks. Actual regulation comes from the SEC, state securities regulators, …