United States
Hong KongCan 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 delivery arrangements change.
A common question, usually asked by someone who has sat a shorter professional exam remotely and expects the same here.
Where it is taken
At Prometric test centers. You register with CFP Board and then schedule an appointment with Prometric separately, within the testing window.
Delivery arrangements do change across professional exams generally, so confirm the current options on cfp.net rather than relying on any secondary source, including this page.
Why a six-hour exam is different
Remote proctoring works reasonably for a ninety-minute exam. It works considerably less well for six hours across two sessions with a scheduled break.
A connection failure, a household interruption or a technical problem three hours in is a much larger loss than the same event twenty minutes into a short exam. The stakes of a session termination scale with the length.
A controlled environment, a workstation, note materials, a supervised break, and staff to raise a problem with at the time. For an exam this long, that infrastructure is doing real work rather than being a formality.
Booking a seat
Schedule immediately after registering. Availability within a window is finite, and urban centers in popular windows fill.
The common failure is registering early to secure the lower fee, delaying the scheduling, and finding the convenient center full for the whole window.
If travel is difficult
Prometric operates a large network, so there is usually a center within reasonable distance in most of the country. Rural candidates may need to travel and should factor that into the appointment choice.
Where a disability makes travel or the standard environment difficult, accommodations are available with documentation and should be requested before scheduling.
CFP® is a registered mark of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. We are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, CFP Board. Confirm details against cfp.net, which is the authority.
Common questions
Can you take the CFP exam from home?
The exam is delivered at Prometric test centers. Confirm the current delivery options on cfp.net, since arrangements across professional exams do change.
Why is it not remote?
Remote proctoring works reasonably for short exams and much less well for six hours across two sessions. A technical failure three hours in is a far larger loss than one twenty minutes in.
How do you book a seat?
Register with CFP Board first, then schedule a Prometric appointment separately. Do it immediately, because availability within a window is finite and popular centers fill.
What if you live far from a center?
Prometric operates a large network, so most of the country has one within reasonable distance. Rural candidates may need to travel and should factor that into the appointment choice.
What if travel is difficult for medical reasons?
Accommodations are available with documentation and should be requested before scheduling, since approval must be attached to the appointment.