Guide To Cert

C ERTIFIED F INANCIAL PLANNER
B OARD OF S TANDARDS, I NC.
G U I D E T O C F P® C E R T I F I C A T I O N
M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T
The mission of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board) is to help
people benefit from competent, professional and ethical financial planning.
C F P B O A R D C O R E B E L I E F S A N D VA L U E S
1. Accountability to the public

We believe that the primary reason for our existence is to promote the public welfare through
standards in personal financial planning.
We value client-centered relationships and the differentiation of personal financial planning
professionals from other financial service providers and advisers.
2. Trust derived from standards

We believe that CFP Board’s individual certification standards advance the systematic body of
knowledge for financial planning and serve as the basis for the public’s trust in the expertise and
advice of personal financial planning professionals.
We value the demonstration of the initial and ongoing competency required for a professional to
obtain and retain the CFP marks.
3. Commitment to excellence
We believe that the CFP marks represent excellence in personal financial planning and a
professional obligation to a higher standard of conduct on behalf of the public.
We value the seven principles of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality,
professionalism and diligence that exemplify professional behavior.
4. Respect for professionals

We believe that the public benefits from the existence of a growing pool of competent financial
planning professionals who place the interests of the client first.
We value the input and involvement from individuals, organizations and firms who are
committed to serving the public by strengthening the culture of professional financial planning.
Copyright © 1988-2005, Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. All rights reserved.
G U I D E T O C F P ® C E R T I F I C AT I O N 1
Welcome to CFP ® Certification: Financial Planning’s Highest Standard
Whether you are new to financial planning or have been in financial services for some time, CFP Board
welcomes your interest in CFP ® certification.
More people than ever are entering the financial planning profession, and we recognize the commit-
ment you are about to make, both in terms of becoming certified and in maintaining your certification
during your financial planning career. The CFP ®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and certification marks
®
will provide you with the means to set yourself apart from others calling themselves financial planners.
Since their creation 30 years ago, the CFP marks have come to represent your agreement to adhere to
standards of excellence and a way to demonstrate to the public, and your peers, your commitment to a
career in financial planning. Amid the clutter of financial credentials, the rigorous competency, ethics
and practice standards met by those certified by CFP Board have allowed the CFP certification marks to
stand out from the crowd as financial planning’s highest standard.
The CFP certification differs from an educational designation or state license in that it is based upon
requirements that have been determined by extensive job analyses of actual practitioners in the field,
and, therefore, continues to evolve with the profession. Your decision to obtain CFP certification means
you will join tens of thousands of CFP practitioners worldwide who are committed to the financial plan-
ning process and who have agreed to put clients’ interests first. Not coincidentally, CFP Board research
has shown that the clients of CFP practitioners tend to be more satisfied with their financial planning
engagements and are more likely to recommend their planner to family or friends.
We understand that CFP certification is a voluntary process, one that requires a serious level of commit-
ment on your part. Your decision to pursue completion of the CFP certification requirements as outlined
in this booklet is a first, but significant, step. We welcome any additional questions you may have at
800-487-1497 or initialcert@CFP-Board.org and look forward to seeing your application for the CFP ®
Certification Examination.
As you read through this booklet, look for this symbol for tips and resources available on
www.CFP.net/become.
Rev. 3/05
2 G U I D E T O C F P ® C E R T I F I C AT I O N
CFP Board’s CFP ® certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accred-
iting body of the Washington, D.C.-based National Organization for Competency Assurance. NCCA was created in 1989 to
establish nationally accepted criteria, guidelines and standards for certifying agencies. To receive such accreditation, CFP
Board’s CFP ® certification program meets the highest national voluntary standards for private certification set forth by the
NCCA.
CFP Board does not discriminate in certification opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Contributions accepted by CFP Board are tax deductible.
In certain instances, CFP Board may release lists of individuals who have requested a copy of this booklet, and/or lists of
applicants for the CFP ® Certification Examination to selected other parties, including CFP Board-Registered Programs and
Review Course providers, who agree to CFP Board’s usage requirements. Upon request, CFP Board will not release an
individual’s name to outside parties.
Rev. 3/05
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S 3
Table of Contents
CFP ® Certification Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Initial Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Certification Renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Online Tools and Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
The Education Requirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Bachelor’s Degree Requirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Completing the Education Requirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
CFP Board-Registered Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Challenge Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Transcript Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
List of CFP Board-Registered Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
CFP Certification Examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
®
Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Logistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Scoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Re-Examination Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Review and Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Exam Review Course Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
List of Review Course Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Topic List for CFP ® Certification Examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Provided Formulas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Work Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Definition of Work Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Work Experience Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Pre-Certification Continuing Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Internships/Residency Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Verification of Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Work Experience Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Ethics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Verification of Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Authorization to Use the CFP Marks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Declaration Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Initial Fee and Continuing Education (CE) Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
International Reciprocity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Grievance Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Applying for Transcript Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Application for Transcript Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
CFP ® Certification Examination Application Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
CFP ® Certification Examination Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
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4 OVERVIEW
CFP ® Certification Overview

The CFP® certification process, administered by CFP Board, identifies to the public that those individuals
who have been authorized to use the CFP certification marks have met rigorous professional standards
and have agreed to adhere to the principles of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidential-
ity, professionalism and diligence when dealing with clients.
Recently, CFP Board conducted a nationwide consumer survey among upper-income households. That
survey reflects the public’s growing demand for financial planners who adhere to rigorous standards. Of
those surveyed:
• 85% considered successful completion of a certification examination “very important”

or “extremely important.”
• 95% felt financial planners should adhere to professional practice standards.
• 97% said the most important standard for financial planners was adherence to a pro-
fessional code of ethics.
CFP certificants must pass the comprehensive CFP ® Certification Examination, agree to abide by CFP
Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility which puts clients’ interests first and abide by the
Financial Planning Practice Standards which spell out what clients should be able to reasonably expect
from the financial planning engagement. These are just some of the reasons why the CFP certification is
becoming increasingly recognized.
In addition, the CFP certification prepares you for a career-long commitment to meeting the ever-
changing needs of your clients. As a CFP professional, you become a coach and problem-solver, able to
provide truly personalized services to clients and to maintain high levels of financial planning and pro-
fessionalism. Finally, your expertise and credibility as a financial planner is instantly communicated with
the CFP marks — the financial planning certification most sought after by consumers and financial plan-
ners alike.
INITIAL CERTIFICATION
To become certified, you are required to meet the following four initial certification requirements
(known as the four “Es”):
• Education
• Examination
• Experience
• Ethics
These four components are briefly described on the next page; subsequent sections of this booklet pro-
vide detailed information about each component. While the CFP certification requirements may be
changed from time to time, you will be expected to meet the requirements that are in place at the time
you apply for the CFP ® Certification Examination.
More information can be found on www.CFP.net/aboutus regarding CFP Board’s activities and volun-
teer boards. Visit www.CFP.net for information on other financial planning organizations.
Rev. 3/05
OVERVIEW 5
Education
To take the CFP ® Certification Examination, you will need to be knowledgeable in the
financial planning topics listed on page 33. For an outline of the three ways to complete
the education requirement, see page 9. Beginning in January 1, 2007, candidates for certi-
fication must have a bachelor’s degree, in any discipline, in order to obtain CFP
certification. The college degree requirement is a condition of initial certification; it is not
a requirement to be eligible to take the CFP ® Certification Examination and does not have
to occur before sitting for the exam or fulfilling the work experience. The bachelor’s
degree requirement will be waived for those individuals who have met all certification
requirements prior to 2007.
Examination
After you have successfully met the education requirement, you will be eligible to apply
for the CFP ® Certification Examination. The CFP® Certification Examination assesses your ability
to apply your financial planning knowledge (based on the topic list on page 33), in an
integrated format, to financial planning situations. Combined with the education and
experience requirements, it assures the public that you have met a level of competency
appropriate for professional practice. Details about the CFP ® Certification Examination are
on page 25.
Experience
Because CFP certification indicates to the public your ability to provide financial planning
without supervision, CFP Board requires you to have experience in the financial planning
process. Three years of relevant experience with a bachelor’s degree or higher is required.
Until 2007, individuals who do not have a bachelor’s degree may substitute the degree
requirement with five years of relevant experience. The work experience requirement can
be completed either before or after successfully completing the CFP ® Certification
Examination. Detailed information about this requirement is on page 41.
Ethics
When you have completed the education, examination and experience components of
the CFP certification process, you will receive a declaration packet from CFP Board. This
packet includes a CFP® Certification Application that must be signed by you, asking you to
disclose whether you have ever been a party (or involved) in any criminal, civil, govern-
mental, or self-regulatory agency proceeding or inquiry. CFP certification also requires you
to agree to adhere to CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and
Financial Planning Practice Standards, and acknowledge CFP Board’s right to enforce them
through its Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Details about the ethics requirement are on
page 45.
CERTIFICATION RENEWAL
Once you have been authorized to use the CFP marks, you must meet CFP Board’s renewal standards to
continue to use them. Your CFP® certification must be renewed every two years at the end of your
renewal month in an odd or even year (based on your birth date.) In order to position you in the cor-
rect period, your initial continuing education (CE) requirement and renewal fee are prorated.
The renewal requirements are 1) renewal application, 2) $360 renewal fee (non-refundable), and 3) 30
hours of CE. The CE requirement includes 28 hours in the accepted financial planning topics (starting on
Rev. 3/05
6 OVERVIEW
page 33) and two hours from a pre-approved program on CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional
Responsibility or Financial Planning Practice Standards.
A renewal packet, including a renewal application with notice of fees due will be sent to you approxi-
mately two months before your certification expires. The renewal fee helps cover the costs associated
with ethics enforcement, protection of the marks against infringement, maintenance of professional
standards of practice and public awareness activities related to the CFP marks.
The renewal requirements are explained in more detail on CFP Board’s Web site at www.CFP.net/certifi-
cants.
ONLINE TOOLS AND RESOURCES
CFP Board is dedicated to providing excellent service to its stakeholders. Our Web site,
www.CFP.net/become, offers the most up-to-date information, and can be a valuable resource for you
as you work to achieve the CFP certification. Another section of the site, www.CFP.net/learn, demon-
strates our commitment to educating the public about the benefits of financial planning and the
importance of choosing a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional.
www.CFP.net/become
Set up a free account today. On www.CFP.net/become you have access to the most com-
prehensive, up-to-date information regarding the CFP® certification. Go to the Web site to
look for a registered education provider, find sample exam questions, find an exam
review course provider or learn more about post-certification volunteer activities.
www.CFP.net/learn
Here, consumers can learn about reducing debt, saving for retirement and managing
other common financial issues; participate in polls and surveys; subscribe to CFP Board’s
eNewsletter to get more information about financial planning; learn how to choose a
financial planner and download a personal data organizer to help prepare them for
meeting with a planner; learn about the high standards met by CFP professionals and ver-
ify that a planner in their area has the CFP certification. To help educate the public about
the CFP marks, CFP Board also advertises in national magazines, participates in trade
shows and distributes radio and TV public service announcements.
Log in to receive immediate updates and news from CFP Board at www.CFP.net/login.
Rev. 3/05
E D U C AT I O N 7
The Education Requirement

As a first step to CFP ® certification, you must master more than 100 integrated financial planning topics
(see page 33). The topics cover major planning areas such as:
• General principles of financial planning

• Insurance planning
• Employee benefits planning
• Investment planning
• Income tax planning
• Retirement planning
• Estate planning
Although education is a fundamental part of achieving CFP certification, fulfillment of the education
requirement does not automatically equate to preparedness for the CFP ® Certification Examination.
Before determining an examination preparation strategy and applying for the exam, all individuals
considering taking the CFP ® Certification Examination should review the currency and completeness of
their education against the current list of topics (see page 33). Retaking courses or taking additional
courses to improve currency and mastery of specific topic areas are important complements to the edu-
cational foundation. Previous experience and exam preparatory factors, such as taking an appropriate
review course, are also beneficial. Taking actions to ensure your education is comprehensive and up-to-
date may improve your ability to synthesize and evaluate complex concepts at an advanced cognitive
level.
Remember, the CFP ® Certification Examination does not test textbook theories, but rather it assesses
your ability to apply your financial planning knowledge in an integrated approach to deal with “real-
life” financial planning situations.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE REQUIREMENT
Beginning January 1, 2007, in addition to fulfilling the education requirement, a bachelor’s degree, in
any discipline, will be required in order to attain CFP certification. The college degree requirement is a
condition of initial certification; it is not a requirement to be eligible to take the CFP ® Certification
Examination and does not have to occur before sitting for the exam or fulfilling the work experience. A
bachelor’s degree in any major from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university will be accepted,
and evidence (photocopy of degree) will be required at the final stage of initial certification.
Very important note for individuals not planning to obtain a college degree: Individuals without a col-
lege degree can take the CFP ® Certification Examination and may even be certified, but all certification
requirements – education, passing the exam, five years of experience and the ethics component – must
be met and the CFP® Certification Application must be completed, signed and received by CFP Board by
December 31, 2006.
What the degree requirement means for specific situations:
• Individuals without a college degree will need to have passed the CFP ® Certification
Examination by November 2006, and met the five-year experience requirement and the
ethics requirement by December 31, 2006.
• Individuals without a college degree and no qualifying experience would have needed
to have started gaining financial planning experience before 2002 in order to meet the
five-year experience requirement. All individuals without a college degree who have
Rev. 3/05
8 E D U C AT I O N
not completed the five-year experience requirement by December 31, 2006, will be
required to have a college degree.
• Individuals without a college degree and with five years of experience are encouraged
to take the exam by July 2006, to avoid the pressure of having only one last chance to
pass the exam.
• Individuals without a college degree, even after 2007, may take the exam, but they
must then obtain a degree within five years after passing the exam in order to be certi-
fied.
• Individuals without a college degree, who have fulfilled the exam requirement, but
who are not certified by December 21, 2006, will have five years from the exam date to
complete the other initial certification requirements — five years of experience, ethics
component and a bachelor’s degree – before their candidacy is terminated and the
exam will need to be retaken.
• Individuals without a degree who pass the November 2006 exam will have 30 calendar
days from the date CFP Board delivers (electronic or hardcopy) the declaration packet to
return a completed declaration packet to CFP Board.
• Individuals without a degree who receive a declaration packet after July 1, 2006, will
have until December 31, 2006, to return a completed declaration packet to CFP Board.
• Individuals without a degree who receive a declaration packet after December 1, 2006,
will have 30 calendar days to return a completed declaration packet to CFP Board.
• Individuals without a degree, in CFP Board’s professional review process, who have
completed all requirements before December 31, 2006, except for the ethics require-
ment, will be certified after December 31, 2006, as long as professional review clears
the individual and the individual submits any additional required paperwork within 30
calendar days of the request.
CFP Board can not predetermine whether individuals will meet certain requirements, but will offer
counsel to individuals seeking guidance about the education, bachelor’s degree or experience require-
ments.
Rev. 3/05
E D U C AT I O N 9
COMPLETING THE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
You can complete the educational requirement for CFP® certification through one of the following
three methods:
1. CFP Board-Registered Program

NO previous financial
planning course work ➢ ➢
CFP Board-Registered
Program CFP®
Certification
Examination
2. Challenge Status
CPA, ChFC, CLU, CFA®, D.B.A., Ph.D.
(Business or Economics), Licensed attorney
➢
CFP®
Certification
Examination
3. Transcript Review Yes ➢

Previous financial planning
➢ CFP
course work OR ➢Transcript ®
professional designation Review OK? No ➢ Certification

Examination
➢
Or
CFP Board-Registered
Program
➢
College University Courses/

Professional Designation
Rev. 3/05
10 E D U C AT I O N
CFP BOARD-REGISTERED PROGRAMS
You can complete a course of study in financial planning offered by an educational institution with a
curriculum registered with CFP Board, as listed on page 13. For the most up-to-date list, with expanded
contact information, visit CFP Board’s Web site at www.CFP.net/become.
Course Titles and Length of Study
CFP Board has reviewed the upper division undergraduate level or higher educational
programs at registered institutions to ensure that they cover the core knowledge needed
to practice personal financial planning. Regardless of program type, the curriculum
taught must be the equivalent of at least 15 semester credit hours. Each educational
institution may present the topics under various course names and titles, such as risk
management, financial analysis or estate planning. However, each Registered Program
will cover all of the topics needed to meet the education requirement for CFP ® certifica-
tion. Some programs include various specialized courses or a review course to better
prepare you for the CFP ® Certification Examination. Program Directors at any CFP Board-
Registered Program have the authority to waive students out of courses in accordance
with their college or university policy.
Contact one of the programs listed on pages 13-24 of this booklet (or from the list on
www.CFP.net/become) for more information about courses offered, class schedules,
tuition and transfer of credit for courses previously taken. In general, the course work in a
certificate level program can be completed in 18 to 24 months.
CFP Board does not endorse one program over another. All programs cover the same
core curriculum, yet vary in style, length and delivery method. They may be certificate
programs, undergraduate programs or graduate programs. Programs can also differ in
their delivery methods with some having traditional classroom-based instruction and
others offering self-study or online courses. All institutions are accredited by their region's
accrediting body.
Note: individuals who do not fulfill all of the initial certification requirements by
December 31, 2006, must have a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. regionally accredited col-
lege or university, in any field, in order to obtain CFP certification.
Important Questions to Ask
Because the educational offerings are so varied, consider asking the Program Director the
following questions when evaluating a program:
• What educational level is your curriculum (junior/senior baccalaureate, master’s or doc-

torate level)?
• How long does it take to complete your curriculum?
• How much does your program cost? Does that amount include books, test and other
fees?
• Are you anticipating making changes to your program?
• How do you schedule your courses? How often are courses offered?
• Is your distance education program offered online or is it paper-based?
• What are the credentials of your faculty?
• Does your program have internships or job placement services?
• Does your program have a review course? Does it partner with a review course
provider?
• Overall, how will your program prepare me to be a financial planner?
Rev. 3/05
E D U C AT I O N 11
CHALLENGE STATUS
CFP Board has approved specific academic degrees and professional credentials as fulfilling the educa-
tion requirement for CFP ® certification. If you have one of the following degrees or credentials, you will
automatically be eligible to sit for the CFP ® Certification Examination:
• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)

• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU)
• Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®)
• Ph.D. in business or economics**
• Doctor of Business Administration**
• Licensed attorney – inactive license acceptable*
• Licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – must be currently licensed to practice (inac-
tive license with letter of good standing acceptable)*
Only the degrees and credentials listed above are approved for challenging the CFP ® Certification
Examination. In addition, the Certified Employee Benefits Specialists (CEBS) credential plus the addition
of two courses will qualify an individual to sit for the CFP ® Certification Examination (see details on
page 12). If your degree or credential is not on this list, you may wish to consult the transcript review
process as an alternate route to the CFP ® Certification Examination.
To apply for the CFP ® Certification Examination, use the application form at the back of this booklet or
download the form from CFP Board’s Web site at www.CFP.net/become.
TRANSCRIPT REVIEW
CFP Board recognizes that you may have covered some of the components in CFP Board’s financial plan-
ning topic list through previous educational coursework. CFP Board will consider granting credit
towards the educational component required for CFP ® certification if:
1. You can demonstrate that you have successfully completed equivalent upper-division
level college or university coursework at a regionally accredited college or university;
and/or
2. You have one of the credentials listed on page 12 that CFP Board has pre-approved for
credit towards the educational component.
Review the detailed topic list on page 33 and use the checklist on the transcript review application
found on page 51 of this booklet against your college transcript(s) to assess if you have covered any CFP
Board topics.
Look for upper-division level courses (junior, senior or graduate level coursework with course numbers
of typically 300 or greater) with titles such as Personal Income Tax, Insurance, Investments, Estate
Planning, Retirement Planning and Personal Financial Planning.
To satisfy the entire educational component via a transcript review your financial planning-related
coursework must total at least 15 upper-division semester hours or 20 quarter hours. The courses must
have been taken at a U.S. regionally accredited four-year educational institution.
If, after reviewing your transcript, you feel that you have completed all or part of the necessary finan-
cial planning topics at an appropriate institution, you may apply to CFP Board for a transcript review
(see application on page 51).
*If you are fulfilling the education requirement on the basis of an inactive CPA license or law license, you will need to pro-
vide a letter from the applicable licensing board stating that you are in good standing with that authority.
**Degree must be from an accredited U.S. college or university.
Rev. 3/05
12 E D U C AT I O N
The following credentials have been deemed to fulfill certain portions of the CFP ® certification’s educa-
tion requirement. The first column lists the credential; the second lists the corresponding topics in CFP
Board’s topic list.
Credential Topics satisfied on CFP Board’s topic list

Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA) 13, 14, 19, 40-53
Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)* 13-15, 18, 21, 25, 35, 40-43, 73-81
Enrolled Agent (EA) 57-71
Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) 13, 14, 19, 40-53
Continuing education courses, firm training and/or National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD®) or
state licenses do not fulfill any of CFP Board’s initial educational requirement.
*Individuals who hold the CEBS credential may complete two additional courses (Personal Financial Planning I and Personal
Financial Planning II) from the Wharton School and the International Foundation for Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) to
satisfy CFP Board’s education requirement. These individuals will not need to complete a transcript review application or
submit a transcript review fee. Instead, they should use the CFP ® Certification Examination Application ( on page 55) and
attach a copy of the CEBS designation and either a transcript or score report showing completion of the Personal Financial
Planning I and II courses.
Rev. 3/05
E D U C AT I O N 13
LIST OF CFP BOARD-REGISTERED PROGRAMS
Distance Education Programs
The Distance Education Programs listed below are presented using self-study and/or online
delivery methods. The schools indicated by a (*) may also offer in-classroom instruction at vari-
ous locations throughout the country – contact the school for a list of additional locations.
The American College (*) Florida Community College at Kaplan University (*)
CFP ® Certification Curriculum Jacksonville – Institute for Certificate in Financial Planning
Financial Studies (*)
Mr. King McGlaughon Mr. Keith R. Fevurly, CFP ®
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification
610-526-1311 Education Program Davenport, IA
Bryn Mawr, PA Ms. Melissa Chandler 866-523-3473
kingm@amercoll.edu Jacksonville, FL infofp@kaplancollege.edu
904-633-8114
Masters of Sciences in Financial machandl@fccj.org Metropolitan Community College (*)
Services Certificate of Achievement, Personal
Dr. Walt Woerheide Financial Planning
Florida State University
610-526-1398 Ms. Lori Lothringer
Certificate in Financial Planning
Bryn Mawr, PA Omaha, NE
Dr. Susann Rudasill
joannep@amercoll.edu 402-537-3830
Tallahassee, FL
llothringer@metropo.mccneb.edu
850-644-1571
Boston University (*)
srudasill@cpd.fsu.edu
Boston University Online Program for Mississippi State University (*)
Financial Planners Certificate in Financial Planning
Ms. Janice Smith Golden Gate University (*)
Dr. Edwin Duett
Boston, MA M.S. in Financial Planning
Mississippi State, MS
617-358-2272 Graduate Financial Planning Certificate
662-325-2341
cpe@bu.edu M.S. in Finance, Financial Planning
Emphasis eduett@cobilan.msstate.edu
Undergraduate Financial Planning
California Lutheran University (*) Certificate Montana State University (*)
M.B.A., Financial Planning Dr. Steve Hawkey (Great Plains Interactive Education)
Dr. Somnath Basu San Francisco, CA M.S. in Family Financial Planning
Thousand Oaks, CA 415-442-6584 Certificate in Family Financial Planning
805-493-3980 shawkey@ggu.edu Dr. Deborah Haynes
basu@clunet.edu Bozeman, MT
Iowa State University (*) 406-994-5013
City University (*) (Great Plains Interactive Education) dhaynes@montana.edu
M.B.A. in Personal Financial Planning M.F.C.S. (Master of Family and Consumer
Graduate Certificate in Personal Financial Sciences) with a Specialization in North Dakota State University (*)
Planning Family Financial Planning (Great Plains Interactive Education)
Mr. Marvin Will Certificate in Family Financial Planning M.S. in Family Financial Planning
Bellevue, WA Dr. Mary Winter Certificate in Family Financial Planning
425-709-5456 Ames, IA Dr. Greg Sanders
mwill@cityu.edu 515-294-5982 Fargo, ND
mfcsinfo@iastate.edu 701-231-8272
College for Financial Planning (*)
greg.sanders@ndsu.nodak.edu
Master of Science, Financial Planning Kansas State University (*)
Concentration (Great Plains Interactive Education)
Dr. Kurt Miller Oglethorpe University (*)
M.S. in Family Studies and Human Financial Planner Program
Greenwood Village, CO Services with a Specialization in
800-237-9990 Family Financial Planning Dr. Christopher Ames
enroll@fp.edu Certificate in Family Financial Planning Atlanta, GA
Ms. Estoria M. Maddux, CFP® 404-364-8318
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification Manhattan, KS cames@oglethorpe.edu
Professional Education Program 785-532-1480
Mr. Michael B. Cates, CFP ® ipfp@ksu.edu
Greenwood Village, CO
800-237-9990
enroll@fp.edu
For the most up-to-date list, with expanded contact information, of Distance Programs, visit
CFP Board’s Web site at www.CFP.net/become. You can find additional locations of the schools
online with Web site links to the schools.
Rev. 3/05
14 E D U C AT I O N
Oklahoma State University (*) Texas A&M University – Commerce (*) University of Nebraska (*)
(Great Plains Interactive Education) Certificate in Financial Planning (Great Plains Interactive Education)
M.S., in Family Financial Planning Mr. Kenneth M. Washer, CFP® M.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences
Dr. Lona Robertson Commerce, TX with a Specialization in Family
Financial Planning
Stillwater, OK 903-886-5674
Certificate in Family Financial Planning
405-744-5053 kenneth_washer@tamu-commerce.edu
Dr. Sheran Cramer
osu-ches@okstate.edu
Omaha, NE
University of California – Irvine (*)
402-554-2450
South Dakota State University (*) Personal Financial Planning Certificate
scramer@unomaha.edu
(Great Plains Interactive Education) Ms. Lori Munoz-Reiland
M.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences Irvine, CA
Utah State University (*)
Certificate in Family Financial Planning 949-824-2282
Personal Financial Planning Certificate
Dr. Bernadine Enevoldsen lmmunoz@uci.edu Program Online
Brookings, SD Dr. E. Vance Grange, CFP ®
605-688-4328 University of California – Los Angeles (*) Logan, UT
bernadine_enevoldsen@sdstate.edu Certificate Program in Personal 435-753-9699
Financial Planning
vance.grange@usu.edu
Ms. Monica French
Los Angeles, CA
310-206-1689
mfrench@unex.ucla.edu
Rev. 3/05
E D U C AT I O N 15
Registered Programs Listed by State
The schools indicated by a (*) may offer in-classroom instruction at various locations
throughout the country – contact the school for a list of additional locations. For the most
up-to-date list, go to www.CFP.net/become.
ALABAMA University of Arkansas Golden Gate University

Auburn University, Montgomery B.S.B.A., Finance Major, Personal M.S. in Financial Planning
Financial Planner Program Financial Planning Emphasis Graduate Financial Planning Certificate
Ms. Janie Nobles Mr. Douglas Hearth M.S. in Finance, Financial Planning
Montgomery, AL Fayetteville, AR Emphasis
334-244-3930 479-575-4505 Undergraduate Financial Planning
dhearth@walton.uark.edu Certificate
jnobles@mail.aum.edu
Dr. Steve Hawkey
University of Arkansas – Little Rock San Francisco, CA
University of Alabama
B.B.A., Finance – Financial Planning 415-442-6584
B.S., Human Environmental Sciences
(Track II, Insurance and Financial shawkey@ggu.edu
Certificate Program in Family Financial
Planning (Graduate) Planning Option)
Certificate in Family Financial Planning Dr. Andy Terry San Diego State University
(Undergraduate) Little Rock, AR Master of Science in Business
Mrs. Jannis L. Brakefield, CFP® 501-569-8872 Administration with a
Concentration in Financial and Tax
Tuscaloosa, AL haterry@ualr.edu Planning
205-348-8132 B.S.B.A., Financial Services Major,
jbrakefi@ches.ua.edu Personal Financial Planning
CALIFORNIA
Certificate
California Lutheran University
B.S., Banking and Financial Services Executive Financial Planner Program
M.B.A., Financial Planning
Dr. Robert W. McLeod, CFP ® Dr. Thomas Warschauer, CFP ®
Tuscaloosa, AL San Diego, CA
Dr. Somnath Basu
205-345-0934 619-594-4354
Thousand Oaks, CA
rmcleod@cba.ua.edu tom.warschauer@sdsu.edu
805-493-3980
basu@clunet.edu
University of Alabama – Birmingham University of California – Berkeley
Financial Planner Program Certificate Program in Personal
California State University – Financial Planning
Mr. Lowell Broom Bakersfield
Birmingham, AL Mr. Marc Hyman
B.S. Business Administration with a
205-934-8824 Berkeley, CA
Concentration in Finance and
lbroom@uab.edu Emphasis in Financial Planning 510-643-2181
Dr. Ken Shakoori mlh@unex.berkeley.edu
Bakersfield, CA
ARIZONA 661-664-2311 University of California – Davis
University of Phoenix (*) kshakoori@csubak.edu Certificate Program in Personal
Financial Planning Professional Financial Planning
Education Program Ms. Kristina Norberg
California State University – Fresno
Ms. Lisa Mulligan Davis, CA
B.S., Business Administration
Phoenix, AZ 530-757-8627
Certificate Program in Financial
480-446-4640 Planning knorberg@unexmail.ucdavis.edu
lisa.mulligan@phoenix.edu Dr. K. C. Chen
Fresno, CA University of California – Irvine
ARKANSAS 559-278-5646 Certificate in Personal Financial
Planning
Southern Arkansas University kchen@csufresno.edu
Personal Financial Planning Certificate
B.B.A., with an Emphasis in Finance – Fast Track
Certificate in Financial Planning California State University – Fullerton
Ms. Lori Munoz-Reiland
Dr. James David Ashby, CFP ® B.A., Business Administration, Finance
Irvine, CA
Emphasis, Financial Planning
Magnolia, AR 949-824-2282
Dr. Donald B. Crane, CFP ®
870-235-4304 lmmunoz@uci.edu
Fullerton, CA
jdashby@saumag.edu
714-525-4445
dcrane@fullerton.edu
For the most up-to-date list, with expanded contact information, of CFP Board-Registered
Programs, visit CFP Board’s Web site at www.CFP.net/become. You can find additional locations of
the schools online with Web site links to the schools.
Rev. 3/05
16 E D U C AT I O N
University of California – Los Angeles Colorado Technical University – FLORIDA

Certificate Program in Personal Colorado Springs Barry University (Ace)
Financial Planning Certificate in Personal Financial CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification
Certificate in Personal Financial Planning Education Program
Planning: Accelerated Program Bachelor of Scence, Finance Dr. Robert D. Lovett, CFP ®
Ms. Monica French Mr. Eric Goodman Miami Shores, FL
Los Angeles, CA Colorado Springs, CO 954-796-3067
310-206-1689 719-590-6772 rdl@rdlovett.com
mfrench@unex.ucla.edu egoodman@coloradotech.edu
Florida Atlantic University
University of California – Riverside Metropolitan State College of Denver (*) M.B.A./Financial Planning Track
Certificate Program in Personal B.S., Finance, Concentration in Dr. Scott Barnhart
Financial Planning Financial Services
Jupiter, FL
Mr. Eric Blum Ms. Maria Ruybal Carrillo
561-799-8512
Riverside, CA Denver, CO
sbarnhar@fau.edu
951-827-1600 303-556-6998
kcraig@ucx.ucr.edu hugginsk@mscd.edu
Florida Community College at
Jacksonville – Institute for
Professional Achievement in Financial Personal Financial Planning Certificate Financial Studies
Planning Fast Track Personal Financial Planning Certificate CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification
Ms. Kathy Craig (Fast Track Format) Education Program
Riverside, CA Ms. Maria Ruybal Carrillo Ms. Melissa Chandler
909-787-4111 x21600 Denver, CO Jacksonville, FL
kcraig@ucx.ucr.edu 303-556-6998 904-633-8114
carrillo@mscd.edu machandl@fccj.org
University of California – Santa
Barbara University of Northern Colorado Florida Gulf Coast University (*)
Professional Financial Planning B.S.B.A. in Finance CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification
Certificate Program Education Program
Mr. Kenneth Moon
Ms. Karen Gravenor Dr. Robert D. Lovett, CFP ®
Greeley, CO
Goleta, CA Ft. Myers, FL
970-351-1226
805-893-3591 239-598-5229
kenneth.moon@unco.edu
kgraveno@els.ucsb.edu rlovett@fgcu.edu
University of California, Santa Cruz CONNECTICUT Florida International University

Certificate in Personal Financial Fairfield University CFP ® Certification Professional
Planning Financial Planning Certificate Program Education Program
Ms. Linda Andrews Ms. Beatrix Brownfield Mr. Vincent S. Daniels
Cupertino, CA Fairfield, CT Miami, FL
408-861-3801 203-254-4000 x2920 305-348-4217
landrews@ucsc-extension.edu bbrownfield@mail.fairfield.edu danielsv@fiu.edu
COLORADO Manchester Community College International College

College for Financial Planning (*) Personal Financial Planning Certificate B.S. in Management, Minor in
Program Financial Planning
Master of Science, Financial Planning
Concentration Mr. Stanley R. Roesler, CFP ® B.S. in Accounting, Minor in Financial
Manchester, CT Planning
Dr. Kurt Miller
860-875-6632 B.S. Business Administration, Minor in
Greenwood Village, CO Financial Planning
800-237-9990 racestan@aol.com
enroll@fp.edu Ms. Melinda F. Chancy, CFP ®
Quinnipiac University
Naples, FL
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Quinnipiac-UNT/PDI Certificate
Program in Personal Financial 239-755-8224
Certification Professional
Education Program Planning mchancy@internationalcollege.edu
Mr. Michael B. Cates, CFP ® Ms. Tammy Russell
Greenwood Village, CO Guilford, CT Keiser College
800-237-9990 guttery@unt.edu CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification
Education Program
enroll@fp.edu
Mr. Richard Clare
Sarasota, FL
941-907-3900
richardc@keisercollege.com
Rev. 3/05
E D U C AT I O N 17
Nova Southeastern University Georgia State University ILLINOIS

Financial Planning Certificate Program M.B.A., Major in Personal Financial DePaul University
Ms. Kelly Murphy Planning Financial Planning Certificate Program
Fort Lauderdale, FL M.S., Personal Financial Planning Ms. Carol Lee Roberts, CFP ®
954-262-8446 Graduate Certificate in Personal Chicago, IL
Financial Planning
murphyk@nova.edu 312-362-6327
Dr. Conrad Ciccotello
crobert9@depaul.edu
Atlanta, GA
Tallahassee Community College (*)
404-651-1711
Professional Financial Planning Eastern Illinois University
Program cciccotello@gsu.edu
B.S., Major Finance, Financial Planning
Ms. Vera Wirick Concentration
Tallahassee, FL Kennesaw State University Mr. David McGrady, CFP®
850-201-6103 Financial Planner Program Charleston, IL
wirickv@tcc.fl.edu Ms. Laurie Morse 217-581-3026
Kennesaw, GA dmcgrady@eiu.edu
University of Central Florida (*) 770-423-6963
Financial Planning Certificate Program lmorse@kennesaw.edu Kaplan University
Executive Financial Planning Certificate Accelerated Certificate in Financial
Program Oglethorpe University Planning
Ms. Cheryl Blackwell Financial Planner Program Ms. Susan Cuscarano
Orlando, FL Dr. Christopher Ames Chicago, IL
407-402-7644 Atlanta, GA 800-621-9621 x4469
cblackwe@mail.ucf.edu 404-364-8318 infofp@KaplanCollege.edu
cames@oglethorpe.edu
University of Miami Marquette University (*)
M.S.T., Concentration in Personal Savannah State University Certificate in Financial Planning
Financial Planning Professional Financial Planning Mr. Mark Larson
M.P.A., Concentration in Personal Program Naperville, IL
Financial Planning Dr. M.H. Sarhan 630-369-8003
Ms. Willie Risby-Hanna Savannah, GA ufgedu@yahoo.com
Coral Gables, FL 912-356-2335
305-284-5428 sarhanm@savstate.edu Northwestern University
tomr@miami.edu
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
University of Georgia Certification Education Program
Certificate in Personal Financial B.S.F.C.S., Consumer Economics, Area Ms. Dawn Lullo
Planning of Emphasis: Family Financial Chicago, IL
Mr. Levar Walker Management
312-503-0714
Coral Gables, FL Dr. Lance Palmer
d-lullo@northwestern.edu
305-284-5800 Athens, GA
706-542-4916
Saint Xavier University
University of North Florida lpalmer@fcs.uga.edu
M.B.A., Financial Planning
B.B.A., Major Financial Services
B.B.A., Financial Planning
Dr. Seth Copeland Anderson
HAWAII Professional Financial Planning
Jacksonville, FL
University of Hawaii, Manoa Mr. James J. McCabe, CFP ®
904-620-1672
Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Financial Chicago, IL
sanderso@unf.edu Services and Planning Track 773-298-3600
CFP ® Certification Professional Program mccabe@sxu.edu
University of South Florida Dr. Rosita Chang
Financial Planner Certificate Program Honolulu, HI
Ms. Martha Lakis 808-956-7592 INDIANA
Tampa, FL rosita.chang@hawaii.edu Purdue University
813-974-8021 B.S., Financial Counseling and Planning
mglakis@admin.usf.edu Dr. Sharon DeVaney
IDAHO West Lafayette, IN
University of Idaho 765-494-8300
GEORGIA B.S., Finance with a Financial Planning sdevaney@purdue.edu
Augusta State University Option
B.B.A., Finance, with a Concentration Dr. Terrance Grieb
in Financial Planning Moscow, ID
CFP ® Certification Education Program 208-885-7140
Dr. Pete Basciano tgrieb@uidaho.edu
Augusta, GA
706-667-4535
pbasciano@aug.edu
Rev. 3/05
18 E D U C AT I O N
IOWA Morehead State University UMBC Training Centers

Iowa State University B.B.A., Finance (Financial Planning CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM Certification
(Great Plains Interactive Education) Track) Professional Education Program
M.F.C.S. (Master of Family and Professional Financial Planning Track Ms. Linda Kent
Consumer Sciences) with a (Certificate) Baltimore, MD
Specialization in Family Financial Dr. Ishappa Hullur 443-543-5412
Planning Morehead, KY lindak@umbctrainingcenters.com
Certificate in Family Financial Planning 606-783-2796
Dr. Mary Winter I.hullur@morehead-st.edu
Ames, IA MASSACHUSETTS
515-294-5982 Murray State University Bay Path College
mfcsinfo@iastate.edu B.S. in Business, Finance, Financial Professional Financial Planning
Planning Option Certificate Program
Kaplan University Dr. David W. Durr, CFP® Dr. Kenneth Callow
Certificate in Financial Planning Murray, KY Longmeadow, MA
Mr. Keith R. Fevurly, CFP ® 270-762-6275 413-565-1332
Davenport, IA david.durr@murraystate.edu kcallow@baypath.edu
866-523-3473
infofp@kaplancollege.edu Northern Kentucky University Bentley College
B.S. in Finance, Financial Services Track Master of Science in Taxation
Certificate in Financial Planning Master of Science in Financial Planning
KANSAS Mr. John E. Lynch, Jr.
Mr. Steven E. Devoto, CFP ®
Fort Hays State University Waltham, MA
Highland Heights, KY
B.B.A., Major in Finance, Emphasis in 781-891-2624
Financial Planning 859-572-5651
devotos@nku.edu jlynch@bentley.edu
Dr. Tom Johansen
Hays, KS
Western Kentucky University Boston University
785-628-5805
B.S., Finance, Financial Planning Boston University Online Program for
tjohanse@fhsu.edu Financial Planners
Option
Certificate in Financial Planning Boston University Financial Planning
Kansas State University Certificate Program
Dr. Edward Wolfe
M.S. in Family Studies and Human Ms. Janice Smith
Services with a Specialization in Bowling Green, KY
Boston, MA
Family Financial Planning (Great 270-745-6193
Plains Interactive Education) 617-358-2272
edward.wolfe@wku.edu
Certificate in Family Financial Planning cpe@bu.edu
(Great Plains Interactive Education)
Certificate in Personal Financial MARYLAND Merrimack College
Planning Frostburg State University Certificate in Financial Planning
Ms. Estoria M. Maddux, CFP® Financial Planning Certificate Program Program
Manhattan, KS Dr. Sudhir Singh Ms. Barbara Maclachlan
785-532-1480 Frostburg, MD North Andover, MA
ipfp@ksu.edu 301-687-4394 978-837-5426
fpcp@frostburg.edu barbara.maclachlan@merrimack.edu
B.S., Personal Financial Planning
Dr. John Grable, CFP® Salisbury University Northeastern University
Manhattan, KS B.S., Finance, Financial Planning Track Master of Science in Taxation
785-532-1486 Dr. E. Taylor Claggett Ms. Annarita DiCenso
ipfp@ksu.edu Salisbury, MD Boston, MA
410-543-6336 617-373-4621
Wichita State University etclaggett@salisbury.edu a.dicenso@neu.edu
Professional Financial Planning
Certificate Program Towson University Master of Science in Finance
Dr. Richard LeCompte B.S., Accounting, Financial Planning Ms. Florence LaForest
Wichita, KS Track Boston, MA
316-978-6448 Dr. Lamont Steedle 617-373-5964
Rick.LeCompte@Wichita.edu Towson, MD f.laforest@neu.edu
410-704-3226
lsteedle@towson.edu Salem State College
KENTUCKY
Graduate Certificate in Financial
Bellarmine University Planning
Executive Certificate in Financial Ms. Raminder Luther
Planning
Salem, MA
Ms. Linda Bailey
978-542-7006
Louisville, KY
raminder.luther@salemstate.edu
502-452-8161
lbailey@bellarmine.edu
Rev. 3/05
E D U C AT I O N 19
Suffolk University MINNESOTA MISSOURI

B.S.B.A., Financial Planning Metropolitan State University Central Missouri State University
Concentration Executive Certificate in Financial Minor for a Bachelor's Degree,
Certificate in Financial Planning Planning Personal Financial Planning
Mr. Ki C. Han, CFP® Ms. Paula Ball Certificate in Personal Financial
Boston, MA St. Paul, MN Planning
617-573-8561 612-659-7254 Dr. Jo Lynne Koehn, CFP®
khan@suffolk.edu paula.ball@metrostate.edu Warrensburg, MO
660-543-4631
Minnesota State University – koehn@cmsu1.cmsu.edu
MICHIGAN Mankato (*)
Central Michigan University B.S., Financial Planning Track Missouri Southern State University
B.S.B.A., Personal Financial Planning Dr. Chan Lee B.S.B.A., Finance and Economics
Dr. R. Gene Stout, CFP ® Mankato, MN Certificate in Financial Planning
Mount Pleasant, MI 507-389-2076 Professional Certificate in Financial
989-774-3362 chan.lee@mnsu.edu Planning
r.gene.stout@CMICH.edu Dr. Richard Rawlins
Financial Planning Certificate Program Joplin, MO
Grand Valley State University Ms. Jean Clarke 417-625-9716
Certificate in Financial Planning Mankato, MN rawlins-r@mssu.edu
Program
507-389-3283
Dr. Gregg Dimkoff University of Missouri – Columbia
jean.clarke@mnsu.edu
Grand Rapids, MI J.D./M.S., Dual Degree Program with
616-331-7428 School of Law and Personal
University of Minnesota Financial Planning Department
dimkoffg@gvsu.edu
Executive Certificate in Financial M.S, in Personal Financial Planning
Planning
Northern Michigan University B.S., Major in Personal Financial
Mr. Joseph T. Bork Planning
B.S., Accounting/Financial Planning Minneapolis, MN B.S., Agriculture Economics Major/
B.S., Personal Financial Planning 612-624-7535 Personal Financial Planning Minor
Certificate in Personal Financial jbork@csom.umn.edu Certificate in Personal Financial
Planning
Planning
Dr. Charles Rayhorn, CFP ®
Dr. Deanna L. Sharpe, CFP ®
Marquette, MI MISSISSIPPI
Columbia, MO
906-227-1839 Delta State University
573-882-9652
crayhorn@nmu.edu B.B.A., Business Administration with
sharped@missouri.edu
Finance Emphasis
Oakland University Dr. Billy Carl Moore, CFP ®
University of Missouri – Kansas City
Personal Financial Planning Certificate Cleveland, MS
Program 662-846-4201
Mr. James Randall Gardner, CFP ®
Ms. Sarah Serra Prucha bmoore@deltastate.edu
Kansas City, MO
Rochester, MI
816-916-8844
248-370-4513 Mississippi State University
rgpfp@aol.com
sba-ce@oakland.edu B.B.A., Major in Risk Management,
Insurance and Financial Planning
Certificate in Financial Planning University of Missouri – St. Louis
Walsh College
Dr. Edwin Duett B.S. in Business Administration,
M.S.F., Personal Financial Planning
Emphasis in Finance, Track
B.B.A., Personal Financial Planning Mississippi State, MS
Specialization in Personal Financial
Personal Financial Planning Certificate 662-325-2341 Planning
Program eduett@cobilan.msstate.edu Dr. Thomas H. Eyssell
Mr. Joseph Weglarz St Louis, MO
Troy, MI University of Southern Mississippi 314-516-6273
248-349-5454 B.S. Finance, Personal Financial eyssellt@msx.umsl.edu
admissions@walshcollege.edu Planning Emphasis
Dr. John M. Clark, CFP®
Western Michigan University Hattiesburg, MS MONTANA
B.B.A., Major in Financial Planning 601-266-5766 Montana State University
Financial Planning Certificate Program clarkj@cba.usm.edu (Great Plains Interactive Education)
Mr. Ajay Samant M.S. in Family Financial Planning
Kalamazoo, MI University of Southern Mississippi – Certificate in Family Financial Planning
Gulf Coast Dr. Deborah Haynes
269-387-5722
Financial Planning Program Bozeman, MT
samant@wmich.edu
Ms. Dayonne McGuire 406-994-5013
Long Beach, MS dhaynes@montana.edu
228-867-8778
dayonne.mcguire@usm.edu
Rev. 3/05
20 E D U C AT I O N
NEBRASKA NEW YORK Molloy College

Metropolitan Community College Alfred State College Financial Planning Certificate
Certificate of Achievement, Personal B.B.A., Technology Management – Mr. Louis Cino
Financial Planning Financial Services Planning Rockville Center, NY
Ms. Lori Lothringer Mr. Winfred G. Jacob, CFP® 516-678-5000
Omaha, NE Wellsville, NY lcino@molloy.edu
402-537-3830 800-281-9762
llothringer@metropo.mccneb.edu Jacobwg@alfredstate.edu Mount Saint Mary College
M.B.A.,Concentration in Professional
University of Nebraska College of Saint Rose Financial Planning
(Great Plains Interactive Education) B.S. in Business Administration, Financial Planning Certificate Program
M.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences Financial Planning Concentration Mr. David Rant
with a Specialization in Family Financial Planning Certificate Newburgh, NY
Financial Planning Dr. Severin Carlson 845-569-3124
Certificate in Family Financial Planning Albany, NY rant@msmc.edu
Dr. Sheran Cramer 212-636-6761
Omaha, NE carlsons@strose.edu New York University
402-554-2450
scramer@unomaha.edu Fordham University Intensive Certificate in Financial Planning
Personal Financial Planning Ms. Nadene Maresca
Specialization (M.B.A., with a Dual
NEVADA Concentration in Finance and New York, NY
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Accounting/Taxation) 212-992-3323
Executive Certificate in Financial Mr. Paul Bochner nadene.maresca@nyu.edu
Planning New York, NY
Ms. Ann Tate 212-636-6761 Pace University
Las Vegas, NV bochner@fordham.edu CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
702-895-3867 Certification Professional
tate@ccmail.nevada.edu Education Program
Lehman College – The City University
of New York Ms. Susan Teracino
Certificate Program in Personal White Plains, NY
NEW JERSEY Financial Planning 914-422-4336
Fairleigh Dickinson University Mr. Albert Weiner steracino@pace.edu
Financial Planning Certificate Program Bronx, NY
Ms. Valerie Barnes 718-960-8666 St. John's University
Madison, NJ ceducate@lehman.cuny.edu Traditional Program in Financial
973-443-8990 Planning
barnes@fdu.edu Long Island University – CW Post Executive Certificate in Financial
Campus Planning
New Jersey City University Certificate in Financial Planning Ms. Wendy Cohen
M.S. in Finance, Professional Financial Mr. Kendall Johnson New York, NY
Planning Concentration Greenvale, NY 212-277-5161
Certificate in Professional Financial 516-299-3873 cohenw@stjohns.edu
Planning
kendall.johnson@liu.edu
Ms. Rosilyn H. Overton, CFP ® SUNY – Cobleskill
Jersey City, NJ B.B.A., Technology Management –
Marist College
718-631-4000 Financial Services
Financial Planning Certificate Program
roverton@njcu.edu Financial Planning Certificate Program
Ms. Dianne Landau-Flayter
Mr. Charles Moran, CFP ®
Fishkill, NY
Rutgers University Cobleskill, NY
845-897-9648
B.S., Accounting 518-255-5457
dianne.landau-flayter@marist.edu
B.S., Finance moranca@cobleskill.edu
Professional Financial Planning
Program Medaille College
Mr. Michael S. Long, CFP ® M.B.A.,Concentration in Financial NORTH CAROLINA
Planning Appalachian State University
Newark, NJ
B.S., Financial Services B.S.B.A., Finance and Banking
973-353-5471
Certificate in Financial Planning Certificate in Financial Planning
mikessam@aol.com
Mr. Evan S. Wardner, CFP ® Executive Certificate in Financial
Buffalo, NY Planning
716-884-3281 Dr. Ivan C. Roten, CFP ®
ewardner@medaille.edu Boone, NC
828-262-6943
rotenic@appstate.edu
Rev. 3/05
E D U C AT I O N 21
Campbell University NORTH DAKOTA CFP ® Certification Education Program

Master’s of Trust and Investment North Dakota State University Dr. Bill Rives
Management (Great Plains Interactive Education) Columbus, OH
Minor in Financial Planning M.S. in Family Financial Planning 614-292-6436
B.B.A., Trust and Investment Certificate in Family Financial Planning rives.4@osu.edu
Management 3/2 MBA
Dr. Greg Sanders
B.B.A., Trust and Investment
Management Pre-Law Fargo, ND University of Akron
B.B.A., Trust & Investment 701-231-8272 B.S.B.A., Finance
Management; Minor in Financial greg.sanders@ndsu.nodak.edu Dr. Karen Eilers Lahey
Planning Akron, OH
B.B.A., Trust and Investment 330-972-5436
Management Pre-Law 3/2 MBA OHIO
klahey@uakron.edu
Dr. Jimmy Witherspoon Bowling Green State University
Buies Creek, NC B.S.B.A., Specializing in Finance with a
Concentration in Financial University of Toledo
910-893-1387 Certificate Program in Financial
Planning
witherspoon@mailcenter.campbell.edu Planning
Planning Dr. Linda Bowyer
Duke University Dr. Francis E. Laatsch, CFP ® Toledo, OH
Executive Certificate in Financial Bowling Green, OH 419-530-5221
Planning linda.bowyer@utoledo.edu
419-372-2668
Ms. Dee Holland
flaatsc@cba.bgsu.edu
Durham, NC Wright State University
919-668-1836 B.S., Financial Services
Cuyahoga Community College
dholland@duke.edu Mr. William Ross Wood, CFP ®
Planning Dayton, OH
Guilford College Mr. Scott Burke 937-775-2902
CFP ® Certification Education Program Cleveland, OH william.wood@wright.edu
Ms. Beth Parks 216-987-5846
Greensboro, NC Xavier University
336-316-2266 D.N. Myers University Executive Certificate in Financial
bparks2@guilford.edu Master’s of Financial Planning Planning
B.S., Business Administration Ms. Sue Bensman
Queens University of Charlotte Certificate in Financial Planning Cincinatti, OH
Financial Planner Program Mr. Mike Joseph 513-745-3396
Ms. Nancy Goode Cleveland, OH bensman@xu.edu
Charlotte, NC 216-765-8362
704-337-2538 mjoseph@dnmyers.edu Finance Certificate in Financial
gooden@queens.edu Planning
Franklin University Dr. James Pawlukiewicz
University of North Carolina – B.S., Finance, Financial Planning Cincinatti, OH
Charlotte Concentration 513-745-3066
Financial Planner Program Mr. Tony Emanuel pawlukiewicz@xavier.edu
Ms. Ann A. Brown Columbus, OH
Charlotte, NC 614-341-6331
OKLAHOMA
704-330-5214 emanuela@franklin.edu
Northeastern State University
abrown@email.uncc.edu
B.B.A., Accounting, Concentration in
John Carroll University Financial Planning
Western Carolina University Executive Certificate in Financial B.B.A., Finance, Concentration in
Financial Planning Certificate Program Planning Financial Planning
B.S.B.A., Finance with a Concentration Ms. Katharine H. Campbell CFP ® Certification Education Program
in Financial Planning University Heights, OH Ms. Denise L. Deason-Toyne
Dr. Grace Allen 216-397-4190 Tahlequah, OK
Cullowhee, NC kcampbell@jcu.edu 918-456-5511 x2912
828-227-3189
toynedd@nsuok.edu
alleng@email.wcu.edu Ohio State University
B.S., Family Resource Management Oklahoma City University
Financial Planning Track
Financial Planning Program
Dr. Jonathan Fox
Ms. Jennifer Bradford
Columbus, OH
Oklahoma City, OK
614-292-4561
405-208-5110
fox.99@osu.edu
cpe@okcu.edu
Rev. 3/05
22 E D U C AT I O N
Oklahoma State University Penn State Erie – The Behrend College SOUTH CAROLINA
(Great Plains Interactive Education) B.S. in Business (several majors) with Clemson University
M.S. in Family Financial Planning Credit Certificate in Financial B.S., Financial Management with a
Planning Study Area in Financial Planning
Dr. Lona Robertson
Mrs. Kay N. Johnson, CFP ® Dr. John Alexander, Jr.
Stillwater, OK
Erie, PA Clemson, SC
405-744-9531
knj2@psu.edu 864-656-0547
osu-ches@okstate.edu
alexanj@clemson.edu
Pennsylvania College of Technology
OREGON Competency Credential in Financial College of Charleston
University of Portland Planning
Financial Planning Education
Executive Certificate in Financial Baccalaureate Degree, Minor in Certificate Program
Planning Financial Planning
Ms. Jessica Hartzog
Ms. Elise Petersen Dr. Roy Fletcher
North Charleston, SC
Portland, OR Williamsport, PA
843-953-6684
503-943-8420 570-326-3761
north@cofc.edu
petersen@up.edu rfletche@pct.edu
Lander University
Saint Joseph's University
PENNSYLVANIA Professional Financial Planning
M.S., Financial Services Administration Program
The American College (*) Dr. Christopher Coyne, CFP® Mr. James Benton
Master of Sciences in Financial Services Philadelphia, PA Greenwood, SC
Dr. Walt Woerheide 610-660-1668 864-388-8302
Bryn Mawr, PA ccoyne@sju.edu jbenton@lander.edu
610-526-1398
joannep@amercoll.edu Slippery Rock University Midlands Technical College
B.S.B.A., B.S., B.A., Various Majors and CFP ® Certification Education Program
CFP ® Certification Curriculum Minors
Ms. Patsy Towery
Mr. King McGlaughon Certificate in Personal Financial
Planning Columbia, SC
Bryn Mawr, PA
Dr. John M. Misner, CFP ® 803-732-5256
610-526-1311
Slippery Rock, PA toweryp@mtc.mid.tec.sc.us
kingm@amercoll.edu
724-738-2575
john.misner@sru.edu University of South Carolina
Duquesne University
CFP ® Certification Education Program
Executive Certificate in Financial
Planning Widener University Mr. Charlie Farrell
Ms. Marianne Leister Master’s in Business Administration – Columbia, SC
Pittsburgh, PA Financial Planning Track rlippert@moore.sc.edu
412-396-4933 M.S., Taxation
leister@duq.edu B.S., Economics/Financial Services Track
SOUTH DAKOTA
Colorado Technical University – Sioux
Edinboro University – Pennsylvania Ms. Lisa Bussom Falls Campus
B.S., Business Administration/Financial Chester, PA Bachelor of Science in Finance
Services 610-499-4305 Certificate in Personal Financial
Dr. Michael Hannan lisa.b.bussom@widener.edu Planning
Edinboro, PA Mr. Robert Erkonen
814-732-2407 Sioux Falls, SD
RHODE ISLAND
hannan@edinboro.edu 605-361-0200
Bryant University
rerkonen@sf.coloradotech.edu
Mercyhurst College
Planning
B.A., Finance South Dakota State University
Ms. Jennifer Chasse
Certificate in Financial Planning (Great Plains Interactive Education)
Smithfield, RI
Mr. Robert D. Cullen, CFP® M.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences
401-232-6501
Erie, PA Certificate in Family Financial Planning
jchasse@bryant.edu
814-824-2332 Dr. Bernadine Enevoldsen
rcullen@mercyhurst.edu Brookings, SD
Rhode Island College
Masters of Professional Accountancy 605-688-4328
Moravian College bernadine_enevoldsen@sdstate.edu
Dr. Charles Snow
Certificate Program in Personal
Providence, RI
Financial Planning
401-456-9528
Mr. John D. Rossi, III, CFP ®
csnow@ric.edu
Bethlehem, PA
610-861-1380
mejdr01@moravian.edu
Rev. 3/05
E D U C AT I O N 23
TENNESSEE Southern Methodist University Texas Tech University

Belmont University Financial Planning Certificate Program Ph.D., Agricultural Economics/Minor in
Certificate in Financial Planning Ms. Amy Claire Heitzman Personal Financial Planning
Ms. Angela Carlson Dallas, TX Ph.D., Finance/Minor in Personal
Financial Planning
Nashville, TN 214-768-1022
Dr. A. William Gustafson
615-460-6458 cpfp@smu.edu
Lubbock, TX
carlsona@mail.belmont.edu
806-742-5050 x236
St. Edward's University
bill.gustafson@ttu.edu
Christian Brothers University Graduate Certificate in Financial
Certificate in Financial Planning Planning
M.B.A., Concentration in Financial M.S., Personal Financial
Ms. Jacque Mahr Planning/M.B.A.
Planning
Memphis, TN M.S., Personal Financial Planning/J.D.
Dr. Amy Burnett
901-321-3315 M.S., Personal Financial Planning
Austin, TX
aaretz@cbu.edu M.S., Personal Finance/M.S. Finance
512-448-8658
amyburne@admin.stedwards.edu B.S., Personal Financial Planning
East Tennessee State University Graduate Certificate in Personal
Financial Planning Certificate Program Financial Planning
St. Mary's University
Dr. Michael McKinney Undergraduate Minor in Personal
Master of Accounting, Financial Financial Planning
Johnson City, TN Planning Track
423-439-5391 Dr. Vickie L. Hampton, CFP ®
Mr. Mark B. Persellin, CFP ®
mckinney@etsu.edu Lubbock, TX
San Antonio, TX
806-742-5050 x227
210-431-2038
University of Tennessee – Knoxville vickie.hampton@ttu.edu
mpersellin@stmarytx.edu
Personal Financial Planning Program
Ms. Mary Jerger Ph.D., Consumer Economics and
M.B.A., Financial Planning Environmental Design with
Knoxville, TN Concentration Specialization in Personal Financial
865-974-0150 Ms. Monica Parzinger Planning
ProfessionalPgms@utk.edu San Antonio, TX Mr. Gordon Hampton
210-436-3709 Lubbock, TX
mpersellin@stmarytx.edu 806-742-5050 x240
TEXAS
Angelo State University gordon.hampton@ttu.edu
Texas A&M University – Commerce
B.B.A., Finance Major with Financial
Planning Option B.B.A., Minor in Personal Financial B.S., Agricultural Economics/Minor in
Planning Personal Financial Planning
Dr. Thomas A. Bankston
Certificate in Financial Planning Dr. Emmett Elam
San Angelo, TX
Dr. Kenneth M. Washer, CFP ® Lubbock, TX
915-942-2046 x245
Commerce, TX 806-742-0277
thomas.bankston@angelo.edu
903-886-5674 emmett.elam@ttu.edu
kenneth_washer@tamu-commerce.edu
Baylor University
B.B.A., Financial Services and Planning University of Dallas
Texas Christian University M.B.A., Financial Planning Services
Dr. Tom L. Potts, CFP ®
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM Certification Financial Planning Certificate Program
Waco, TX
Education Program Mr. Alan Goldfarb, CFP ®
254-710-6139
Dr. Joseph B. Lipscomb Irving, TX
Tom_Potts@Baylor.edu
Fort Worth, TX 972-960-1100
817-257-7546 alang@gsm.udallas.edu
Murray State University
cfs@tcu.edu
Bachelor of Arts in Business, Finance,
Financial Planning Option University of Houston – Main Campus
Texas State University – San Marcos Personal Financial Planning Program
Dr. David W. Durr, CFP ®
B.B.A., Major in Finance Ms. Michelle Poullard
Houston, TX
Certificate in Financial Planning Houston, TX
270-762-6275
Program
david.durr@murraystate.edu 713-743-4800
Dr. Holland Toles
mpoullard@uh.edu
San Marcos, TX
Rice University – School of Continuing
512-245-3242
Studies University of North Texas
ht04@txstate.edu
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification B.B.A., Finance, Financial Planning
Education Program Track
Ms. Edie Carlson Certificate Program in Personal
Houston, TX Financial Planning, Dallas
713-348-4803 x606 Dr. Randy Guttery
edie@rice.edu Denton, TX
940-369-7277
guttery@unt.edu
Rev. 3/05
24 E D U C AT I O N
Certificate Program in Personal VIRGINIA WASHINGTON

Financial Planning Georgetown University City University
Mr. Ramon Fernandez, CFP ® Executive Certificate in Financial M.B.A. in Personal Financial Planning
Houston, TX Planning Graduate Certificate in Personal
713-525-2103 Ms. Crista Cueto Financial Planning
ramonf@stthorn.edu Arlington, VA Mr. Marvin Will
202-687-7302 Bellevue, WA
University of Texas – Austin cac49@georgetown.edu 425-709-5456
Financial Planning Certificate Program mwill@cityu.edu
Ms. Lori Franz Old Dominion University
Austin, TX Professional Financial Planning Seattle Pacific University
512-471-2924 Program Certificate Program
l.franz@mail.utexas.edu Ms. Pamela M. Cornell Mr. Nathan Pritchard
Norfolk, VA Seattle, WA
University of Texas – San Antonio 757-683-4603 206-281-2775
Personal Financial Planning Certificate Pcornell@adu.edu npritchard@spu.edu
Program
Mr. Jim Jackson Virginia Commonwealth University Seattle University
San Antonio, TX B.S., in Business; Major in Finance; Executive Certificate in Financial
210-458-4092 Financial Planning Track Planning
jejackson@utsa.edu Mr. David E. Upton Mr. T. Noble Foster
Richmond, VA Seattle, WA
804-828-1620 206-296-5721
UTAH deupton@vcu.edu tfoster@seattleu.edu
Utah State University
Master of Accounting Financial Planning Certificate Program (*)
M.B.A. Ms. Jan Allen WISCONSIN
Undergraduate Emphasis in Personal Richmond, VA University of Wisconsin – Madison
Financial Planning (for accounting B.S., Consumer Science, Personal
majors) 804-828-3165
Finance Concentration
Minor in Personal Financial Planning, corp-ed@vcu.edu
Dr. Michael Gutter
Emphasis in Personal Financial
Planning Madison, WI
Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic
Personal Financial Planning Certificate Institute & State University) 608-262-5498
Program Online B.S. in Apparel, Housing and Resource msgutter@wisc.edu
Dr. E. Vance Grange, CFP ® Management, Family Financial
Logan, UT Management Option University of Wisconsin – River Falls
435-753-9666 Dr. Ruth Lytton Financial Planning Certificate
vance.grange@usu.edu Blacksburg, VA Ms. Katrina Larsen
540-231-6678 River Falls, WI
Westminster College rlytton@vt.edu 715-425-3256
M.B.A. katrina.larsen@uwrf.edu
Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Services
Certificate in Financial Services Waukesha County Technical College
(Graduate) Certificate in Financial Planning
Ms. Lauren Lore Mr. Roger Kerkenbush
Salt Lake City, UT Pewaukee, WI
801-832-2648 262-691-5228
llore@westminstercollege.edu rkerkenbush@wctc.edu
Rev. 3/05
E X A M I N AT I O N 25
CFP ® Certification Examination

The CFP® Certification Examination is designed to assess your ability to apply financial planning knowledge to
real-life financial planning situations. By passing this exam, you demonstrate to the public that you are at the
appropriate level of competency required to practice financial planning.
ELIGIBILITY
You can apply for the CFP ® Certification Examination when you have successfully fulfilled the education
requirement (see page 7).
DEVELOPMENT
To develop exams that reflect the current practice of financial planning, CFP Board conducts regular job
analyses by reviewing the typical tasks performed by planners and assessing the knowledge and skills
needed to perform these tasks.
Valid job-related exam topics are developed and exam questions written by task forces that include
practicing financial planners and financial planning educators. The exam questions are subjected to a
rigorous review by CFP Board’s Board of Examiners and subcommittees of content experts composed of
practicing planners and educators. Each question is answered – and assessed – by practicing financial
planners. A list of exam topics can be found on page 33.
Samples of retired exam questions may be accessed on CFP Board’s Web site at www.CFP.net/become.
The sample multiple-choice questions provide you with an understanding of question format, but
should not be used as a practice exam or indicator of exam preparedness.
Typically, new legislation and changes, such as tax law changes, will not be tested on the exam until six
months following the date enacted.
Questions and Case Scenarios
All questions on the CFP ® Certification Examination are presented in a multiple-choice

format. There are two primary types of questions. The first type is in the form of a brief
fact or scenario. Enough facts are given to allow the tester to answer from one to six
questions that follow. These questions are worth two points each.
The second type of question is presented following an extensive case scenario. After
reading each scenario, you will be asked to answer 10 to 20 multiple-choice questions.
Typically, there are three case scenarios and three corresponding sets of questions on each
exam. Each case question is worth three points.
Balance of Emphasis
The CFP ® Certification Examination will test your ability to integrate knowledge from all
of CFP Board’s specified topic areas (see page 33). Questions may focus on discrete topics
or may require knowledge of several topics. Each exam attempts to achieve a distribution
of the topics based on the target percentages shown for each category.
Go to www.CFP.net/become to view sample exam questions, find a list of financial planning topics
covered on the exam and view upcoming exam deadlines.
Rev. 3/05
26 E X A M I N AT I O N
Cognitive Level
The cognitive levels that are tested on the CFP ® Certification Examination are:
• Knowledge
• Comprehension/Application
• Analysis/Synthesis
• Evaluation
The CFP ® Certification Examination measures your critical thinking and problem-solving
ability, with less emphasis on the first cognitive level.
LOGISTICS
Test Dates
The CFP ® Certification Examination is scheduled to last 10 hours and is held three times a
year, generally on the third Friday and Saturday of March, July and November. The exam
consists of one four-hour session on Friday afternoon, and two three-hour sessions on
Saturday. See the exam application at the back of this booklet or visit
www.CFP.net/become for test dates and locations.
Application Submittal
Applications for the CFP ® Certification Examination may be downloaded at

www.CFP.net/become, or you may use the form at the back of this booklet. Once com-
pleted, submit the application to:
CFP Board
Exam Application Department
1670 Broadway, Suite 600
Denver, CO 80202-4809
F: 303-860-7388
Your application may be submitted via fax with payment charged to a MasterCard,
American Express or Visa account (please provide the expiration date). Since CFP Board is
not responsible for incomplete or illegible fax transmittals, we suggest that faxes be fol-
lowed by hardcopy within five working days, together with evidence of the successful fax
transmittal. After creating an account, you may verify that CFP Board has received your
exam application at www.CFP.net/login.
Your completed application must be received by the printed deadline. (Note: Deadline
date refers to the date of receipt by CFP Board, not the date of postmark. Applications
must be complete at the time of receipt to avoid missing the registration deadline. The
application deadline for each exam is approximately seven weeks before the exam date.
Consult the exam application or CFP Board’s Web site for exact dates.)
Go to www.CFP.net/become to download the exam application. Login at www.CFP.net/login to verify

that your exam application has been accepted.
Rev. 3/05
Only complete exam applications will be processed. The following constitutes a “com-
plete” application:
• Application (in full) signed and dated

• Exam fee (in full)
• Appropriate qualifying documentation (e.g., transcript, certificate, diploma or license)
Your exam application will be reviewed by CFP Board; however, your exam will be admin-
istered by Thomson Prometric, a subsidiary of Educational Testing Services (ETS) in
Princeton, New Jersey. Questions about the actual administration of the exam, such as
schedule, admission tickets or score reports, should be directed to:
Thomson Prometric
664 Rosedale Road
Princeton, NJ 08540-2218
P: 609-720-6811
F: 609-720-6550
Alternate Test Dates and Special Accommodations
If you cannot test on Fridays and/or Saturdays because of religious beliefs, CFP Board will
make alternate testing arrangements. A written request for such accommodations must
be attached to the exam application, along with a letter from your religious leader.
CFP Board will make reasonable accommodations for anyone who, because of a disability,
will need special accommodations to sit for the CFP ® Certification Examination. A physi-
cian’s letter outlining the special accommodations needed must be attached to the exam
application.
International Test Sites
CFP Board will establish international test sites for the CFP ® Certification Examination on
a case-by-case basis for a site fee of $1,200 in addition to the regular exam fee.
Fee
The fee for the CFP ® Certification Examination is $595, and must be paid in full by the
application deadline. Provisions for refunds and conditions of forfeiture of fees are
described in the “Withdrawal” section on page 28.
Veteran Affairs
The fee for the CFP ® Certification Examination is eligible for Veteran Affairs (VA) reim-
bursement through the License and Certification Approval System (LACAS) under United
States Code Title 38, Chapter 3689. Go to www.gibill.va.gov/education (Licensing and
Certification section) for more information.
Scheduling Confirmation
Approximately one to two weeks after CFP Board has received your exam application,
you will be sent confirmation of your exam registration. Once you have created an
account, you can also confirm your exam status with CFP Board at www.CFP.net/login.
Set up a free account at www.CFP.net/login to get immediate updates on important exam

information.
Rev. 3/05
You will be sent an admission ticket two to three weeks before the exam date. The exact
time and location of the exam are printed on the ticket. You must bring the ticket with
you to the exam on both days. In general, you must report to the testing facility by 12:30
p.m. on Friday and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. A government issued photo ID, matching the
name under which you registered, must be presented at the exam center.
Withdrawal
If you are unable to take the exam once you have registered, you may, in accordance with the
deadlines listed below, choose one of the following options:
1. Withdraw from the exam by notifying CFP Board, pay a $50 rescheduling fee and register to
take the exam at a later date.
2. Withdraw from the exam by notifying CFP Board and request a refund of the refund-
able portion of your exam fee.
3. Withdraw from the exam by notifying CFP Board and maintain a credit (exam fee minus
$50) with CFP Board.
You may re-register to take the exam or obtain a refund of the refundable portion of
your exam fee from any time after the withdrawal until 24 months from the date of the
exam for which you last registered. However, if you fail to re-register for an exam or
obtain a refund within this 24-month period, the entire exam fee will be forfeited.
The refundable portion of your exam fee is the amount of the exam fee, less a $50 can-
cellation fee.
Exam Dates Application Deadline Notification of Withdrawal

Received by
July 15-16, 2005 June 1, 2005 June 7, 2005
November 18-19, 2005 October 5, 2005 October 11, 2005
March 17-18, 2006 February 1, 2006 February 7, 2006
Requests for withdrawal or re-registering received after the Notification of Withdrawal dates
listed above will not be honored and the entire exam fee will be forfeited.
Failure to Appear
If you fail to appear for the exam, you will forfeit the entire exam fee. Certain allowances
are made for medical or other emergencies.
Medical or Other Emergencies
CFP Board will consider waiving the withdrawal penalties or fee forfeiture in case of a
medical emergency. Your request for such a waiver must be made in writing and sup-
ported by documentation from a physician. Your request must be received within three
weeks after the exam. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Rev. 3/05
What to Bring to the Exam
You should bring the following items to the exam site:
• Admission ticket
• Government issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license, matching name under
which you registered
• #2 pencils (or other comparable soft graphite pencils)
• One or more battery-powered, hand-held financial function calculator(s)*
No food or drink (including water) is permitted in the exam room. Individuals who require
access to food or drink during any of the testing sessions, for documented medical reasons,
should seek special accommodations under the “Alternate Test Dates and Special
Accommodations” section on page 27.
The exam booklets will contain other needed information, such as income tax rate tables
for individuals, corporations and estates and trusts; income tax standard deductions,
phaseout thresholds for itemized deductions and personal exemptions; the estate and gift
tax table and a table of applicable credit amounts; investment formulas; and scratch
paper. The investment formulas provided in each test booklet are listed on page 40.
Misconduct
You will be expected to conduct yourself in an ethical manner before, during and after
the CFP ® Certification Examination. Actions such as, but not limited to, using any prohib-
ited aids in connection with the exam, attempting to give or receive assistance, or
otherwise communicate in any form with another person about the exam during the
exam administration, will result in investigation by an independent entity and/or CFP
Board. In some cases, CFP Board may take disciplinary action, if appropriate. If you are
found to have demonstrated exam misconduct, your exam may not be scored, the exam
fee may be forfeited and you may be barred from taking any CFP Board exam for three
years from the date of the incident.
Before taking the exam you will sign a statement prohibiting you from sharing exam
questions with any entity other than CFP Board. Revealing questions may result in discipli-
nary action including, but not limited to, monetary restitution, being permanently barred
from taking any CFP Board exam or prosecution under copyright law. If a review course
provider or academic program asks you to reveal specific questions – as opposed to a gen-
eral impression of the exam and strengths/deficiencies in that provider’s program – please
report the incident to CFP Board.
SCORING
Answers to the exam questions must be recorded on the answer sheet. No credit is given for answers
noted in the exam booklet. Select only one answer for each question. Multiple responses to a single
question will be scored as incorrect. Your score is based on the number of correctly answered questions.
*You will need a financial calculator with an internal rate of return (IRR) function for problems with unequal periodic cash
flows. Calculators with alphabetic keys will not be permitted.
Rev. 3/05
Exam Results
Within six weeks after the exam date, you will be sent your exam results via first-class
mail. Exam results will not be sent by express mail. As soon as the results are final, they
will be made available on CFP Board’s Web site at www.CFP.net/login (you will need to
log in to access your personal information). An e-mail will be sent to all testers to notify
them when the final results have been posted.
Neither CFP Board nor Thomson Prometric will disclose exam results over the phone or by
fax. All exam books are the property of CFP Board and will not be returned to you. Ten
days after exam reports have been mailed, duplicate exam reports may be requested. This
request should be made to:
Exam Administration Office

Thomson Prometric
664 Rosedale Road
Princeton, NJ 08540-2218
P: 609-720-6811
F: 609-720-6550
Pass Score
The CFP ® Certification Examination is a pass or fail exam. The primary goal of a certifica-
tion exam is to separate those who have met the certification standard (passing) from
those who have not (failing). Certification exams are generally constructed to provide the
best precision at the passing point. They are not designed to rank-order testers.
Therefore, rank-ordering scores in a fashion that would suggest the degree to which an
individual failed (or passed) would be an inappropriate use of test results.
The method used to score your exam (a modified Angoff method) is in accordance with
voluntary certification examination standards. Establishing the pass score is based upon
a “criterion-referenced” rather than “norm-referenced” methodology. The norm-refer-
enced methodology, which is common in the academic world, uses a bell curve to
establish the “average” score needed to pass the exam. Whether you pass or fail a
norm-referenced exam depends on your relative standing in comparison to the other
test takers.
In contrast, the criterion-referenced methodology does not rely on a bell curve. Your
performance will not be ranked in comparison to others taking the test. Instead, your
performance is scored against an established level of competency. Also, although every
effort is made to calibrate test difficulty level in advance, there always will be slight
differences in the overall ease or difficulty of one exam as compared with another. So,
before the minimum passing score is set for this exam it will be statistically equated with
past exams. This means that you will not be advantaged if this exam is easier than past
exams, nor will you be disadvantaged if it is more difficult.
If you fail the exam, you will receive feedback on the topics on which your test perform-
ance was below the minimum competency level. Scores, percentages or grades are not
provided on this exam.
Be sure to keep your e-mail address up to date with CFP Board. As soon as exam results are final, you
will be sent an e-mail to visit www.CFP.net/login to view your exam status.
Rev. 3/05
RE-EXAMINATION PROCEDURES
If you fail the CFP ® Certification Examination and elect to retest, you are required to retake the entire
exam. There is no limit on the number of times you may retake the exam. You will have to pay the
current exam fee for each retake.
REVIEW AND APPEALS
For security reasons, exam material is not available for review. Neither the staff of Thomson Prometric
nor of CFP Board will discuss specific exam questions. You may submit your comments about exam
questions in writing to:
CFP Board’s Board of Examiners

Denver, CO 80202-4809
The Board of Examiners will review comments relating to the exam but will not make written responses
to comments.
If you feel your answer sheet was scored incorrectly, you may request a hand scoring for a $40 fee.
Submit a request to CFP Board by calling 800-487-1497 within 30 calendar days of the release of the
exam results. Requests made after the 30 days will not be honored. In the event there is a discrepancy
between the hand-scored and machine-scored results, hand-scored results will prevail.
Appeals of exam policies are handled by CFP Board’s Board of Examiners, which meets three times a
year. Specific requests for appeals must be made in writing and addressed to the Board of Examiners in
care of CFP Board. Appeals will be reviewed by the Board of Examiners at its regularly scheduled
meetings.
EXAM REVIEW COURSE PROVIDERS
The exam review course providers listed on the next page have met certain criteria established by CFP
Board. CFP Board does not assess the quality, nor does it endorse or recommend any one of the courses
or its materials. Review course providers’ performance ratios are not available from CFP Board.
When seeking review courses or study materials for the CFP ® Certification Examination, consider asking
the following questions of the provider:
• Do key personnel have the backgrounds required to develop and maintain the course? Is
a CFP ® certificant involved in the development and maintenance of the course material?
• How do I sign up, receive materials, ask questions or access faculty? Does the provider
have written complaint policies/procedures?
• Does the provider offer a live review course, and is there one scheduled in my area?
• What is the cost of the course and materials; dates of availability; cost of updates, if any?
• Does the provider possess the organizational and financial resources to carry out its
program on a continuing basis?
Rev. 3/05
LIST OF REVIEW COURSE PROVIDERS

A Professional Training Services Financial Planning Teaching Kenneth Zahn Inc. (*)
Company – DePaul University Association (FPTA) Mr. Kenneth J. Zahn, CFP ®
Mr. Joel M. Weiner, CFP ®
Mr. Thomas J. Rose, CFP ®
St. Petersburg, FL
Palatine, IL Glen Ellyn, IL 813-282-1941
847-705-3838 630-858-3782; 866-881-3500 www.KenZahn.com
www.pts-training.com www.fptaltd.com (live review course)
(self-study and/or live review course) (live review course)
Metropolitan State College
Anne Arundel Community College Financial Services Institute, Inc. (FSI) (*) of Denver
Ms. Penny Dolan Mr. Steven Syrmopoulos, CFP ®
Ms. Maria Ruybal Carrillo
Arnold, MD Tempe, AZ Denver, CO
410-777-2911 480-921-8816 303-556-6998
(live review course) www.fsi-online.net (live review course)
(self-study and/or live review course)
BISYS Educational Resources New York Center for Financial Studies
Mr. James F. Dalton, CFP® Florida Community College at Ms. Barbara Mulder
Atlanta, GA Jacksonville – Institute for Financial 212-221-3500 x308
800-211-4346 Studies bmulder@taifp.com
www.bisyseducation.com Ms. Melissa Chandler (live review course)
Jacksonville, FL
904-633-8114
College for Financial Planning (*) (live review course) New York University
Mr. Michael B. Cates, CFP ® Mr. Kyle Cunningham
Greenwood Village, CO New York, NY
303-220-4832 Florida Gulf Coast University 212-790-1323
www.fp.edu Dr. Robert D. Lovett, CFP ® (live review course)
(self-study and/or live review course) Fort Myers, FL
954-796-3067
www.fgcu.edu Rattiner’s Financial Planning Review
Cuyahoga Community College (live review course) Course for the CFP® Certification
Mr. Scott Burke Examination
Cleveland, OH Mr. Jeffrey H. Rattiner, CFP ®
216-987-5846 Insurance Achievement, Inc. Centennial, CO
Ms. Bettie Brumfield 720-529-1888
Baton Rouge, LA www.financialplanningfasttrack.com
Dearborn Financial Services/Kaplan 800-258-2432 (live review course)
University (*) www.insuranceachievement.com
Mr. Eric Hollowaty (self-study materials)
Chicago, IL Rice University – School of Continuing
800-621-9621 x4575 Studies
(live review course) Kaplan University (*) Ms. Edie Carlson
Mr. Keith R. Fevurly, CFP® Houston, TX
Davenport, IA 713-348-4803 x606
FinancialEducators4U.com 866-523-3473 www.scs.rice.edu
Mr. James Hasselback infofp@kaplancollege.edu (live review course)
Tallahassee, FL www.kaplancollege.edu
www.financialeducators4u.com (self-study and/or live review course)
Financial Planning Education Center Keir Educational Resources (*)

Ms. Mary L. Cardello, CFP® Ms. Shannon Bryant
Chapel Hill, NC Middletown, OH
919-942-1114 800-795-5347 x107
www.fpec.org www.keirsuccess.com
(online self-study and live review materials)
For the most up-to-date list of exam review course providers, visit CFP Board’s Web site at
www.CFP.net/become.
Rev. 3/05
TOPIC LIST FOR CFP ® CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION
The following topics, based on the 1999 Job Analysis Study, are the basis for the CFP ® Certification
Examinations. Each exam question will be linked to one of the following topics, in the approximate per-
centages indicated following the general headings. Questions may be at the evaluation level, which is
the highest cognitive level in Bloom’s taxonomy, or at any lower level. Questions often will be asked in
the context of the financial planning process.
In addition to being used for the CFP ® Certification Examination, this list indicates topic coverage
requirements to fulfill the pre-certification educational requirement, and the topics that will be granted
continuing education credit by CFP Board.
(References to sections (§) in this list refer to sections of the Internal Revenue Code.)
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF 3. CFP Board’s Financial Planning Practice 10. Client attitudes and behavioral
Standards characteristics
FINANCIAL PLANNING (13%)
A. Purpose and applicability A. Cultural
1. Financial planning process B. Content of each series (use most B. Family
A. Purpose, benefits and components current Practice Standards, as C. Emotional
B. Steps posted on CFP Board’s Web site at
www.CFP.net) D. Life cycle and age
1) Establishing client-planner E. Level of knowledge, experience
relationships C. Enforcing through Disciplinary
Rules and Procedures and expertise
2) Gathering client data and F. Risk tolerance
determining goals and
4. Personal financial statements
expectations 11. Educational funding
A. Balance sheet (statement of
3) Determining the client’s A. Needs analysis
financial position)
financial status by analyzing
and evaluating general B. Cash flow statement B. Tax credits and deductions
financial status, special needs, C. Pro Forma statements C. Qualified state tuition plans
insurance and risk manage- (§529 plans)
ment, investments, taxation, 5. Budgeting D. Education IRAs
employee benefits, retirement, A. Discretionary vs. non-discretionary E. Savings bonds or CDs
and/or estate planning
B. Financing strategies F. Government grants and loans
4) Developing and presenting the
financial plan C. Saving strategies G. Other sources
5) Implementing the financial plan H. Ownership of assets
6. Emergency fund planning
6) Monitoring the financial plan I. Tax ramifications
A. Adequacy of reserves
C. Responsibilities B. Liquidity vs. marketability 12. Financial planning for special
1) Financial planner C. Liquidity substitutes circumstances
2) Client A. Divorce
3) Other advisors 7. Credit and debt management B. Disabilities
A. Ratios C. Terminal illness
2. CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and B. Consumer debt
Professional Responsibility and D. Non-traditional families
C. Home equity loan and home E. Job change and job loss, including
Disciplinary Rules and Procedures
equity line of credit severance packages
A. Code of Ethics and Professional
D. Secured vs. unsecured debt F. Dependents with special needs
Responsibility
E. Bankruptcy
1) Preamble and applicability
F. Consumer protection laws 13. Economic concepts
2) Composition and scope
A. Supply and demand
3) Compliance 8. Buying vs. leasing B. Fiscal policy
4) Terminology A. Calculation C. Monetary policy
5) Principles B. Adjustable and fixed-rate loans D. Economic indicators
a) Principle 1 – Integrity C. Effect on financial statements E. Business cycles
b) Principle 2 – Objectivity
9. Function, purpose and regulation of F. Inflation, deflation and
c) Principle 3 – Competence disinflation
financial institutions
d) Principle 4 – Fairness G. Yield curve
A. Banks
e) Principle 5 – Confidentiality
B. Credit unions 14. Time value of money concepts
f) Principle 6 – Professionalism
C. Brokerage companies and calculations
g) Principle 7 – Diligence
D. Insurance companies A. Present value
6) Rules
E. Mutual fund companies B. Future value
B. Disciplinary Rules and Procedures
F. Other C. Ordinary annuity and annuity due
Rev. 3/05
D. Net Present Value (NPV) INSURANCE PLANNING AND E. Health Maintenance Organization
(HMO)
E. Internal Rate of Return (IRR) RISK MANAGEMENT (10%)
F. Irregular cash flows F. Medicare supplemental insurance
21. Principles of insurance G. Other
G. Inflation adjusted earning rates
A. Definitions and application
H. Serial payments 27. Disability income insurance (individual)
1) Risk
15. Characteristics and consequences of 2) Peril A. Occupational definitions and
types of entities application
3) Hazard
A. Sole proprietorship 1) Total
4) Law of large numbers
B. Partnership 2) Partial
5) Adverse selection
1) General 3) Residual
B. Response to risk
2) Limited B. Benefit period
1) Retain
3) Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) C. Elimination period
2) Transfer
4) Family Limited Partnership (FLP) D. Benefit amount
3) Control
C. Limited Liability Company (LLC) E. Riders
4) Reduce
D. Corporation F. Taxation of benefits
5) Avoid
1) S corporation C. Mortality vs. morbidity 28. Long-term care insurance
2) C corporation (individual and joint)
3) Professional Corporation (PC) 22. Analysis and evaluation of
A. Basic provisions
risk exposures
E. Association B. Eligibility
A. Personal
F. Trust C. Benefit amount and period
1) Death
G. Selection of business form D. Elimination period
2) Disability
H. Acquisition and disposition E. Inflation protection
3) Poor health
F. Nursing home and in-home care
16. Characteristics and consequences of 4) Unemployment
property titling G. Comparing and selecting policies
5) Outliving one’s capital
A. Common law vs. community property H. Tax implications and qualification
B. Property
B. Sole ownership I. Appropriateness of coverage
1) Real
C. Joint tenancy with right of 2) Personal 29. Life insurance
survivorship (JTWROS)
3) Auto A. Fundamentals
D. Tenancy by the entireties
C. Liability B. Types
E. Tenancy in common
1) Negligence C. Contractual provisions
F. Trust ownership
2) Libel D. Dividend options
G. Uniform Transfers to Minors Act
3) Slander E. Non-forfeiture and other options
(UTMA) and Uniform Gifts to
Minors Act (UGMA) 4) Malpractice F. Settlement options
D. Business-related risks G. Policy replacement
17. Financial services industry regulation E. Calculation of benefits
requirements H. Tax issues and strategies
A. Registration and licensing I. Policy ownership issues and
23. Legal aspects of insurance
strategies, including split-dollar
B. Reporting A. Indemnity
C. Compliance B. Insurable interest 30. Viatical settlements
D. State securities and insurance laws C. Contract requirements A. Legal principles
D. Contract characteristics B. Requirements
18. Business Law
C. Tax implications
A. Contracts 24. Property and casualty insurance
D. Planning
B. Torts (individual and business)
E. Ethical concepts and planning
C. Agency A. Real property
D. Negotiable instruments B. Automobile and recreational 31. Insurance needs analysis and
vehicles rationale
E. Professional liability
C. Business A. Life insurance amount required
F. Fiduciary liability
D. Business activity 1) Liquidity and survivor income
G. Arbitration and mediation
E. Personal property needs
19. Quantitative analysis F. Umbrella liability 2) Human life value
A. Probability analysis 3) Capital retention
25. General business liability
B. Modeling and simulation B. Disability insurance
A. Professional liability
C. Sensitivity analysis C. Long-term care insurance
B. Errors and omissions
D. Health insurance
20. Monetary settlement planning C. Directors and officers
E. Property insurance
A. Structured settlements D. Product liability
F. Liability insurance
B. Legal settlements
26. Health insurance (individual)
C. Lottery winnings and monetary 32. Taxation of life, disability and
windfalls A. Hospital-surgical long-term care insurance
D. Lump sum retirement B. Major medical A. Income
distributions C. Traditional indemnity B. Gift
E. Insurance proceeds D. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) C. Estate
F. Other
Rev. 3/05
D. Generation-Skipping Transfer 1) Fringe benefits 38. Non-qualified deferred compensation

Tax (GSTT) 2) Voluntary Employees A. Basic provisions and differences
E. Ownership issues Beneficiary Association (VEBA) from qualified plans
F. Beneficiary issues 3) Salary continuation plans B. Types of plans and applications
G. Withdrawals 4) Prepaid legal services 1) Supplemental Executive
5) Group long-term care Retirement Plans (SERPs)
33. Insurance policy selection insurance 2) Rabbi trusts
A. Purpose of coverage 6) Other 3) Secular trusts
B. Length of time required 4) Hybrids
C. Risk tolerance 36. Employee stock options
C. Tax implications
D. Cash flow constraints A. Basic provisions
1) Constructive receipt
1) Company restrictions
34. Insurance company selection and due 2) Substantial risk of forfeiture
2) Transferability
diligence D. Funding methods
3) Retirement
A. Financials E. Strategies
4) Vesting schedule
B. Ratios
5) Expiration 39. Employer/employee insurance arrange-
C. Ratings ments
6) Availability to non-employees
D. Mutual vs. stock (directors, board members, etc.) A. Business continuation (buy/sell) plans
E. Reinsurance 7) Cashless exercise B. Business overhead disability plan
F. Investments B. Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) C. Executive/owner benefits (§162)
G. Underwriting 1) Income tax implications D. Split-dollar
H. Federal and state law (regular, AMT, basis) E. Key employee insurance
a) Upon grant F. Transfer of ownership and tax issues
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS b) Upon exercise
PLANNING (8%) c) Upon sale INVESTMENT PLANNING (19%)
35. Employee benefit plans 2) Holding period requirements
40. Types and use of investment vehicles
A. Group life insurance 3) Disqualifying dispositions
A. Certificates of deposit and cash
1) Types and basic provisions 4) Planning opportunities and equivalents
strategies
a) Group term B. U.S. Government and agency
C. Non-qualified stock options securities
b) Group permanent
1) Income tax implications 1) Bills, notes and bonds
c) Dependent coverage
(regular, AMT, basis)
2) Income tax implications 2) Inflation-adjusted securities
a) Upon grant
3) Employee benefit analysis and 3) Treasury strips
b) Upon exercise
application C. Municipal bonds
c) Upon sale
B. Group disability insurance 1) General obligation
2) Gifting opportunities
1) Basic provisions and 2) Revenue
limitations a) Unvested/vested
D. Corporate bonds
a) Definitions of disability b) Exercised/unexercised
1) Investment grade
b) Own occupation limits c) Gift tax valuation
2) High-yield
c) Integration with Social d) Payment of gift tax
3) Convertible
Security, workers’ compen- 3) Planning opportunities and
sation or other income strategies 4) Callable
d) Income tax implications 4) Employee benefits analysis and E. Promissory notes
2) Employee benefit analysis and application F. Insurance-based investments
application D. Planning strategies for employees 1) Guaranteed Investment
C. Group medical insurance with both incentive stock options Contracts (GICs)
and non-qualified stock options 2) Annuities
1) Types and basic provisions
E. Election to include in gross income in a) Fixed
a) Indemnity
the year of transfer (§83(b) election) b) Variable
b) Preferred Provider
Organization (PPO) 37. Stock plans G. Stock
c) Health Maintenance A. Employee Stock Purchase Plans 1) Common
Organization (HMO) (ESPPs) 2) Preferred
d) Dental and vision plans 1) Basic provisions 3) Warrants and rights
2) Income tax implications 2) Income tax implications H. Derivatives
3) Employee benefit analysis and 3) Special tax benefits 1) Options
application 4) Employee benefit analysis and 2) Futures
4) COBRA provisions application I. Exchange traded funds
D. Cafeteria plans and flexible spend- B. Phantom stock and other J. Index securities
ing accounts employee stock plans
K. Investment companies
1) Basic provisions and eligible 1) Basic provisions
benefits 1) Unit investment trusts
2) Income tax implications
2) Income tax implications 2) Open-end mutual funds
3) Special tax benefits
3) Employee benefit analysis and 3) Closed-end investment
4) Employee benefit analysis and companies
application application
E. Other employee benefits L. Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)
Rev. 3/05
M. Real estate (investor-managed) D. Appropriate benchmarks 2) Short-term/long-term/

N. Private placements/venture capital E. Time- vs. dollar-weighted rate unrealized capital gains
O. Limited partnerships of return B. Stocks
P. Asset-backed securities F. Probability analysis, including 1) Tax management
Monte Carlo 2) Wash sale rule
Q. Natural resources
R. Tangible assets 47. Formula investing C. Bonds
S. American Depository Receipts (ADR) A. Dollar-cost averaging 1) Taxable Equivalent Yield (TEY)
B. Dividend reinvestment 2) Premium/discount
41. Types of investment risk considerations
C. Bond ladders and barbells
A. Inflation 3) SEC yield
D. Other
B. Interest rate
55. Investment strategies in tax-
C. Market 48. Investment strategies advantaged accounts
D. Business A. Market timing A. Capital gain vs. ordinary income
E. Liquidity B. Passive investing (indexing) B. Tax advantages
F. Reinvestment C. Fundamental analysis C. Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA)
G. Political (sovereign) D. Buy and hold D. Appropriate assets for tax-advan-
H. Exchange rate E. Portfolio immunization taged vs. taxable accounts
F. Swaps and collars
42. Measures of investment risk 56. Taxation of investment vehicles
G. Technical analysis
A. Coefficient of determination (R2) A. Mutual funds
H. Efficient market anomalies
B. Variability of returns 1) Basis determination
I. Other
C. Standard deviation 2) Taxation
D. Beta 49. Asset allocation and portfolio B. Stocks
E. Covariance diversification 1) Dividends
F. Semi-variance A. Strategic asset allocation 2) Basis determination
1) Application of client 3) Capital gains/losses
43. Measures of investment returns lifecycle analysis (long vs. short)
A. Annualized return 2) Client risk tolerance measure- 4) Liquidations
B. Real (inflation-adjusted) return ment and application
5) Stock splits/dividends
C. Total return 3) Asset class definition and
correlation 6) Warrants and rights
D. Risk-adjusted return 7) Other
B. Tactical asset allocation
E. After-tax return (re-balancing strategies) C. Bonds
F. Holding period return C. Passive vs. active portfolio manage- 1) U.S. Government
G. Internal Rate of Return (IRR) ment 2) Agency
H. Yield-to-maturity D. Individual stock selection 3) Municipal
I. Yield-to-call E. Strategies for dealing with concen- 4) Zero-coupon
J. After-tax yield trated portfolios 5) Treasury Inflation-Protection
K. Realized compound yield Securities (TIPS)
50. Efficient Market Theory (EMT)
D. U.S. savings bonds
44. Time-influenced security valuation A. Strong form
concepts E. Annuities
B. Semi-strong form
A. Net present value F. Limited partnership
C. Weak form
B. Future value G. Unit investment trust
D. Anomalies
C. Bond duration and convexity H. Other
D. Internal Rate of Return (IRR) 51. Asset pricing models
A. Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) INCOME TAX PLANNING (17%)
45. Bond and stock valuation methods B. Multi-factor Asset Pricing 57. Income tax law fundamentals
A. Capitalized earnings Model (APM)
A. Sources of authority
B. Dividend growth models C. Option pricing model
(Black-Scholes) 1) Primary
C. Ratio analysis
D. Binomial option pricing 2) Secondary
1) Price/earnings
E. Other B. Research sources
2) Price/free cash flow
3) Price/sales 52. Leverage of investment assets 58. Tax compliance
4) Price/Earnings/Growth (PEG) A. Margin requirement A. Filing requirements
D. Intrinsic value B. Margin calls B. Authority to represent clients
E. Book value before the IRS (Circular 230)
53. Hedging and option strategies C. Audits
46. Portfolio management and A. Options D. Penalties
measurement concepts
B. Puts and calls
A. Modern portfolio theory 59. Income tax fundamentals and
C. Short sales calculations
B. Performance measures
1) Sharpe ratio 54. Tax efficient investing A. Filing status
2) Treynor ratio A. Mutual funds B. Gross income
3) Jensen ratio 1) Turnover C. Adjusted gross income
C. Investment policy statements D. Itemized deductions
Rev. 3/05
1) Types 1) Cost basis A. Marriage

2) Limitations 2) Half-year convention 1) Filing status
E. Personal and dependency 3) Mid-quarter convention 2) Children
exemptions B. Repairs 3) Common law and
F. Taxable income C. Special elections (§179) community property
G. Tax liability D. Amortization B. Divorce
H. Tax credits 1) Alimony
I. Payment of tax 65. Tax consequences of like-kind 2) Child support
exchanges
J. Estimated payments and 3) Qualified Domestic Relations
withholding requirements A. Reporting requirements Order (QDRO)
K. Kiddie tax B. Qualifying transactions C. Death (final income tax return)
L. Imputed income C. Multiple properties
D. Liabilities 71. Charitable contributions and
60. Tax accounting methods deductions
E. Boot
A. Cash method A. Qualified entities
F. Related party transactions
B. Accrual method 1) Public charities
C. Hybrid method 66. Tax consequences of gain or loss on 2) Private charities
sale of assets B. Deduction limitations
D. Long-term contracts
A. Holding period C. Carryover periods
E. Installment sales
B. Sale of residence D. Appreciated property and the AMT
F. Accounting periods
1) Reporting E. Partial interest gifts to charity
G. Method changes (entity)
2) Exclusion F. Non-deductible contributions
61. Tax characteristics of entities C. Capital assets (§1221) G. Appraisals
A. Taxation at entity level D. Depreciation recapture H. Substantiation requirements
B. Flow-through of income and losses 1) Personal or real property used I. Charitable contributions by
to shareholders in trade or business (§1231) business entities
C. Special taxes at entity level for 2) Rules for personal property
flow-through entities (§1245)
RETIREMENT PLANNING (18%)
1) Built-in gains tax 3) Rules for real property (§1250)
2) LIFO recapture E. Related parties 72. Retirement needs analysis
3) Excess net passive income tax F. Wash sales A. Assumptions for retirement
planning
4) Personal holding company tax G. Bargain sales
1) Inflation
5) Other H. §1244 stock (small business stock
election) 2) Retirement period and
D. Use of losses life expectancy
E. Taxation at dissolution 67. Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) 3) Lifestyle
62. Income taxation of trusts and estates A. Individual and corporate AMT 4) Total return
A. General issues 1) Mechanics B. Financial needs
1) Filing requirements 2) Preferences and adjustments 1) Living costs
2) Deadlines 3) Exclusion items vs. deferral 2) Charitable and beneficiary
items gifting objectives
3) Choice of taxable year
4) Credit (creation, usage and 3) Medical costs, including long-
4) Tax treatment of distributions limitations) term care needs analysis
to beneficiaries
B. Small business exemption 4) Other (trust and foundation
5) Rate structure funding, education funding, etc.)
B. Grantor trusts 68. Tax management techniques C. Income sources
C. Simple trusts A. Tax credits 1) Total return assumptions
D. Complex trusts B. Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) 2) Probabilistic analysis
E. Trust income planning assumptions
1) Trust accounting income 1) Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) D. Alternatives to compensate for
2) Trust taxable income 2) Charitable gifts projected cash-flow shortfalls
3) Distributable Net Income (DNI) 3) Stock redemption agreements
73. Social Security [Old Age, Survivor, and
F. Estate income tax C. Accelerated deductions Disability Insurance (OASDI)]
D. Deferral of income A. Eligibility and benefit
63. Basis E. Estimated taxes and withholdings
A. Original basis 1) Retirement
F. Net operating losses 2) Disability
B. Adjusted basis
C. Original issue discount 69. Passive activity and at-risk rules 3) Survivor
D. Carryover basis A. Definitions 4) Family limitations
E. Step-up in basis B. Computations B. How benefits are calculated
F. Impact of community property and C. Treatment of disallowed losses C. Working after retirement
common law on basis D. Disposition of passive activities D. Taxation of Social Security
E. Real estate exceptions 74. Medicare
64. Cost-recovery concepts
A. Modified Accelerated Cost 70. Tax implications of changing A. Eligibility
Recovery System (MACRS) circumstances B. Coverage provided by Parts A and B
Rev. 3/05
1) Benefits covered by Medicare 5) §403(b) plans ESTATE PLANNING (15%)

2) Benefits not covered under 6) §457 plans
Medicare 82. Methods of property transfer
B. Basic provisions at death
C. Cost of coverage 1) Eligibility A. The probate process
75. Types of retirement plans 2) Contribution limits 1) Testate succession
A. Characteristics 3) Deductibility 2) Intestate succession
1) Qualified plans 4) Distribution options 3) Advantages and
2) Non-qualified plans disadvantages of probate
78. Regulatory considerations
3) Government plans (§457 plans) 4) Assets subject to probate
A. Employee Retirement Income
B. Types of qualified plans Security Act (ERISA) 5) Techniques of avoiding probate
1) Defined contribution B. Department of Labor (DOL) 6) Ancillary probate
a) Money purchase regulations B. Operation of law (title)
b) Profit-sharing C. Fiduciary obligations C. Transfers through trusts
(age-weighted, 401(k), D. Prohibited transactions D. Transfers by contract
ESOP, etc.) E. Reporting requirements
c) Target benefit 83. Estate planning documents
2) Defined benefit 79. Plan selection for businesses (key A. Wills
factors affecting selection) 1) Legal requirements
a) Traditional
A. Owner’s personal objectives 2) Types of wills
b) Cash balance
1) Tax considerations 3) Avoiding will contests
76. Qualified plan rules and options 2) Capital needs at retirement B. Powers of attorney
A. Feasibility of installation of a 3) Capital needs at death 1) For health care
qualified plan B. Business’ objectives 2) For property
1) Client objectives 1) Tax considerations 3) Durable feature
2) Constraints 2) Cash flow situation and outlook 4) Special or limited powers
B. Qualified plan coverage and 3) Employee demographics 5) General powers
eligibility requirements
4) Comparison of defined C. Advance medical directives
1) Age and service requirements contribution and defined (e.g., living wills)
2) Coverage requirements benefit plan alternatives
D. Trusts
3) Minimum participation
80. Investment considerations for E. Marital agreements
4) Highly compensated retirement plans F. Business agreements
5) Controlled group A. Suitability G. Other
C. Qualified plan vesting schedule B. Time horizon
1) Types 84. Gifting strategies
C. Fiduciary considerations
2) Top-heavy plans A. Suitability of gifting as a
D. Prohibited transactions
D. Integration with Social Security/ planning strategy
E. Unrelated Business Taxable Income
disparity limits B. Techniques for gift-giving
(UBTI)
1) Defined benefit plans C. Appropriate gift property
F. Life insurance
2) Defined contribution plans D. Strategies for closely-held
E. Factors affecting qualified plan 81. Distribution rules, alternatives business owners
contributions or benefits and taxation E. Gifts of present and future
1) Tax considerations A. Premature distributions interests
2) Nature of defined contribution 1) Penalties F. Tax implications
3) Nature of defined benefit 2) Substantially equal payments 1) Income
4) Comparison of defined contri- (§72(t)) 2) Gift
bution and defined benefit B. Election of distribution options 3) Estate
5) Definition of compensation 1) Lump sum distributions 4) Generation-Skipping Transfer
6) Multiple plans 2) Annuity options Tax (GSTT)
7) Special rules for self-employed 3) Rollover
85. Gift taxation and compliance
(non-corporations) 4) Direct transfer
A. Filing requirements
F. Top-heavy plans C. Required minimum distributions
B. Calculation
1) Definitions 1) Rules
1) Annual exclusion and
2) Vesting 2) Calculations applicable credit
3) Effects on contributions 3) Penalties 2) Split gifts
or benefits D. Beneficiary considerations 3) Prior taxable gifts
G. Loans from qualified plans E. Qualified Domestic Relations Order 4) Education and medical
(QDRO) exclusions
77. Other tax-advantaged retirement plans
F. Taxation of distributions 5) Marital and charitable
A. Types
1) Waiver deductions
1) Traditional IRA
2) Cost basis recovery 6) Tax liability
2) Roth IRA, including
conversion analysis 86. Incapacity planning
3) SEP A. Definition of incapacity/
4) SIMPLE disability
Rev. 3/05
B. Care of client’s dependents 92. Charitable giving d) Qualified family-owned

C. Care of person and property A. Considerations for contributions business exclusion (§2057)
D. Disability insurance and transfers D. Optimal QTIP planning
E. Long-term care insurance B. Requirements for a gift to qualify
for a charitable deduction 97. Intra-family and other business
F. Medicaid planning transfer techniques
C. Charitable remainder trusts
G. Viatical settlements A. Characteristics
1) Unitrusts (CRUT)
H. Business disability coverage B. Techniques
2) Annuity trusts (CRAT)
I. Social Security disability benefits 1) Buy-sell agreements
D. Charitable lead trusts
2) Installment notes
87. Estate tax calculation and compliance 1) Unitrusts (CLUT)
3) Self-canceling installment notes
A. The gross estate 2) Annuity trusts (CLAT)
4) Private annuities
1) Inclusions E. Pooled income funds
5) Transfers in trust
2) Exclusions F. Private foundations
C. Federal income, gift, estate and
B. Deductions G. Other types of charitable gifts Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax
C. Adjusted Gross Estate (AGE) H. Income tax charitable deduction (GSTT) implications
D. Deductions from the adjusted limitations
gross estate 98. Disposition of estate
93. Use of life insurance in estate planning A. Tax and non-tax consequences
E. Taxable estate
A. Advantages and disadvantages of various estate plans (outright
F. Adjusted taxable gifts rule
B. Ownership, beneficiary distributions, transfers in trust, etc.)
G. Tentative tax base designation and settlement B. Estate planning for
H. Tentative tax calculation options non-traditional relationships
I. Credits C. Life insurance trusts 1) Children of another
1) Gift tax payable D. Gift and estate taxation relationship
2) Unified credit E. Income taxation 2) Cohabitation
3) Prior transfer credit 3) Adoptions
4) State death tax 94. Valuation issues 4) Same-sex relationships
A. Estate freezes 5) Communal relationships
88. Satisfying liquidity needs 1) Corporate and partnership
A. Sale of assets recapitalizations (§2701) 99. Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax (GSTT)
B. Life insurance 2) Transfers in trust A. Identify transfers subject to the
C. Other B. Valuation issues with family GSTT
partnerships and LLCs 1) Direct skips
89. Powers of appointment 1) Minority discounts 2) Taxable distributions
A. Use and purpose 2) Marketability discounts 3) Taxable terminations
B. General and special (limited) powers 3) Blockage discounts B. Impact of the GSTT on lifetime
1) 5+5 power 4) Key person discounts transfers
2) Crummey provisions C. Valuation techniques and the 1) Outright transfers of cash or
3) Distributions for health, educa- federal gross estate property
tion, maintenance and support 2) Transfers in trust
4) Other 95. Marital deduction C. Exemptions and exclusions for the
C. Tax implications A. Characteristics GSTT
B. Terminable interest rule and 1) Outright gifts qualifying for
90. Types, features and taxation of trusts exceptions the gift tax annual exclusion
A. Classification C. QTIP planning and the prior 2) The GSTT exemption
1) Simple and complex transfer credit 3) Qualified transfer payments
2) Revocable and irrevocable D. Special planning for non-citizen (educational and medical)
spouses
B. Rule against perpetuities
E. Marital deduction and by-pass 100. Fiduciary responsibilities
C. Selected provisions planning A. Duties of fiduciaries
1) Spendthrift clauses
B. Selection of fiduciaries
2) Perpetuity clauses 96. Deferral and minimization of estate
3) Other taxes 101. Income in Respect of a Decedent (IRD)
D. Taxation of trusts and estates A. Deductions and credits A. IRD assets
(income, gift and estate) B. Lifetime planning techniques B. IRD income tax deduction
C. Postmortem planning techniques
91. Qualified interest trusts 1) Qualified disclaimers
A. Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts 2) Alternative valuation date
(GRATs)
3) Relief provisions for business
B. Grantor Retained Unitrusts (GRUTs) owners’ and farmers’/
C. Qualified Personal Residence Trusts ranchers’ estates
(QPRTs or House-GRITs) a) Deferral of estate tax
D. Tangible personal property trusts (§6166)
E. Limitations on the valuation of b) Corporate stock
remainder interests of qualified redemptions (§303)
interest trusts (§2702) c) Special use valuation
(§2032A)
Rev. 3/05
PROVIDED FORMULAS
The following formulas are provided with the exam booklets when taking the CFP ® Certification
Examination:
Rev. 3/05
EXPERIENCE 41
Work Experience
Because the CFP ® certification indicates to the public your ability to provide financial planning unsuper-
vised, CFP Board requires you to have some experience in the personal financial planning process.
However, CFP Board recognizes the variety of situations and circumstances in which people participate
in the financial planning process and has developed a work experience requirement to account for this.
If you have questions about your work experience being accepted by CFP Board, contact CFP Board’s
registrar at:
CFP Board Registrar

Denver, CO 80202-4809
P: 800-487-1497
F: 303-860-7388
E: initialcert@CFP-Board.org
DEFINITION OF WORK EXPERIENCE
CFP Board’s work experience requirement is defined as “the supervision1, direct support2, teaching3 or
personal delivery of all or part of the personal financial planning process to a client4.”Qualifying experi-
ence must fit within one or more of the six primary elements of the personal financial planning process
described as follows:
1. Establishing and Defining the Relationship with the Client
This includes explaining the issues and concepts related to the personal financial plan-
ning process. You must specify the services you or your firm will provide and clarify the
client’s and your responsibilities.
2. Gathering Client Data Including Goals
Data gathering includes interviewing or questioning the client about various aspects of
his or her financial resources, obligations and expectations. During this process, you will
need to determine your client’s goals, needs and priorities; assess your client’s values
and attitudes; and determine the client’s time horizons and risk tolerance. In addition,
you will collect applicable client records and documents.
3. Analyzing and Evaluating the Client’s Financial Status
This process involves analyzing and evaluating client data such as current cash flow
needs, risk management, investments, taxes, retirement, employee benefits, estate plan-
ning and/or special needs.
All levels of supervision are acceptable if the chain of supervision eventually leads back to the planner.
1
2
Must be directly responsible for information that is provided to the planner/client and have reasonable accountability for
the client.
3
Credit for teaching is limited to the instruction of CFP Board’s financial planning topic list in a CFP Board-Registered
Program. Teaching finance-related classes (for college credit) full-time at a university that does not have a CFP Board-
Registered Program can be used to satisfy up to two years of experience credit, but the third year of experience must be
personal financial planning experience or teaching full-time at a CFP Board-Registered Program.
4
“Client” denotes a person who engages a practitioner and for whom professional services are rendered. Pro-bono
experience is accepted as long as (1) there is a client and (2) you are acting as a financial planning professional who is capa-
ble and qualified to offer objective, integrated and comprehensive financial advice to, or for the benefit of, individuals to
help them achieve their financial objectives using the financial planning process.
Rev. 3/05
42 EXPERIENCE
4. Developing and Presenting Financial Planning Recommendations and/or Alternatives
Financial planning recommendations should meet the goals and objectives of the client,
and reflect his or her values, situation and risk tolerance. This process includes present-
ing and reviewing the recommendations with the client, working with the client to
ensure that the plan meets his or her goals and expectations, and revising the recom-
mendations as necessary.
5. Implementing the Financial Planning Recommendations
This is the process of helping the client put the financial planning recommendations
into action. This could include coordinating with other professionals, such as account-
ants, attorneys, real estate agents, investment advisers, stock brokers and insurance
agents.
6. Monitoring the Financial Planning Recommendations
Areas to be monitored or reviewed include the soundness of the recommendations and

the client’s progress. This process also involves discussing with the client any changes in
his or her personal circumstances, evaluating changing tax laws, and making recommen-
dations based on new or changing conditions.
WORK EXPERIENCE STANDARDS
Your work experience must comply with the following standards:
• Three years full-time, or the equivalent part-time (2,000 hours part-time equals one year
full-time), if you have an undergraduate degree from an accredited U.S. college or
university.*
• Five years full-time, or the equivalent part-time, if you do not have an undergraduate
degree from an accredited U.S. college or university. Note: Beginning in 2007, a bache-
lor’s degree will be required before completing the certification process. Individuals
without a college degree and no qualifying experience would have needed to have
started gaining financial planning experience before 2002 in order to meet the five-
year experience requirement for those without a degree. All individuals who have not
completed the five-year experience requirement by December 31, 2006, will be required
to have a college degree.
• Six months of experience must have been gained within 12 months of submitting the
Résumé Form. (See page 43, “Verification of Experience,” for information on the
Résumé Form.)
• Experience may be gained up to 10 years before or up to five years after the exam date.
If your work experience is not completed within this time frame, your candidacy for
CFP ® certification may be terminated. A one-time, two-year extension may be granted
on a case-by-case basis. Requests for an extension should be sent to CFP Board’s regis-
trar at the address on page 41.
PRE-CERTIFICATION CONTINUING EDUCATION
If you do not complete the CFP certification process within 12 months of passing the CFP ® Certification
Examination, you must begin to accrue continuing education credits at a rate of 15 credits per year.
International degrees may be substituted for a U.S. undergraduate degree if they receive equivalency from a third-party
*
organization such as Worldwide Educational Services (WES). WES can be reached at 800-937-3895 or www.WES.org.
Rev. 3/05
EXPERIENCE 43
INTERNSHIPS/RESIDENCY PROGRAMS
Financial planning-related internships completed at a CFP Board-Registered Program are eligible for
credit toward the work experience requirement at the rate of one month of work experience for each
college credit. Residency programs completed through the Financial Planning Association (FPA) are
eligible for credit toward the work experience requirement at the rate of three months of work
experience credit per residency program. Credit will be granted for internships and/or residency
programs completed within 10 years before and five years after the successful completion of the
CFP ® Certification Examination.
VERIFICATION OF EXPERIENCE
Once you pass the CFP ® Certification Examination, you will receive a Résumé Form on which to summa-
rize your related work experience. The form must be signed by your current supervisor. If you are
self-employed, the following individuals can attest to your experience:
• CFP ® certificants
• Licensed Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)
• Licensed attorneys
After the form is returned to CFP Board, the information listed is subject to random audit. Erroneous
information could jeopardize your authorization to use the CFP marks.
While the CFP certification requirements may be changed from time to time, you will be expected to
meet the requirements that are in place at the time of your most recent application for the CFP ®
Certification Examination. Therefore, CFP Board cannot confirm the suitability of your work experience
before you pass the exam.
Visit www.CFP.net/become/work_prece.asp for a Q&A section on the pre-certification CE require-

ment. Go to www.CFP.net/login to view and keep track of your work experience requirement.
Rev. 3/05
44 EXPERIENCE
WORK EXPERIENCE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q 1. HOW IS PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT CREDITED TOWARD THE REQUIREMENT?

A The number of part-time hours will be converted into a full-time equivalent and applied to the
overall balance of the requirement. (2,000 part-time hours equates to one year of full-time experi-
ence.)
Q 2. IF I WORK FULL-TIME IN A FINANCIAL PLANNING RELATED POSITION AND ALSO

WORK PART-TIME, CAN I ACCELERATE THE COMPLETION OF MY EXPERIENCE
REQUIREMENT?
A No. Concurrent part- and full-time financial planning employment will not accelerate completion of
the requirement.
Q 3. IF I WORK MORE THAN 2,000 HOURS PER YEAR, CAN I ACCELERATE THE
COMPLETION OF THE REQUIREMENT?
A No. Additional credit for full-time employment will not be granted for hours in excess of 40 hours
per week.
Q 4. HOW IS A PORTION OF A JOB CREDITED TOWARDS THE REQUIREMENT?

A Portions of a job may be credited towards this requirement on an hourly basis just like part-time
employment. As an example, the majority of your job (30 hours per week) is spent working as a
home office representative processing paperwork. However, ten hours a week are spent consulting
with individual clients. The ten hours a week can be accrued and credited towards the requirement.
Q 5. WHAT IF I DO NOT HAVE ANY RELEVANT EXPERIENCE? CAN I STILL SIT FOR THE
CFP ® CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION?
A Yes. The experience requirement does not have to be satisfied prior to the exam. Individuals have
up to five years from the time they pass the exam to complete the experience requirement if neces-
sary.
Q 6. IF I AM MAKING A CAREER CHANGE, HOW DO I GO ABOUT OBTAINING

APPROPRIATE EXPERIENCE?
A Qualifying experience may be earned through many different types of practices and firms.
Candidates for CFP ® certification often choose to establish a private practice, either by themselves
or in conjunction with other planners. Some planners work for banks, credit unions, insurance com-
panies, accounting or law firms, credit counseling organizations and brokerage firms. Or, they may
choose a career in academia, teaching personal financial planning to other interested students.
Q 7. WHAT CAN I CALL MYSELF ONCE I HAVE PASSED THE CFP CERTIFICATION ®
EXAMINATION BUT AM STILL COMPLETING MY EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT?
A Only those individuals who have fully satisfied CFP Board’s requirements are authorized to use the
CFP certification marks. Until that time, you can only use the CFP marks to refer to the certification
process. For example, you may say that you are a “candidate for CFP ® certification” or “working
toward obtaining CFP ® certification.” Use of the term “CFP ® candidate” is an improper use of the
mark and is prohibited.
Rev. 3/05
ETHICS 45
Ethics
The final component of the initial CFP ® certification process is the ethics requirement. CFP certification
requires you to agree to adhere to CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and
Financial Planning Practice Standards, and to acknowledge CFP Board’s right to enforce them through
its Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. By signing the CFP® Certification Application, individuals agree to
be bound by CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Practice Standards. This demonstrates to the public that
you have agreed to provide personal financial planning in the client’s best interest and to act in accor-
dance with the highest ethical and professional standards for the practice of financial planning.
Before being authorized to use the CFP certification marks, and each time you renew your certification,
you must disclose whether you have ever been involved in any criminal, civil, self-regulatory organiza-
tion or governmental agency inquiry, investigation or proceeding. You must also acknowledge the right
of CFP Board to enforce its Code of Ethics and Practice Standards through its Disciplinary Rules and
Procedures.
Please be aware that, if you disclose matters on your CFP® Certification Application, or if CFP Board dis-
covers that you have been involved in matters that may give rise to a violation of the Code of Ethics or
Practice Standards, your certification may be delayed pending CFP Board’s review of the matters.
Additionally, if the matters involve serious misconduct, CFP Board reserves the right to permanently
deny you the right to obtain the CFP certification. All such ethics reviews will be conducted in accor-
dance with CFP Board’s Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Note: For individuals who do not plan to
obtain a bachelor’s degree, please see page 7 for more details about how the 2007 bachelor’s degree
requirement affects the fulfillment of the ethics component.
VERIFICATION OF DATA
CFP Board may verify your employment record, qualifications and disciplinary history through the
NASD ®’s Central Registration Depository (CRD). All disciplinary information obtained will be reviewed by
CFP Board. The length of the review process varies depending on the circumstances being investigated,
and may take anywhere from several weeks to one year. In general, you will not be authorized to use
the CFP marks during CFP Board’s review process.
If you have questions about the effect of any of your past or pending disciplinary actions, or your
authorization to use the CFP marks, contact CFP Board at 800-487-1497 or initialcert@CFP-Board.org.
Because of changing codes or regulations and the fact that every situation contains unique variables,
CFP Board cannot provide you with an advance judgment of your situation. However, historical case
studies of disciplinary actions taken by CFP Board against those it has certified are available from CFP
Board.
Go to www.CFP.net/certificants to review CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility

and Financial Planning Practice Standards.
Rev. 3/05
46 ETHICS
Authorization to Use the CFP Marks

The marks CFP ®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and are owned by CFP Board in the U.S. and are pro-
®
tected by trademark law. Only those individuals who have fully satisfied CFP Board’s requirements are
authorized to use the CFP certification marks. CFP Board carefully monitors all usage of the marks to
ensure their integrity and unauthorized use of the marks is viewed as a serious matter. For example, it
is incorrect to use the term “CFP ® candidate.” Up until the point of achieving CFP certification, individu-
als who have applied for the CFP ® Certification Examination can say they are “working towards
obtaining CFP ® certification” or that they are a “candidate for CFP ® certification.” Remember, if you use
the CFP marks prematurely, or in some other prohibited manner, you could jeopardize your ultimate
right to use them.
DECLARATION PACKET
When you have completed the education, examination and work experience requirements, you will
receive a declaration packet from CFP Board. This packet includes a CFP® Certification Application
which includes a notice of your initial certification and application fees. The completed form and fees
must be returned to CFP Board within six months of issue. The fees must be paid and the application
completed, signed and reviewed by CFP Board before any certification can be issued. Note: For individu-
als who do not plan to obtain a bachelor’s degree, please see page 7 for more details about how the
2007 bachelor’s degree requirement affects the final stages of the CFP certification process.
INITIAL FEE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE) REPORTING
An initial certification cycle will be defined for each individual after completing the education,
examination and work experience requirements. CFP Board establishes this initial certification cycle
using the date of initial CFP certification to the end of your birth month in an odd or even year, based
on your birth date. The initial certification fee and the amount of CE credits due at the end of this
initial cycle will be prorated based on $360 and 30 hours, respectively, every two years. An application
fee of $100 and this initial certification fee (ranging from $90-$450) are invoiced in the declaration
packet.
After this prorated cycle is completed, you will begin reporting CE and completing the renewal require-
ments on a cyclical two-year renewal cycle. (See the “Certification Renewal” section on page 5.)
INTERNATIONAL RECIPROCITY
Transferring an International Certification to the U.S.
If you are a resident of one of the countries represented on the International Council and
are currently authorized to use the CFP marks in that country, you can apply for CFP ® cer-
tification in the United States by (1) providing proof of current certification status in your
country, (2) passing the first four-hour session of CFP Board’s CFP ® Certification
Examination, (3) fulfilling the work experience requirement, (4) agreeing to abide by CFP
Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and Financial Planning Practice
Standards, and (5) paying the appropriate fees.
Once CFP Board grants you the right to use the CFP marks in the U.S., you will be subject
to U.S. renewal requirements.
Once certified, check www.CFP.net/search to find your name listed. CE reporting deadlines and other
renewal information is available by logging into the Web site at www.CFP.net/login.
Rev. 3/05
ETHICS 47
Using International Marks in the U.S.
If you are authorized to use the CFP marks by one of the countries represented on the
International Council, but have not applied for CFP ® certification in the U.S., you can use
the CFP marks in the U.S. provided you fully disclose the country in which you are certi-
fied. The following examples show how you might disclose the necessary information on
any material that displays the CFP marks:
John Jones, CFP™ (Canada only) John Jones, CFP(tm)*

Jones Financial Services Jones Financial Services
123 Any Street OR 123 Any Street
Big City, CO 80202 Big City, CO 80202 (*indicates certified in Canada only)
Using U.S. Certification Outside of the U.S.
If you intend to practice financial planning outside of the U.S. in any country where you
have no certification or limited certification from the local International Council affiliate,
you must (1) notify CFP Board of your intention to move to or practice in a new country,
(2) remain current in all CFP Board certification obligations, including CE, (3) become
familiar with and comply with all laws regulating the practice of financial planning in the
new country, (4) provide all clients with a standardized disclosure form that outlines
potential knowledge deficiencies in the new country (aspects related to local laws and cir-
cumstances not covered by CFP Board’s topic list or exam content), (5) provide all clients
with contact details of CFP Board and the local CFP Board affiliate if there is one in the
country, (6) prominently indicate on all printed materials that you are certified in the U.S.
only, and (7) only give financial planning advice to nationals of the U.S., or to the nation-
als of new country on matters relating to the U.S. Your U.S. CFP certification only certifies
that you have met competency and ethical requirements to provide comprehensive finan-
cial planning advice in the U.S.
GRIEVANCE POLICY
All grievances related to CFP ® certification, with the exception of exam grievances which are handled by
CFP Board’s Board of Examiners (see page 31), should be sent to CFP Board’s Grievance Committee at
the address below. CFP Board’s grievance process is a staff-administered process chaired by the chief
executive officer.
CFP Board Grievance Committee

Denver, CO 80202-4809
Rev. 3/05
48 T R A N S C R I P T R E V I E W A P P L I C AT I O N I N S T R U C T I O N S
Applying for Transcript Review

TO APPLY FOR A TRANSCRIPT REVIEW WITH CFP BOARD:
1. Complete the application for transcript review found on the following page. List your
courses on the first page of the form. Then, using the course number, indicate courses
on the checklist that correspond to a specific content area. One course may cover sev-
eral content areas. If you have already completed the educational requirement, you do
not need to fill out this form to apply for the exam.
2. Attach course descriptions from the catalog or the course syllabus if the title does not
clearly identify course content.
3. Attach your transcript to the application form (photocopies are acceptable). The tran-
script must accompany the application, or the application will be deemed incomplete
and will not be reviewed. Incomplete applications will be returned.
4. Mail the application and completed checklist, transcript and other supporting documenta-
tion, and a $100 non-refundable transcript review fee (MasterCard, American Express or
Visa payments accepted) to the following address:
Transcript Review
CFP Board
Denver, CO 80202-4809
APPLICATION REVIEW
Your transcript review application will be processed within 30 working days of its receipt by CFP Board.
If CFP Board determines that you have fulfilled the educational requirement, you will be sent written
notification. You will also be sent an application for the CFP ® Certification Examination. If your application
is received fewer than 30 working days before an exam application deadline, you will have to sit for a
later exam.
ADDRESSING TOPIC DEFICIENCIES
If CFP Board determines that you have not fulfilled the education component, you will be sent written
notice of your areas of deficiency. You may complete deficient topics at a CFP Board-Registered
Program. Please be aware that each college or university has the right to impose its own transfer of
credit policy.
After you have addressed any topic deficiencies at a CFP Board-Registered Program:
1. Complete the CFP ® Certification Examination application.
2. Attach a copy of the letter from CFP Board noting the topics in which you were
deficient.
3. Attach a transcript from the CFP Board-Registered Program or a signed note from the
Program Director verifying that you have completed the needed topics.
4. Submit the application and documentation to CFP Board.
If you complete the missing topics at a U.S. accredited college or university that does not have a CFP
Board-Registered Program, submit a new transcript review application, along with a review fee of $100.
Include the letter you received from CFP Board noting the missing topics and the new transcript show-
ing that you have addressed the deficiencies. There is no guarantee that the new courses will meet the
topic coverage. CFP Board will not pre-determine the status of any course.
Rev. 3/05
1670 Broadway, Suite 600, Denver, Colorado 80202-4809
P: 800-487-1497 F: 303-860-7388 (no cover please)
E: mail@CFP-Board.org W: www.CFP.net
Application for Transcript Review

If you have completed the educational requirement, you do not need to complete this form to apply for the CFP® Certification Examination.
SECTION I: Personal Data
Name: { Mr. { Mrs. { Ms. { Miss E-mail: ________________________________________________
Home address: _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
First name Middle initial Last name Suffix
______________________________________________________
Business name: _________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Business address: _______________________________________
Home telephone: ________________________________________
______________________________________________________ Preferred address (check only one): { Business { Home
______________________________________________________ Social Security #: ______________________________________
Business telephone: ______________________________________
Birth date: ___________________________________________________
Month Day Year
Business fax: ___________________________________________
SECTION II: Transcript Review Qualifications
Have you had your transcript(s) reviewed previously by CFP Board? { yes { no
Transcripts from the following accredited schools are attached for review:
Name of school attended Years Degree awarded and major awarded Date degree awarded
Financial planning-related courses from the transcripts to be considered. Courses to be considered for transcript review must be at the upper-
division college level or higher (typically course numbers 300 or greater):
Course title Course number Dates Credit hours
Credentials* to be considered (attach copies of credentials):

{ ASA { CEBS { EA { FSA *State licenses and continuing education courses are not considered educational courses and do not qualify for credit on this application.
SECTION V: Transcript Review Fee - $100 (a $25 service fee will apply to all returned checks)
{ Check (make check payable to CFP Board, do not staple check to application) Amount enclosed: ___________ Check number:____________
{ Credit Card (check only one) { MasterCard { Visa { American Express Credit card #: _________________________________________
Name (as it appears on credit card): ___________________________________________ Expiration date: __________________________
I hereby affirm that I am over the age of eighteen and I authorize the investigation of all statements made by me to CFP Board including, but not limited to, those statements contained in this form. I understand that
misrepresentation or omission of facts is cause for denial or revocation of the right to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and certification marks, and that I may not use the marks until I receive official
notification of my certification by CFP Board. CFP Board may obtain my educational records in order to verify the truthfulness and accuracy of my educational background and I hereby expressly authorize educational
institutions (and authorized agents of such institutions) to release my educational records to CFP Board. I understand that educational records will include, without limitation, any record, file, document or other
material which contains information directly related to me, which is maintained by the educational agency or institution or by a person acting for such agency or institution. To the extent any of the following
information is not considered to be an educational record I further authorize educational institutions to release: my last name, the last four digits of my Social Security number and the date of my degree completion.
In consideration for CFP Board’s acceptance of this application I agree that neither CFP Board nor its directors, officers, employees and others acting on its behalf shall be liable to me for any actions taken or omitted
to be taken in any official capacity or in the scope of employment, and I hereby release CFP Board and the other persons identified above from any liability for such actions or omissions.
Signature: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________________________
Rev. 3/05
Using the course number from your transcripts, indicate which topics have been covered by placing the course number next to the
corresponding topic you believe was covered in that course. Refer to CFP Board’s complete Financial Planning Topic List for more details.
TOPIC COURSE # TOPIC COURSE #

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL 51. Asset pricing models
PLANNING
1. Financial planning process 52. Leverage of investment assets
2. CFP Board ’s Code of Ethics and Professional 53. Hedging and option strategies
Responsibility and Disciplinary Rules and Procedures
3.CFP Board ’s Financial Planning Practice Standards 54. Tax efficient investing
4.Personal financial statements 55. Investment strategies in tax-advantaged accounts
5.Budgeting 56. Taxation of investment vehicles
6.Emergency fund planning INCOME TAX PLANNING
7.Credit and debt management 57. Income tax law fundamentals
8.Buying vs. leasing 58. Tax compliance
9.Function, purpose and regulation of financial 59. Income tax fundamentals and calculations
institutions
10. Client attitudes and behavioral characteristics 60. Tax accounting methods
11. Educational funding 61. Tax characteristics of entities
12. Financial planning for special circumstances 62. Income taxation of trusts and estates
13. Economic concepts 63. Basis
14. Time value of money concepts and calculations 64. Cost-recovery concepts
15. Characteristics and consequences of types of entities 65. Tax consequences of like-kind exchanges
16. Characteristics and consequences of property titling 66. Tax consequences of gain or loss on sale of assets
17. Financial services industry regulation requirements 67. Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
18. Business law 68. Tax management techniques
19. Quantitative analysis 69. Passive activity and at-risk rules
20. Monetary settlement planning 70. Tax implications of changing circumstances
INSURANCE PLANNING AND RISK 71. Charitable contributions and deductions
MANAGEMENT
21. Principles of insurance RETIREMENT PLANNING
22. Analysis and evaluation of risk exposure s 72. Retirement needs analysis
23. Legal aspects of insurance 73. Social Security [Old Age, Survivor and Disability
Insurance (OASDI)]
24. Property and casualty insurance (individual and 74. Medicare
business)
25. General business liability 75. Types of retirement plans
26. Health insurance (individual) 76. Qualified plan rules and options
27. Disability income insurance (individual) 77. Other tax-advantaged retirement plans
28. Long-term care insurance (individual and joint) 78. Regulatory considerations
29. Life insurance 79. Plan selection for businesses (key factors affecting
selection)
30. Viatical settlements 80. Investment considerations for retirement plans
31. Insurance needs analysis and rationale 81. Distribution rules, alternatives and taxation
32. Taxation of life, disability and long-term care ESTATE PLANNING
insurance
33. Insurance policy selection 82. Methods of property transfer at death
34. Insurance company selection and due diligence 83. Estate planning documents
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PLANNING 84. Gifting strategies
35. Employee benefit plans 85. Gift taxation and compliance
36. Employee stock options 86. Incapacity planning
37. Stock plans 87. Estate tax calculation and compliance
38. Non-qualified deferred compensation 88. Satisfying liquidity needs
39. Employer/employee insurance arrangements 89. Powers of appointment
INVESTMENT PLANNING 90. Types, features and taxation of trusts
40. Types and use of investment vehicles 91. Qualified interest trusts
41. Types of investment risk 92. Charitable giving
42. Measures of investment risk 93. Use of life insurance in estate planning
43. Measures of investment returns 94. Valuation issues
44. Time-influenced security valuation concepts 95. Marital deduction
45. Bond and stock valuation methods 96. Deferral and minimization of estate taxes
46. Portfolio management and measurement concepts 97. Intra-family and other business transfer techniques
47. Formula investing 98. Disposition of estate
48. Investment strategies 99. Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax (GSTT)
49. Asset allocation and portfolio diversification 100. Fiduciary Responsibilities
50. Efficient Market Theory (EMT) 101. Income in Respect of a Decedent (IRD)
Rev. 3/05
E X A M A P P L I C AT I O N I N S T R U C T I O N S 51
CFP ® Certification Examination Application Instructions

The completed application must be received in CFP Board’s office on or before the deadline date. Late applications will not be
accepted under any circumstance and will be returned.
Applications may be submitted by fax at 303-860-7388. Please do not send cover sheets. It is strongly recommended that faxes be
followed by hardcopy and evidence of the fax (transmittal confirmation or activity report generated by fax machine) addressed to
and received by CFP Board within five working days. CFP Board will not take responsibility for incomplete fax transmittals. Faxed
applications with payment indicated by check will not be processed. The following constitutes a complete application:
• Application signed and dated
• Examination fee in full
• Appropriate qualifying eligibility documentation (i.e., copy of the transcript, copy of designation/degree, or letter of authorization)
Exam registration confirmation can be obtained in the following ways:
• Approximately one to two weeks following the receipt and acceptance of your CFP® Certification Examination application, CFP Board
will send you written confirmation of your registration.
• Applicants who provide an e-mail address on their CFP® Certification Examination application will be sent an e-mail confirmation of
registration within 24 hours of receipt and acceptance of their application.
• Registration confirmation can be accessed on CFP Board’s Web site at www.CFP.net/login.
• Individuals may call toll-free 800-487-1497 to confirm registration.
Approximately two to three weeks before the exam you will be sent an admission ticket for the CFP® Certification Examination
sessions showing the time that each session will begin and the CFP® Certification Examination location. You must bring the admission
ticket to the testing facility on both days. You will not be admitted to the sessions without this ticket.
Neither CFP Board nor Thompson Prometric will be able to confirm the exact site location of the CFP® Certification Examination
within a city until approximately 30 days prior to the date of the CFP® Certification Examination.

Please fill out all of the information in Section I. Use your legal name as on your government issued photo ID. Please include your
birthdate (month, day, year) as this data will be used to process and renew your CFP® certification once you have met all certification
requirements. It is essential that you provide us with your Social Security number for purposes of background screenings.
SECTION II: Exam Qualification

Only individuals who have met CFP Board’s educational requirement as described in “The Education Requirement” section of this
booklet are eligible to apply for the CFP® Certification Examination. Check only one of the boxes available in Section II of the exam
application.
Retake: If you have been accepted to take a previous CFP® Certification Examination, check this box and do not submit any other
documentation. Indicate the month and year of the first exam for which you were accepted. Enclose your fee, indicate your testing
site in Section IV, sign the application form and send it to our office by the appropriate deadline.
CFP Board-Registered Program: If you have successfully completed a CFP Board-Registered Program, please indicate the name of the
institution, name of the program and the date of completion in the appropriate spaces on the application.
You must attach a photocopy of the qualifying transcript, diploma, score report or a copy of a letter signed by the Program Director
to the application form. Do not send this qualifying documentation separately. If documents are not attached, your application will
be considered incomplete and will be returned to you. This may result in missing the application deadline.
Challenge Status: Only those individuals who hold one of the pre-approved designations may qualify under the challenge status.
Challenge status individuals must include a photocopy of the qualifying designation/credential/degree with the exam application. If
the documentation is not attached, your application will be considered incomplete and will be returned to you. This may result in
missing the application deadline.
CEBS: Individuals who hold the CEBS credential may complete two additional courses to satisfy CFP Board’s education requirement.
You must include a copy of the CEBS designation and either a transcript or score report showing completion of the Personal
Financial Planning I and II courses with the exam application. If the documentation is not attached, your application will be
considered incomplete and will be returned to you. This may result in missing the application deadline.
Transcript Review: Only those individuals who have received a letter from CFP Board indicating that they have successfully com-
pleted CFP Board’s educational requirement via a Transcript Review process qualify to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination
under this category. Attach the letter of authorization from CFP Board to the application.
International Reciprocity: Individuals who hold a CFP® certification granted by one of the affiliate organizations of the Financial
Planning Standards Board may apply for international reciprocity by passing the first four-hour session of CFP Board’s CFP®
Certification Examination, fulfilling the work experience requirement, abiding by CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional
Responsibility and Financial Planning Practice Standards, and paying the appropriate fee. Please indicate the name of the affiliate
country and the certification number in the appropriate spaces on the application. Reciprocity individuals must attach a copy of
their CFP certification to the application.
Rev. 3/05
52 E X A M A P P L I C AT I O N I N S T R U C T I O N S
SECTION III: Exam Date

Check only one date. Blank spaces or multiple checkmarks will result in your being registered for the next available exam cycle. The
deadlines for submitting an application are as follows:
Exam Dates Application Receipt Deadline*

July 15-16, 2005 June 1, 2005
November 18-19, 2005 October 5, 2005
March 17-18, 2006 February 1, 2006
*Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Mountain time on the listed date.
SECTION IV: Exam Site Codes

Transfer the four-character site code from this sheet to the site section on the application. The CFP® Certification Examination is adminis-
tered only in the cities listed below. International sites can be established on a case-by-case basis for an additional $1,300 test site fee.
AK50 Anchorage, AK DC50 Wash. DC area LA50 New Orleans, LA NJ51 Princeton, NJ TN51 Memphis, TN
AL50 Birmingham, AL FL50 Ft. Lauderdale, FL MA50 Boston, MA NY50 New York, NY TX50 Houston, TX
AZ50 Phoenix, AZ FL51 Tampa, FL MD50 Baltimore, MD NY51 Buffalo, NY TX51 Dallas, TX
CA50 Oakland, CA FL52 Jacksonville, FL MI50 Detroit, MI NY52 Albany, NY TX52 San Antonio, TX
CA51 Irvine, CA FL53 Orlando, FL MN50 Minn/St. Paul, MN NY53 Long Island, NY UT50 Salt Lake City, UT
CA52 San Diego, CA GA50 Atlanta, GA MO50 St. Louis, MO OH50 Cincinnati, OH VA50 Richmond, VA
CA53 Los Angeles area, HI50 Honolulu, HI MO51 Kansas City, MO OH51 Cleveland, OH WA50 Seattle, WA
CA IL50 Chicago Heights, NC50 Charlotte, NC OR50 Portland, OR WI50 Milwaukee, WI
CA54 San Jose area, CA IL NC51 Raleigh, NC PA50 Philadelphia, PA _______________________
CO50 Denver, CO IL51 Lisle area, IL NH50 Manchester, NH PA51 Pittsburgh, PA International (city, country)
CT50 New Haven, CT IN50 Indianapolis, IN NJ50 Clark, NJ TN50 Nashville, TN
SECTION V: Exam Fee

The exam fee ($595) must accompany the application. Sign and date the application. Checks should be made payable to CFP Board.
Returned checks will be assessed a $25 return check fee and payment may be required via certified funds. Please do not staple your
check to the application. If you choose to fax your application you must pay the exam fee by credit card. Applications faxed with
payment indicated by check will not be processed.
WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURES:
If you are unable to take the exam once you have registered, you may, in accordance with the deadlines listed below, choose one
of the following options:
1. Withdraw from the exam by notifying CFP Board, pay a $50 rescheduling fee and register to take the exam at a later date.
2. Withdraw from the exam by notifying CFP Board and request a refund of the refundable portion of your exam fee.
3. Withdraw from the exam by notifying CFP Board and maintain a credit (exam fee minus $50) with CFP Board. You may
re-register to take the exam or obtain a refund of the refundable portion of your exam fee from any time after the with-
drawal until 24 months from the date of the exam for which you last registered. However, if you fail to re-register for an
exam or obtain a refund within this 24-month period, the entire exam fee will be forfeited.
The refundable portion of your exam fee is the amount of the exam fee, less a $50 cancellation fee.
Exam Dates: Application Deadline: Notification of Withdrawal Must be Received by:

July 15-16, 2005 June 1, 2005 June 7, 2005
November 18-19, 2005 October 5, 2005 October 11, 2005
March 17-18, 2006 February 1, 2006 February 7, 2006
Requests for withdrawal or rescheduling received after the Notification of Withdrawal dates listed above will not be honored and
the entire exam fee will be forfeited.
PRIVACY POLICY:
In certain instances, CFP Board may release lists of applicants for the CFP® Certification Examination to Review Course providers who
agree to CFP Board’s usage requirements. Upon request, CFP Board will not release an individual’s name to this outside party.
Rev. 3/05
P: 800-487-1497 F: 303-860-7388 (no cover please)
E: mail@CFP-Board.org W: www.CFP.net
CFP® Certification Examination Application

Name: { Mr. { Mrs. { Ms. { Miss E-mail: _______________________________________________________
Home address: ________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________
First name Middle initial Last name Suffix
_________________________________________________________________________________
Business name: ________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Business address: ______________________________________________
Home telephone:_______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Preferred address (check only one): { Business { Home
____________________________________________________________
Social Security #: ______________________________________________
Business telephone: ____________________________________________
Birth date: ____________________________________________________
Month Day Year
Business fax: __________________________________________________
SECTION II: CFP® Certification Examination Qualification (check only one)
{ RETAKE: I have applied and been accepted for a previous CFP® Certification Examination on ____________________. No further documentation needs to
be attached. Month/Year
{ CFP BOARD-REGISTERED PROGRAM: I successfully completed a CFP Board-Registered Program. A copy of the qualifying transcript, diploma, score
reports or letter is attached.
_________________________________________________________________ _________________________________ _____________________
Name of school Program name Date completed
{ CHALLENGE STATUS: I am challenging the CFP® Certification Examination because I hold one of the following designations. A copy of qualifying
transcript is attached.
{ CFA® { ChFC { CLU { Ph.D.-business/economics/D.B.A.
{ Licensed CPA* ______________________ _________________ { Licensed attorney* ______________________ _________________
State license number State licensed in State license number State licensed in
*Inactive licenses will be accepted with a letter of good standing.
{ CEBS plus additional required courses: PFP-1 and PFP-2. A photocopy of the designation and transcript, score report or letter is attached.
{ TRANSCRIPT REVIEW: I have completed CFP Board’s transcript review process. CFP Board letter of authorization is attached.
{ INTERNATIONAL RECIPROCITY: I currently hold CFP certification from an international affiliate organization. A copy is attached.
_________________________ _________________________
International affiliate country Certification no.
SECTION III: CFP® Certification Examination Date (check only one)
Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Mountain time.
Exam Date Application Deadline Withdrawal Deadline
{ July 15-16, 2005 June 1, 2005 June 7, 2005
{ November 18-19, 2005 October 5, 2005 October 11, 2005
{ March 17-18, 2006 February 1, 2006 February 7, 2006
SECTION IV: CFP® Certification Examination Site (see instructions for four-character exam site code)
Exam site code: ___________________________________ City, state: ______________________________________________________________________
Request for special arrangements:
{ I cannot take an exam on the specified dates for religious reasons; a letter from my religious leader is attached.
{ I will need special arrangements for a physical disability described in the attached letter from my physician.
SECTION V: CFP® Certification Examination Fee - $595 (a $25 service fee will apply to all returned checks)
{ Check (make check payable to CFP Board, do not staple check to application) Amount enclosed: _______________ Check number: ____________________
{ Credit Card (check only one) { MasterCard { Visa { American Express Credit card #: _______________________________________________________
Name (as it appears on credit card): _________________________________________________________ Expiration date: __________________________
I hereby affirm that I am over the age of eighteen and I authorize the investigation of all statements made by me to CFP Board including, but not limited to, those statements contained in this form. I understand that
misrepresentation or omission of facts is cause for denial or revocation of the right to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and certification marks, and that I may not use the marks until I receive official
notification of my certification by CFP Board. CFP Board may obtain my educational records in order to verify the truthfulness and accuracy of my educational background and I hereby expressly authorize educational
institutions (and authorized agents of such institutions) to release my educational records to CFP Board. I understand that educational records will include, without limitation, any record, file, document or other
material which contains information directly related to me, which is maintained by the educational agency or institution or by a person acting for such agency or institution. To the extent any of the following
information is not considered to be an educational record I further authorize educational institutions to release: my last name, the last four digits of my Social Security number and the date of my degree completion.
In consideration for CFP Board’s acceptance of this application I agree that neither CFP Board nor its directors, officers, employees and others acting on its behalf shall be liable to me for any actions taken or omitted
to be taken in any official capacity or in the scope of employment, and I hereby release CFP Board and the other persons identified above from any liability for such actions or omissions.
Signature: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Date: _______________________________

{I authorize CFP Board to release my pass/fail status to my Registered Program. {I do not wish my name to be released to review course providers.
Rev. 3/05
C ERTIFIED F INANCIAL PLANNER
B OARD OF S TANDARDS, I NC.

P: 800-487-1497
F: 303-860-7388
E: initialcert@CFP-Board.org
W: www.CFP.net/become

Guide To Cert

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C ERTIFIED F INANCIAL PLANNER

B OARD OF S TANDARDS, I NC.

people benefit from competent, professional and ethical financial planning.

1. Accountability to the public

2. Trust derived from standards

4. Respect for professionals

Welcome to CFP ® Certification: Financial Planning’s Highest Standard

CFP ® Certification Overview

• 85% considered successful completion of a certification examination “very important”

ONLINE TOOLS AND RESOURCES

The Education Requirement

• General principles of financial planning

BACHELOR’S DEGREE REQUIREMENT

What the degree requirement means for specific situations:

COMPLETING THE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

1. CFP Board-Registered Program

3. Transcript Review Yes ➢

professional designation Review OK? No ➢ Certification

College University Courses/

CFP BOARD-REGISTERED PROGRAMS

Course Titles and Length of Study

Important Questions to Ask

• What educational level is your curriculum (junior/senior baccalaureate, master’s or doc-

• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)

Credential Topics satisfied on CFP Board’s topic list

LIST OF CFP BOARD-REGISTERED PROGRAMS

Distance Education Programs

Registered Programs Listed by State

ALABAMA University of Arkansas Golden Gate University

University of California – Los Angeles Colorado Technical University – FLORIDA

University of California, Santa Cruz CONNECTICUT Florida International University

COLORADO Manchester Community College International College

Nova Southeastern University Georgia State University ILLINOIS

IOWA Morehead State University UMBC Training Centers

Suffolk University MINNESOTA MISSOURI

NEBRASKA NEW YORK Molloy College

Campbell University NORTH DAKOTA CFP ® Certification Education Program

TENNESSEE Southern Methodist University Texas Tech University

Certificate Program in Personal VIRGINIA WASHINGTON

CFP ® Certification Examination

Questions and Case Scenarios

All questions on the CFP ® Certification Examination are presented in a multiple-choice

Applications for the CFP ® Certification Examination may be downloaded at

Go to www.CFP.net/become to download the exam application. Login at www.CFP.net/login to verify

• Application (in full) signed and dated

Alternate Test Dates and Special Accommodations

International Test Sites

Set up a free account at www.CFP.net/login to get immediate updates on important exam

Exam Dates Application Deadline Notification of Withdrawal

Medical or Other Emergencies

What to Bring to the Exam

You should bring the following items to the exam site:

Exam Administration Office

REVIEW AND APPEALS

CFP Board’s Board of Examiners

EXAM REVIEW COURSE PROVIDERS

LIST OF REVIEW COURSE PROVIDERS

Financial Planning Education Center Keir Educational Resources (*)

TOPIC LIST FOR CFP ® CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

D. Generation-Skipping Transfer 1) Fringe benefits 38. Non-qualified deferred compensation

M. Real estate (investor-managed) D. Appropriate benchmarks 2) Short-term/long-term/

1) Types 1) Cost basis A. Marriage

Signature: _____________________________________________________ Date: _

Signature: _____________________________________________________ Date: _