CFP – Certified Financial Planner

Pathway

There are Two Major Pathways to become CFP

1. Regular
2. Experienced/Challenge Path Way

Regular Pathway

1. Self Study – If you wish to prepare for the examination all by yourself considering if you have required understanding of the scope and modules, you can register with the board directly and have access to the reading material. In such case you will be given 2 attempts to clear FPSB Module Mock Test to score minimum 70% marks, failing to do so, candidate will have to switch to instructor led option.
2. Instructor Led – Candidates can enroll with any of the Authorized Education Provider who are licensed, certified and have experienced trainers to teach candidates.
3. Recognition of prior qualification/certification – In this option candidates who are qualified with certain eligible qualification, will be given the FPSB mock examination exemption for certain modules and can directly attempt the module examination.  

Challenge Path Way

Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. recognizes the need for an accelerated pathway to test the competency of certain professionals in financial services who have specified qualifications along with relevant experience. Such individuals, upon verification of their credentials, shall be exempted from writing three component level Specialist exams. They shall be inducted in the FPSB^® Integrated Financial Planning course, which consist of two-stages of evaluation i.e. Financial Plan Assessment and CFP^® Exam. This tests the all-round financial planning knowledge, skills and abilities expected of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals.

To be eligible to undertake the course through Challenge Pathway the candidates should have:

1. Passed at least one of the approved Educational Qualifications / Professional Certification listed below and
2. Have minimum 3 years’ work experience as specified below

Approved Qualifications/Professional Certifications:

1. Chartered Financial Analyst, from CFA Institute (USA) 
2. Chartered Financial Consultant (CHFC), from American College (USA)
3. Certified Public Accountant, from AICPA (USA) 
4. Chartered Accountant, from ICAI, India (or equivalent recognized degree globally) 
5. Actuary from Institute of Actuaries of India (or such recognized Actuary body globally)  
6. Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) 
7. Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Finance, Post Graduate Diploma in Finance or other equivalent courses offered by Indian Institute of Management 
8. Advanced Wealth Management Course, from IIBF 
9. Postgraduate degree in Economics, Commerce, Finance/Financial Planning from a UGC approved University
10. MBA (Finance) or PGDFM from an AICTE approved Institute

Documents: The documents in support of the above will be certificates/degrees/ marksheets.

Relevant Experience:

• Employed individuals:

At least three years of prior work experience at the time of submission of documents will be considered in case of employees of a:

• bank
• mutual fund asset management/ trustee company
• insurance company
• securities company
• portfolio manager
• brokerage
• Registered Investment Adviser (in the capacity ’persons associated with investment advice’)
• Academic institution or FPSB’s Authorized Education Provider#   

Such experience shall be in one of the following broad job activities:

• funds management
• investment advice
• accounting/fund accounting/auditing
• corporate finance
• customer relationship/investor service
• lecturing in Academic Institutions on Economics/Commerce/Finance or teaching/training on FPSB’s CFP certification curriculum based on Financial Planning Education Framework#