The Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation is highly respected in the financial planning industry. CFP professionals must maintain their designation by completing continuing education (CE) courses annually. These CFP continuing education requirements ensure professionals stay competent and current with the latest developments in the field.
CFP Continuing Education Requirements
To meet the CFP continuing education requirements, professionals must complete 25 hours of CE coursework every year, including at least 2 hours of professional responsibility. Of these 25 hours, 10 credits must go towards financial planning. The CE hours can be completed through interactive CE activities like webinars, in-person seminars, volunteering, or FP Canada-approved online courses.
In addition to the Financial Planning CE requirements, CFP professionals must complete additional CE hours to meet the requirements of the CFP Board. There are four recognized categories: professional responsibility, practice management, product knowledge, and giving back. Professionals must complete additional coursework beyond technical competency and meet client needs. CFP professionals are expected to have 2 hours of professional responsibility and no more than 5 hours per category for practice management, product knowledge, and giving back. More details about the five categories can be found here.
The CE coursework covers many topics relevant to financial planning, such as retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning, investment planning, and insurance planning. Additionally, it covers the latest trends and developments in the financial planning industry.
Benefits of CFP Continuing Education Courses
Meeting the CFP continuing education requirements has many benefits. It helps CFP professionals maintain competence and professionalism, ensuring they provide clients with the best advice. By staying up-to-date with the latest developments in their field, CFP professionals can keep their reputation and credibility.
The requirements also provide opportunities for CFP professionals to network with other professionals in their field. Many CE activities are interactive, providing opportunities to connect with other professionals and share best practices. This can be valuable for networking and business development.
Accepted Types of CFP CE Activities
Many CE activities are available to meet the CFP CE requirements, like live webinars, in-person seminars, self-paced online courses, and on-demand video courses. CE activities can be provided directly by the CFP Board or third-party providers. The important thing is to ensure that the coursework meets the CFP Board’s guidelines for CE credit.
In general, there are two types of CE activities that CFP professionals can participate in: in-person or online.
In-person activities involve engagement between the instructor, speaker, discussion leader and students. For example, attending seminars, panel discussions, or participating in structured discussion groups.
In contrast, online activities are self-directed courses developed by a qualified instructor in a relevant field or work experience. For example, self-study or online courses accompanied by a quiz counts towards CE hours.
Supporting Documentation
To ensure that CFP professionals are meeting the requirements for CE credit, the CFP Board uses a reporting system. Professionals must have the necessary documentation to support their completion of the coursework during certification renewal. The CFP Board also randomly audits a percentage of professionals yearly to ensure compliance with the CE requirements. To ensure that CFPs can attest to their CE completion, it is recommended that they retain CE related documents for at least 3 years.
What CFP Continuing education Courses do you offer?
We offer many FP Canada-approved CE courses covering a range of topics, including Estate Planning, Ethics & Compliance, Product knowledge, and Sales Management skills. Whether you need to complete a few courses or many, we have everything in between. Check out our FP Canada-approved course bundle here.
CFP Continuing Education Summary
In conclusion, the CFP continuing education requirements are vital for maintaining the CFP designation and staying abreast of the latest developments in the financial planning industry. Meeting the CFP continuing education requirements is essential for maintaining credibility and staying competitive in the financial planning industry. By completing the required coursework, CFP professionals can maintain their competence and professionalism, network with other professionals, and provide the best possible advice to their clients.