How Long Does It Take to Get Your CFP®?

Earning the Certified Financial Planner™ credential is a multi-step process that combines education, exam preparation and hands-on experience in financial planning. For many aspiring CFP® professionals, the timeline spans roughly one to two years, though individual circumstances can shorten or extend that range. Factors such as prior education, existing industry experience and the pace at which you complete coursework all play a role in how quickly you can move through the process. Understanding what’s involved and how each requirement fits together can help set realistic expectations as you plan your path to certification.

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What Is the CFP®?

The CFP® is a professional credential for financial advisors that reflects expertise in comprehensive financial planning. The average person invests approximately 1,000 hours of study over 18+ months preparing for this exam and completing the requirements. This doesn’t include the 6,000+ hours of professional experience required (or 4,000 hours of apprenticeship experience that meet specific requirements).

Administered by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) in the United States, the CFP® certification demonstrates a financial advisor’s expertise in retirement, estate planning, tax, investment, insurance and risk management. This sector-specific knowledge can influence crucial financial decisions, guiding clients toward achieving their financial goals.

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How the CFP® Certification Process Works

Two financial advisors researching the requirements for a CFP certification.

To become a CFP® practitioner and maintain the certification, individuals typically need to follow these general steps:

Education: Earn a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. The degree can be in any discipline, although some institutions offer specific financial planning programs.
CFP Board-registered coursework: Complete a CFP Board-registered education program. These programs cover various financial planning topics, meeting the educational requirements set by the CFP Board.
CFP® exam: Pass the CFP® exam. This comprehensive exam assesses your ability to apply financial planning knowledge to real-life situations. It covers areas such as retirement planning, investment management, tax planning and estate planning, among other topics.
Work experience: Acquire at least 6,000 hours of professional experience related to the financial planning process or 4,000 hours through an apprenticeship program. The experience requirement aims to ensure that CFP® professionals have practical knowledge and expertise in financial planning.
Ethics requirement: Complete CFP Board’s ethics requirement, which includes agreeing to abide by the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct and meeting ethics education obligations.
CFP Board’s fitness standards: Agree to adhere to the CFP Board’s fitness standards, which include background checks and declarations regarding criminal history, bankruptcy and other matters that could impact your ability to practice as a CFP® professional.
Continuing education (CE): Complete continuing education requirements to maintain CFP® certification. The CFP Board requires CFP® holders to complete 40 CE hours every two years, including two hours in ethics.

Keep in mind that some of these steps could be adjusted based on where you’re at and what qualification requirements you still need to meet.

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How Long It Takes to Complete the CFP® Process

While on average the completion of CFP® certification takes between 12 to 18 months, it is not a race. The journey to CFP® certification is a worthy investment in gaining knowledge, skills and professional competence.

A strong foundation in financial planning or a relevant degree could lessen the time spent preparing for the exam. However, those new to this field may face a learning curve, necessitating extra hours to understand and master the material.

As previously mentioned, you’ll need 6,000 hours of professional experience related to financial planning (or 4,000 hours through an apprenticeship program) in addition to taking the required coursework and taking the exam. So the actual length of time will depend on where you are in your career and how quickly you can meet the requirements, which varies by person.

Obtaining your CFP® can take time and energy. This may be time taken away from growing your firm, which can make it harder to expand at the pace you want. If this is the case, you might want to find some help with the marketing or growth goals of your firm. Add new clients and AUM at your desired pace with SmartAsset’s Advisor Marketing Platform. Sign up for a free demo today.

Bottom Line

Two financial advisors reviewing material for an upcoming CFP exam.

Becoming a CFP® professional involves a blend of education, applied experience and high ethical standards that will give you a comprehensive understanding of personal financial planning. The length of time it takes for you to complete is typically at least 12 months, but this will depend on your unique situation. If you’re starting from scratch with no experience, you may not be able to complete the certification within the average timeline.

Tips for Growing Your Advisory Firm

It’s important to make sure your firm keeps growing as you spend more time studying and learning. SmartAsset AMP (Advisor Marketing Platform) is a holistic marketing service financial advisors can use for client lead generation and automated marketing. Sign up for a free demo to explore how SmartAsset AMP can help you expand your practice’s marketing operation. Get started today.
Another thing to do after you get your CFP® is to list it on your website and deploy some creative social media marketing to make sure that as many potential clients as possible know about your new certification and what it can do for them.