The CFP Board has both initial certification requirements (known as the four “Es”) and continual certification renewals every two years. The initial certification requirements (the four “Es”) are:
Education – Candidates for certification must meet the CFP Board’s core financial planning knowledge requirements and have a bachelor’s degree (or higher), or its equivalent, in any discipline, from an accredited college or university in order to obtain CFP® certification
Examination – The CFP® Certification Examination is a comprehensive 285-question exam that assesses your ability to apply your knowledge to financial planning situations
Experience – Three years of full-time relevant personal financial planning experience is required
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
