What is CFP: Full Form, Course Duration, Admission 2025, Colleges, Syllabus, Salary & Scope

The CFP full form in finance is Certified Financial Planner which is a highly reputed certification for financial planners, displaying their commitment, ethics and expert knowledge in helping individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals. Be it investment planning, retirement and tax planning, or risk assessment, CFP professionals are like your personal financial coaches. The CFP certification is granted by the FPSB (Financial Planning Standards Board).

CFP is a professional certification granted by the FPSB (Financial Planning Standards Board), not a degree. A graduation degree is a mandatory requirement for the CFP certification that allows you to act as a financial advisor and provide personalized financial planning services to individuals. According to the FPSB India's official website, there are around 3,215 CFP professionals in India as of now and around 2,30,648 globally.

The CFP course duration is usually 6 months to 2 years, which differs on the basis of the chosen pathway, whether regular or fast-paced, and individual learning capabilities. If you're starting with the regular pathway, it will take you around 18 to 24 months to cover all the CFP coursework and clear relevant exams. On the other hand, if you're entering via the fast-track pathway, you can easily complete all the coursework and exams in 6 to 9 months.

The aspirant can take the CFP test a maximum of 3 times a year, starting from the date of their first attempt. If the aspirant fails for the 3rd time, he/she will have to wait for the next 12 months from the time of their 3rd attempt. Also, the aspirant has to submit the exam fee every time they retake the attempt.

If you're applying through the CFP regular pathway, you should have passed Class 12 and cleared all the exam levels covering all six core modules. On the other hand, if you've decided to opt for the fast track route, it is important for you to hold a CFA/CPA/CA Intermediate/PG Degree from a UGC-Approved University/MBA/PhD and clear the CFP exam and the Financial Plan Assessment, excluding the 3 specialist course exams.

Well, yes. It is mandatory for you to hold a graduate degree to get the CFP certification. You can surely enroll for the course after Class 12, but you need to fulfill the bachelor's degree requirement from a recognised university either before or after passing the CFP exam within a 5 year timeframe.

Candidates need to follow the steps below to apply for CFP certification.

• Candidate can apply for the initial CFP certification only after successfully clearing Exam 5 and having the required work experience.
• Having met the criteria, duly fill out the CFP certification application form and upload the required documents as mentioned in the application form.
• FPSB will verify the uploaded documents. Once the documents are in order, a payment link will be sent to the candidate on their registered email ID for payment of fees.
• Once the candidate makes the payment and it is verified by FPSB, candidates will receive a digital copy of the CFP certificate on their registered email ID.

Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) assist their customers in making investment selections, retirement plans, tax planning, and insurance policy selection. CFPs in India are primarily responsible for visiting with clients, investigating new investment options, and analyzing various sorts of financial data.

Applicants for CFP in India must finish the Certified Financial Planner Course given by the FPSB India after passing 4 exams covering 4 modules. The CFP certification is a worldwide recognised Certificate in Finance that is available both online and offline.

There are a total of 4 exams for you to clear before getting to the final destination of the CFP certification. The first 3 are specialist courses exams for Investment Planning Specialist (IPS), Retirement and Tax Planning (RTPS) and Risk and Estate Planning (REPS), and the fourth one is the final CFP exam. Plus, other than the exams, you also have to fulfill extra CFP requirements of the Global Ethics course, Financial Plan Assessment (FPA), and work experience to become eligible for the prestigious certificate.

Yes. The CFP exam is MCQ-based with 50 questions (25 based on case studies and 25 on individual financial planning topics), with no negative marking. The CFP exam is 3 hours long and is computer-based. You can take it either on the Mettle platform or via NSE exam centers. You can also make use of the financial spreadsheets and calculator, given the previous data has been erased.

The Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam passing marks are not publicly disclosed by the exam Board. The scores also vary depending on the exams and candidates. Earlier, the criteria have always been between 62 - 67%, which means the aspirants must achieve a score of at least 65 - 70%. 

The CFP course syllabus is spread across 6 core modules based on the important concepts of financial planning, insurance concepts, tax and estate planning, retirement planning and employee benefits, and integrated financial planning case studies. All of these comprehensive modules serve as the capstone for a thorough knowledge and expertise in financial planning and wealth management.

Of course, yes. FPSB India makes sure to keep the CFP syllabus updated as per the evolving financial landscape and industry trends of the country, along with keeping in mind the growing middle class population demands. The specialised courses in the CFP coursework are only to enhance learning and knowledge of the future CFP professionals.

Of more than 25 CFP colleges or training providers in India that offer you the best learning resources and training to clear the CFP certification exams in full time or distance mode, some of the best choices include the Institute of Professional Education and Research (Bhubaneswar), IMS Proschool (Chennai and Pune), ICOFP Mumbai, ICFL - ICICIdirect Centre For Financial Learning (Delhi), and the Financial Planning Academy.

Financial Planning Academy, Indian School of Business Management and Administration and IMS ProSchools are the best distance college options for CFP preparations in India. Here are some of their top branches you can opt for:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

The job role of a Certified Financial Planner includes essentially four tasks.

1. Identifying the client: Interviewing individuals or companies to understand their financial goals, the purpose of investment and related concerns.
2. Assessing the client's financial status: Analyzing the client's area of income, flow of income, assets, debts and problem areas. Foreseeing the future to the basis of historical and present status.
3. Making a financial plan for the client: After analyzing the status of the client's financial goals and status, the CFP makes an investment plan for the client.
4. Implementing the plan and reviewing it periodically: If the plan is approved by the client, the CFP implements the plan and reviews it periodically to ensure that the client receives maximum benefit.

The CFP salary in India on average is INR 6 LPA to INR 10 LPA which differs on the basis of the experience, skill set, qualifications, job type, recruiting sector and work location. As a fresher initially you can expect around INR 4 LPA to INR 6 LPA but with years of expertise in the field, your earning potential will also increase based on the value add you bring and can easily go up to INR 10 LPA and more.

The corporate sector hires or outsources Certified Financial Planners services to facilitate good financial planning services to improve employee engagement and retention, reduce financial stress, promote the company's reputation, etc. Certified Financial Planners are as important in corporate sectors as in BFSI sectors. 

Professionals might take this course in addition to their current job to increase their earnings. Also, students who aspire to work as financial advisors in the future might enroll in this program. Students interested in financial studies can pursue a CFP. This professional learning will help the candidates get acceleration in their careers.

They need to be persistent, energetic, and good at problem-solving abilities. Besides, they need to develop some organizational abilities.

Certified Financial Planner is the most desired and respected global certification for those seeking to demonstrate their commitment to competent and ethical financial planning practice. Candidates having CFP certification get enhanced career and employment opportunities with financial services companies. They can work in banks, distribution houses, insurance companies, equity brokerage, and financial planning firms.

CFP course teaches students how to create a solid and recurring financial planning foundation. It also enables each customer to offer a pure financial planning solution regularly. Besides, it helps readily to prove decisions, lowering your risk of non-compliance. It will boost client confidence and assist them in reaching their life objectives.

A certified CFP student can work marvels and bring about a positive impact in the financial industry on attractive job profiles like those of a Financial Controller, Management Trainee, Project Manager, and Accounting Officer. A CFP professional can get a starting salary of INR 14 LPA.

The validity of a CFP (Certified Financial Planner) certificate is 1 year in India, after that, it requires a renewal to maintain its status. The renewal process involves completing continuing professional development credits to stay updated with industry standards. If you fail to maintain the renewal requirements your certificate can be suspended or revoked.