What is CFP: Full Form, Course Duration, Admission 2026, Colleges, Syllabus, Salary & Scope

The full form of CFP is Certified Financial Planner which is a globally recognised and respected certification for finance students. The CFP certification is awarded by the Financial Planning Standards Board India, a leading authority in financial planning education.

For a Regular Pathway Eligibility, candidates must have passed Class 12 and should have cleared all the exam levels covering all six modules. But for Fast Track Pathway, candidates must have cleared CFA/CPA/CA Intermediate/PG degree from a UGC-approved university/MBA/PhD and pass the CFP exam and the Financial Plan Assessment, bypassing the specialist course exams.

Average CFP course fees can be from INR 25,000 to INR 4.5 Lakh. Popular training providers are Indian School of Business Management and Administration, IMS ProSchool, ICFL, etc.

Jobs that candidates can go for are Financial Planner, Wealth Management Advisor, Investment Manager, etc. Recruiters include ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Bajaj Finance Limited, etc.

 

CFP Course Details

Candidates can see detailed information about the course below - 

CFP Course Parameters	CFP Course Details
CFP Full Form	Certified Financial Planner
CFP Course Duration	6 months to 2 years
CFP Exam Pattern	Multiple-choice questions
CFP Course Eligibility in India	Regular Pathway Eligibility: Candidates must have passed Class 12 and should have cleared all the exam levels covering all six modules. Fast Track Pathway Eligibility: Candidates must have cleared CFA/CPA/CA Intermediate/PG Degree from a UGC Approved University/MBA/PhD and pass the CFP exam and the Financial Plan Assessment, bypassing the specialist course exams.
CFP Course Fees	INR 25,000 to INR 4.5 lakh
Top CFP Colleges/Training Providers	Indian School of Business Management and Administration, IMS ProSchool, ICICIdirect Centre For Financial Learning - ICFL, Financial Planning Academy, and ICOFP.
CFP Syllabus	Financial Planning, Financial Management, Tax Planning, Investment Planning, Risk Management, Insurance Planning, etc.
CFP Career Scope	Tax Planning, Retirement Planning and Estate Planning, Wealth Management, Private Banking, Portfolio Management, Financial Advisory Services, Investment Consultancy, etc.
Average CFP Salary in India	INR 6 LPA – INR 12 LPA

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

 

 

FPSB India is leading financial planning body in India that is authorised to offer CFP courses, conducts a CFP certification exam, and awards CFP certification to those who complete their education, clear CFP exams and meet other CFP certification requirements.

One can earn CFP certification under two modes – Regular Pathway and Fast Track Pathway. Candidates can find CFP course eligibility criteria for both modes given below:

Regular Pathway Eligibility

CFP certification allows one to gain advanced expertise in financial planning and related services. Table below contains some important eligibility requirements for students seeking CFP certification through regular pathways. 

For Enrollment	For Certification
Age: Minimum 18 Years	Qualification: Graduation
Nationality: Must be an Indian Resident	Exam: Pass all 3 Specialist courses along with CFP exam and Financial Planning Assessment (FPA).
Qualification: Class 12 or equivalent	Work Experience: Minimum 1 year (as a supervisor) or Minimum 3 years (under supervision) in finance industry.

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

Fast Track Pathway Eligibility

To be eligible to undertake course through Fast Track Pathway candidates must have either of following qualifications/professional certifications:

• Chartered Financial Analyst, from CFA Institute (USA).
• Certified Public Accountant, from AICPA (USA), CMA, ACCA.
• Chartered Accountant, from ICAI, CA (Intermediate) with 3-year Articleship + BCom.
• Fellow Member of Insurance Institute of India (Life/General).
• CAIIB + Graduation in any discipline.
• Postgraduate degree in Economics, Commerce, and Finance/Financial Planning from a UGC-approved University.
• MBA and PGDM (all streams) from an AICTE-approved institution/Ministry of Education-approved institution/such other Indian or Foreign institution or business school.

Important Note: For working professionals of any bank, finance company or investment firm, a minimum of three years of prior work experience at time of submission of documents will be taken into account.

 

CFP Course/Certification Complete Roadmap

Students often face a dilemma about how to proceed towards CFP courses and professional certification after meeting eligibility requirements. Here is a complete breakdown of CFP course roadmap for beginners to get hold of prestigious CFP certification:

• Enrollment: Candidates must register themselves with FPSB India and get access to individual student portal.
• Purchase Specialist Courses: Further, candidates need to purchase Specialist courses on portal, including Investment Planning Specialist (IPS), Retirement and Tax Planning (RTPS), and Risk and Estate Planning (REPS). One can choose their preferred learning pathway for courses and make sure to complete their education to be eligible for respective exams.
• Pass Specialist Courses Exams: exam application window is usually accessible every month in first 5 days, with exam duration of 2 hours each with 75 MCQs. Students can take these exams either online or in person at designated test centers.
• Take up Integrated Financial Planning (IFP) Course: After clearing exams, candidates can download their certificates for all 3 Specialist courses and further move on to purchasing Integrated Financial Planning (IFP) course. One needs to also complete Global Ethics course on student portal to apply for exams.
• Clear CFP Exam & Financial Plan Assessment (FPA): CFP exam registration window is open every alternate month in initial 5 days. CFP exam duration is 3 hours with two sections in MCQ format with 25 stand-alone questions and 25 case study-based questions. Candidates must note that they can submit FPA before or after appearing for CFP exam.
• Apply for CFP Certification on FPSB India Student Portal: After successful completion of CFP exam and Financial Plan Assessment, candidates can apply for much-awaited CFP certification via their student portal, ensuring all educational and work experience requirements are met at time of submitting application.
• Exception for Fast Track Pathway Applicants: Fast Track Pathway candidates are exempted from Specialist exams and can directly go for CFP Exam + FPA. This pathway tests all-round financial planning knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Important Note: CFP professionals are required to renew their certification annually by completing 15 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points and submitting an annual fee.

 

FPSB India conducts a total of four exams, including three specialist courses and the final CFP exam, along with the Financial Plan Assessment, post which candidates can apply for the CFP certification in India. The 3 special modules covered in the CFP course are Investment Planning, Retirement and Tax Planning, and Risk and Estate Planning.

You must note that the CFP exam is conducted 3 times annually in March, July, and November. But, the Indian process has specific monthly frequencies. FPSB India conducts the specialist courses exams every month, while the final CFP exam takes place every other month. You can check the table given below for more details on CFP courses and exams.

Exams	Exam Details
Specialist Course Exams	Exam duration: 2 hours each Computer-based testing format with 75 MCQs Students can take these exams either online or in person at designated NSE test centers. There is no negative marking. Financial calculators are allowed with previous data history being erased.
CFP Exam	Exam duration: 3 hours The exam paper is divided into two sections with multiple-choice questions, where each question has four possible answer choices out of which one is correct. There are 25 stand-alone questions and 25 case study-based questions. Candidates can take the CFP exam online either on the Mettle platform or in person at designated NSE test centers. Financial calculators and spreadsheets with financial functions are available.

Note - This info is taken from the official website.

Interestingly, for each level, the FPSB India gives an International Certification. Here's the structure of the CFP exam levels.

CFP Level	Certification Title	Description
CFP Level 1 - Investment Planning Specialist	Investment Planning Specialist	International Certification for Investment Professionals specializing in Securities Markets & Portfolio Management
CFP Level 2 - Retirement & Tax Planning Specialist	Retirement & Tax Planning Specialist	International Certification for Retirement Planning & Individual Tax Planning
CFP Level 3 - Risk Management & Estate Planning Specialist	Risk & Estate Planning Specialist	International Certification for Risk Management & Estate Planning
FPSB Integrated Financial Planning (IFP)	Certified Financial Planner	Global Standard of Excellence in Financial Planning & Wealth Management

Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.

 

CFP course is FPSB India’s financial planning program, for which students are later tested on, includes six important modules like Introduction to Financial Planning, Risk Analysis & Insurance Planning, Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits, Investment Planning, Tax Planning & Estate Planning, and Advanced Financial Planning.

Below table shows CFP syllabus:

CFP Course Syllabus Modules	CFP Syllabus Content
Introduction to Financial Planning	6-Step Financial Planning Process Financial Management: General Principles and Behavioral Finance Financial Mathematics Financial Planner Code of Ethics, Professional Responsibility and Model Rule of Conduct Regulatory Environment Related to Financial Planning
Risk Analysis & Insurance Planning (RAIP)	Concepts of Insurance and Risk Management Insurance Contract and Legal Liability Life Insurance: Analysis of Life Cover, Strategies and Products General Insurance: Property, Health and Liability Insurance Regulatory Framework of Insurance
Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits (RPEB)	Employee Benefits and Superannuation Benefits Life Cycle Analysis, Retirement Needs and Factors in Planning Creation and Sustenance of Retirement Fund Provident Fund and Pension Schemes Pension Sector Reforms and Regulatory Framework of Retirement
Investment Planning (IP)	Investment Products Universe and their Applications Risk Profiling of Products and Investors: Asset Allocation Determination Goal-Based Investment Planning, Measuring and Managing Risks, Analysis of Returns Investment Strategies and Portfolio Management Regulatory Aspects: Investment Products and Investment Advisory
Tax Planning & Estate Planning (TPEP)	Features of Indian Tax System and Direct Taxes Personal Taxation and Business Taxation: Computation and Tax Efficiency Taxation of Various Financial Products and Transactions, Tax Planning Strategies Estate Planning Process, Strategies and Taxation Aspects Vehicles of Estate Planning: Features
Advanced Financial Planning	Financial Planning Process, Practice Standards and Professional Responsibility Risk Analysis and Insurance Planning Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits Investment Planning Tax Planning and Estate Planning

Source: Official site and may vary.

 

Around 20+ institutes provide CFP training in India. Candidates can see table listing these popular institutes which provide CFP training in India below - 

Best CFP Colleges	Tuition Fee
Indian School of Business Management and Administration, Bangalore	20,900
IMS Proschool, Bangalore	25,000 - 50,000
IMS Proschool, Chennai	25,000 - 35,000
IMS ProSchool, Pune	25,000 - 50,000
IMS Proschool, Kochi	25,000 - 50,000
Indian School of Business Management and Administration, Ahmedabad	20,900
IMS Proschool, Andheri West	50,000
IMS Proschool, Navi Mumbai	25,000 - 50,000
ICFL	43,660
IMS Proschool, Hyderabad	25,000 - 50,000

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

 

CFP is one of most difficult and most sought-after certifications in BFSI sectors. It not only increases employability quotient in finance market but also helps students build a rewarding career. Once a student becomes a Certified Financial Planner, doors to highly rewarding job opportunities in Banking, Finance, and Insurance industries open.

Know all about BFSI Career Scope

CFP Salary & Job Profiles

CFP professionals can land rewarding jobs in diverse industrial sectors like banking, insurance, fintech and asset management, financial advisory and investment firms, etc. growing middle class and increasing financial literacy in India further boost career scope, leading to high CFP salary packages. Candidates can check table given below for some top job profiles and salaries after CFP course and certification:

CFP Jobs in India	Average CFP Salary
Financial Planner	INR 4.5 LPA
Wealth Management Advisor	INR 7.4 LPA
Investment Manager	INR 6.6 LPA
Portfolio Manager	INR 13 LPA
Risk Analyst	INR 8.2 LPA

Note: Salary information is taken from Ambitionbox.com.

CFP Top Recruiters

Candidates can find employment in consulting in finance, banking, investing, risk management, office administration, relationship management, portfolio management, etc., after completing course in financial planning and earning globally recognized CFP certification. Some of top CFP recruiters are given below:

CFP Top Recruiters
ICICI Bank	HDFC Bank	Standard Chartered Bank
Bajaj Finance Limited	Morgan Stanley	Aditya Birla Capital Limited
State Bank of India (SBI)	American Express	Goldman Sachs
Barclays	GIC Housing Finance	L&T Finance Holdings Limited (LTFH)

 

Candidates can refer to this section for CFP course-related FAQs:

 

Following are the most popular CFP (Certified Financial Planner) Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.