How to Become a Certified Financial Planner Online
A certified financial planner is an important part of any investment endeavor. They typically work independently, or as employees of larger investment companies for and with clients. Today, financial planners can become certified by either traditional schools or online programs.
- Select an online program recognized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. For example, Ohio State University offers a self-paced program. The program allows financial planners to proceed at their own pace.
- Register for the online program of your choice.
- Set up a study schedule that allows the program to be completed within the schools' recommended amount of time. Students who do not follow a regular schedule run the risk of forgetting the previous material learned.
- Choose study times when you are not interrupted. However, remember completing the online class is only a portion of the requirement for becoming certified.
- Take the certification examination as soon as possible after successfully completing your class. The 10-hour, multiple choice exam covers three separate sessions to test your complete knowledge of financial planning. It is given three times a year in March, July and November.
- Fulfill the three-year experience requirement in a financial planning field. Those in the financial teaching field also qualify, as this is considered relevant experience.
- Pass a background investigation.
- Pay the required certification fees to the Certified Financial Board of Standards once the former criteria are met. This enables you to use Designation of Certified Financial Planner, or CPF, following your name.