Pathway to CFP CertificationCM
FPSB Ltd. is committed to developing the capability and growing the number of CFPCM professionals in India so the public has increased access to advice from competent and ethical financial planners – especially during these uncertain times. Through our new pathway to CFP certification in India, launched with the FPSB® Investment Planning Specialist course, FPSB Ltd. is pleased to provide a quality learning experience to Indian students and financial advisors to support their journey to CFP certification, and towards becoming part of a community of ~190,000 CFP professionals worldwide committed to working in their clients’ best interest.
FPSB Ltd. has restructured the content of the education requirement for CFP certification in India into three specialist education courses (Investment Planning Specialist; Retirement and Tax Planning Specialist; Risk and Estate Planning Specialist) and a financial planning capstone course. Delivered through FPSB Ltd.’s online learning portal, the new courses consist of textbooks with global and India-specific content, interactive modules and practice questions, and can be taken through self-study or through one of FPSB Ltd.’s Authorized Education Providers.
Registration for the first of FPSB Ltd.’s four courses, the FPSB® Investment Planning Specialist course, is open.
In the coming months, FPSB Ltd. will launch its retirement and tax planning specialist; risk and estate planning specialist; and financial planning capstone education courses on its online learning portal. By completing pathway certification requirements, successful candidates can be recognized as an FPSB® Investment Planning Specialist, FPSB® Retirement and Tax Planning Specialist and/or an FPSB® Risk and Estate Planning Specialist. Upon completing all four education courses and related exams, and meeting FPSB Ltd.’s CFP exam and experience requirements, individuals can be recognized as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM professional in India.
Step 1. Register with FPSB Ltd. and Purchase Course Material
While we will have four education tracks leading to CFP certification in India, we’re rolling the courses out in sequence throughout 2020. Consequently, you can only register for the Investment Planning Specialist course at present. But come back soon – other courses will be available shortly.
FPSB® Investment Planning Specialist Certification (available now)
FPSB® Retirement and Tax Planning Specialist (coming soon)
Step 2. Complete the Education Course Through One of Three Routes
- Are you somebody who likes to study independently, at your own pace? If so, you might want to consider the Self-Paced Education Route. For this route, after you register with FPSB Ltd. and access your educational materials – including textbook content, PowerPoint outlines, quizzes and practice tests – via FPSB Ltd.’s online learning portal, you can study for your certification exam on your own schedule.
- Do you like to have an instructor lead you through the curriculum, and ensure you’ve mastered the content? If so, take the Instructor-Led Education Route. For this route, after you register with FPSB Ltd. and purchase the FPSB Ltd. online learning materials, you will enroll with an FPSB Ltd. Authorized Education Provider (in-person and/or online courses available), and complete your coursework in ~8-12 weeks (depending on course content and frequency).
- Do you have professional experience and/or qualifications or certifications that could allow you to bypass the required education component for one of the specialist courses? If so, see if you’re eligible for the Recognition of Prior Learning Route. For this route, you may apply to FPSB Ltd. for education exemption based on your professional qualifications and/or previous certifications. If approved, you will be eligible to bypass some or all of the specialist education courses and enroll directly in the FPSB Financial Planning Capstone Course.
Step 3. Pass the Specialist Course Exam
FPSB Ltd. will have a total of four certification exams in India (matching the four specialist education courses), leading to CFP certification in India. Registration for the Investment Planning Specialist Exam will open in August 2020 (date TBC) – we will update this website shortly with the date.
- FPSB® Investment Planning Specialist (August 2020)
- FPSB® Retirement and Tax Planning Specialist (2020)
- FPSB® Risk and Estate Planning Specialist (2020)
- FPSB® Financial Planning Capstone (2020)
Step 4. Meet the FPSB Ltd. Ethics Requirement
To obtain certification, candidates complete FPSB Ltd.’s ethics course, and agree to uphold and abide by the FPSB Ltd. Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, which sets forth requirements for ethical behavior and professional judgment. Once the candidate has completed this ethics course for any one of the specialist track certifications, he or she will not need to complete the course for additional track certifications on the pathway to CFP certification.
Step 5. Get Certified by FPSB Ltd.
By completing the steps above, and applying for FPSB Ltd. certification, successful candidates can be recognized by employers, clients and the public as an FPSB® Investment Planning Specialist, FPSB® Retirement and Tax Planning Specialist or FPSB® Risk and Estate Planning Specialist.
Individuals in India can be recognized as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional upon:
- Completing all specialist education courses and related exams
- Meeting FPSB Ltd.’s ethics requirement
- Completing through an Authorized Education Provider the FPSB® Financial Planning Capstone Course (includes a Financial Plan assessment)
- Meeting FPSB Ltd.’s experience requirement
- Passing the CFP exam
- Paying an annual certification fee
Step 6. Stay Certified
Each of FPSB Ltd.’s certifications has a continuing professional development (CPD) requirement, which is five hours of CPD per year for each of the specialist certifications or 15 hours per year for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification. In addition to offering our own CPD programs, FPSB Ltd. recognizes the programs being offered by various CPD providers in India.
Thank you for your commitment to professionalism, and to providing advice competently and ethically, in your clients’ interests. We’re glad you’ve decided to come on the journey to CFP certification, and we look forward to welcoming you to our growing global community of 2,000+ CFP professionals in India, and ~190,000 CFP professionals in 26 countries and territories worldwide.