CFP Course / CFP Certification

Effective 1 April 2019, the CFP certification program in India is directly administered by U.S.-based Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd.(FPSB Ltd.), owner of the international CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM certification program outside the United States. FPSB Ltd. is the sole entity in India with authority to:

• Authorize education providers to offer CFP education courses;

• Authorize a CFP certification exam administrator in India; and

• Award CFP certification to those who successfully complete CFP education, CFP exam and other CFP certification requirements.

The National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) has accredited FPSB Ltd.’s CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification in India. The accreditation is valid until 4 September 2020, after which the accreditation is eligible to be renewed for two more years, subject to program monitoring and approval by NISM. With the accreditation, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals in India offering investment advice are eligible to register as Investment Advisors under Securities and Exchange Board of India regulations. To find our listing on the NISM website, click here.

You can access your account via the Online Certification Management System (OCMS) portal to update the system with recently completed continuing professional development (CPD) points. FPSB Ltd. is also working with several CPD/conference providers in India to streamline the CPD reporting process and will provide an update later in the year. For more information on the activities and programs admissible for CPD points, click here.

FPSB Ltd. is pleased to present the Journal of Financial Planning in India! In this edition, CFP professionals will find a collection of insightful articles authored by industry experts and academics within FPSB Ltd.’s global network. We understand that continuing professional development (CPD) is of great importance to you as you seek to enhance your skills and retain your CFP certification. So, we’ve built in a CPD quiz that provides four CPD points for CFP certification renewal.

We hope this journal and future editions will become a staple in furthering your professional development and connecting you to the global financial planning profession.

Yes. When a CFP professional wants to practice financial planning using the CFP marks in more than one territory, the CFP professional must become certified to use the CFP marks in each territory where the CFP professional intends to practice. If a practitioner becomes certified in more than one territory, he or she must abide by the certification renewal requirements of the FPSB affiliate organization in each territory, and will also be subject to oversight by the FPSB affiliate organization in each territory.

For more information on requirements in a specific territory, please refer to that territory’s specific website. For a list of FPSB affiliate organizations, please see https://www.fpsb.org/about/member-organizations/.

Step 1. A candidate can apply for the initial CFP certification only after successfully clearing Exam 5 and having required work experience (refer the experience criteria here – https://india.fpsb.org/experience/).

Step 2. Having met the criteria in Step 1, duly fill the CFP certification application form – https://india.fpsb.org/new-cfp-form/ and upload the required documents as mentioned in the application form.

Step 3. FPSB Ltd will verify the uploaded documents. (This may take 10-15 working days).

Step 4. Once the documents are in order, a payment link will be sent to the candidate on their registered email id for payment of fees of $100.

Step 5. Once the candidate makes the payment and it is verified by FPSB Ltd., the candidate will receive a digital copy of the CFP certificate on their registered email id.

Refer the CFP mark usage policy – https://india.fpsb.org/cfp-marks-use/

FPSB Ltd. will continue to administer the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification. The education and exam topics for CFP certification have been reconfigured from the former program’s five-exam structure into a new four-exam structure. FPSB Ltd. will provide learning materials, including sample questions, Powerpoints and textbooks to support the study process. The four education and exam topics are outlined below according to how they will be grouped on the exam.

Personal financial management; investment planning and asset management; regulatory environment, law and compliance. (Educational materials available now, enroll at https://india.fpsb.org/students/.)

Retirement and tax planning and optimization. (Educational materials available August 2020.)

Risk and estate planning. (Educational materials available September 2020.)

Integrated financial planning: This education and exam integrates all three above-mentioned education areas to provide comprehensive financial planning. Successfully passing the exams of all three above topics is a prerequisite to enroll in the final education topic of integrated financial planning. (Educational materials available October 2020)

FPSB Ltd. no longer offers AFP certification in India. Instead, FPSB Ltd. offers the opportunity for voluntary certifications on the learning path to CFP certification, aligned with the education topics. Information on each certification is below.

• FPSB® Investment Planning Specialist certification

• FPSB® Retirement and Tax Planning Specialist certification

• FPSB® Risk and Estate Planning Specialist certification

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM certification

Students can enroll at https://india.fpsb.org/students/

For more information please view the following enrollment videos:

• Instructor Led Student

• Recognition of Prior Learning

The last day to enroll for the former program was 31 May 2020. Coursework and all exams for the former program must be completed no later than 31 March 2021. Experience must be completed within five years of successfully passing your first exam.

Registration for the Legacy Program is now closed. The last day to enroll for the former program was 31 May 2020. Coursework and all exams for the former program must be completed no later than 31 March 2021. Experience must be completed within five years of successfully passing your first exam.

Step 1. Login to NCFM using your NCFM username and password on the below mentioned website: https://www.ncfm-india.com/ORE/OREloginPage.jsp

Upload photograph on the NCFM registration form, if not already done. Come to step 2 if already done.

Step 2 Check seat availability for the CFP Exams at your preferred #NSE IT Test Centre by clicking ‘Check Seat Availability’ tab.

Subsequently, follow either Step 3A OR Step 3B as below:

Step 3A. If the preferred centre and date is available, schedule your examination online by clicking the ‘Pay Fees’ tab; select the mode of payment (Debit Card/Credit Card), select your preference for the name of the Exam, date, time, venue from the drop down list, and submit the payment directly to NSE on the online platform. Hall Ticket is generated after the payment has been done.

Note: Under the Tab ‘Query/Report (Certificate/Hall Ticket/Invoices)’ students have access to view their Hall Ticket, Previous Test Scores, Current A/C Balance and Payment Invoice.

Step 3B. In case the student has sufficient money parked in his/her NCFM account he/she may directly go to the option ‘Book your seat’ and schedule the examination.

Note: Students of regular pathway can schedule Exam 1 – 4 in any sequence; the student can schedule Exam 5 only after successfully passing all the four exams. Students of Challenge status pathway will skip Exams 1 – 4 and directly book Exam 5.

After enrolling for the exam, the student will receive email and SMS alert from NSE on his/her registered email ID and mobile number confirming his/her Examination details.

It is compulsory to carry the photo ID to the examination centre.

FPSB Ltd. does not offer AFP certification any longer.

In 2019, FPSB Ltd. began issuing new digital credentials to all current CFPCM professionals in India. Consisting of a digital certificate and a digital badge, FSPB Ltd.’s online credentialing system will replace the paper certificates issued to you in the past. However, should you wish to print and frame your certificate from FSPB Ltd., you will have an option to do so.

Your digital credential for CFP certification, which is blockchain-verified to help prevent fraud, will allow people to securely and easily verify your CFP certification status across all types of online platforms, including your email signature, website, blog, LinkedIn profile and other social media accounts. FPSB Ltd. is pleased to offer this technology to CFP professionals in India, and will provide additional information on how to leverage these digital credentials to highlight your achievements as a CFP professional at the time of delivery.

Always Accessible – Never worry about losing your certificate; your credential will always be present at its web address.

Easily Shareable – You want to share your achievement. Digital credentials let you showcase your achievement on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Control Your Privacy – Take advantage of searchability and have your achievement be discoverable on search engines, or set it to private and share with only selected people. How and when you share your credential is up to you.

Print at Any Time – Easily print a high-quality PDF of your certificate, whenever you’d like.

Learning, Verified. – Your achievement can be verified at any time. Your certification(s) on LinkedIn can be linked to your live credential so anyone, anywhere can see what you have achieved.

YES, FPSB provied E-book,PPT & Mock test for all 4 module.

Can work with any of the BFSI Sector any Mutual fund, Insurance companies, stock broking firms or any of the Banks. One can also open up their freelancer after completing CFP.

Andheri -NSE  in Fixed Center for CFP exams in Mumbai.

• Relationship Manager

• Financial Planning Manager

• Data Source Specialist

• Portfolio Manager

• Wealth Manager

• Equity Advisor

• Client Acquisition Manager

• Derivative Strategist

• Plan Source Executive

• Enhanced career and employment opportunities in Financial Services Sector.

• Personal satisfaction in knowing you have earned the profession’s highest standard and met the global benchmark.

• Satisfied clients who appreciate the comprehensive approach to Financial Planning and extend long term relationship and referrals.

• Your expertise and credibility as a qualified professional is instantly communicated.

• More revenue streams by increasing your product and service offering to your clients.

• Enhanced Social Status by joining the league of professionals.

• Recognition in over 27 countries across the world.

• Opportunities to show case your knowledge on Financial Planning & Advising through various media vehicles.

Yes, you must complete each pathway specialist course, then complete the capstone course and certification exam and other requirements.

Yes, please go to https://india.fpsb.org/students/ and research your options under "Recognition of Prior Learning"

CFP certification under the old legacy program and under the new program is the same.

You may have requirements to complete in order to competently practice in another territory. Those requirements will vary based on the territory.

Please watch for upcoming opportunity to help increase awareness using social media content that will accompany World Financial Planning Day 2020

If you are already a CFP professional, you will remain a CFP professional so long as you continue to meet requirements and renew your certification.

once you're certified, you have 1 year renewal period.

5 hours annually for pathway certifications, 15 hours/credits annually once you are a CFP professional.

Please find the YouTube link for your reference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y_vmL3SA98