Certified Financial Planner Certification Program

Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Certification is a nationally and internationally recognized professional certification offered through the CFP® Board. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. awards the CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification to individuals who fulfill the following initial and ongoing certification requirements: 

Financial planners interested in achieving a CFP certification to earn more credibility in their chosen field and provide a higher level of service to their clients are ideal candidates for this program. Other qualified participants include professionals who want a deeper understanding of financial planning and individuals interested in pursuing a career in financial planning.  

For questions regarding this program or to speak to an enrollment advisor, please call 844-721-7503. 

 

Prior Learning Credits 

Turn your professional certifications into college degree credits!

Earning your CFP certification not only offers opportunities for career advancement but also grants you prior learning credits toward earning an LSU undergraduate or graduate degree. Degree credit for the CFP certification may be used to pursue a degree on LSU's main campus or via LSU Online.

 

Program Details

The ideal candidates for the CFP Certification Program include:  

  • Financial planners interested in achieving their CFP certification so that they may earn more credibility in their chosen field and provide a higher level of service to their clients 
  • Professionals who have a desire to understand the different components of financial planning 
  • Individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in financial planning 

This educational format option is an independent, self-study, online education program designed to be completed in nine months but may be completed in more or less time, depending on a student's schedule. Students complete the program at their own pace via highly interactive content, including video introductions for each module, instructor whiteboard examples and lectures, interactive games, exercises, homework, and exams. 

This program is appropriate for anyone who cannot attend a regularly scheduled class or is a disciplined, self-study student. Access to the program is granted for nine months, with a one-time complimentary extension. Further extensions may be purchased. LSU Executive Education offers this program in conjunction with Dalton Education, a leading provider of financial planning education. 

Register Now for the Self-Paced Online Course

This educational format option is an online, instructor-led, nine-month endeavor. The live online format is not an internet self-study program; rather, classes are conducted live online. Students with Internet access can attend "virtual classrooms" to interact and communicate with instructors and other students from anywhere in the country. All live classes are also recorded and available for playback. 

As an additional advantage, participants receive access to the entire online self-paced learning library. LSU Executive Education offers this program in conjunction with Dalton Education, a leading provider of financial planning education. 

Register Now for the Virtual Classroom Course

This educational format includes live online, instructor-led classes that are recorded for future viewing. It provides flexible education schedules with classes meeting two nights per week. 

This program allows students to pause their program and come back at any time with no extra charge and includes a 100% guarantee to pass or your money back. LSU Executive Education offers this program in conjunction with Dalton Education, a leading provider of financial planning education. 

Register Now for the Guarantee to Pass Course

The four e's: education, examination, experience, and ethics are required to obtain CFP certification. 

Education

Bachelor's Degree Requirement 

A bachelor's degree in any discipline is required to obtain the CFP® designation. This is not a requirement to be eligible for the CFP® Certification Examination and does not have to be obtained before sitting for the exam or fulfilling the work experience. You have five years from the date you pass the CFP® exam to satisfy the bachelor's degree requirement. 

Financial Planning Topic Mastery 

In addition, to receive the CFP® designation, you have to master the topics covered in the following areas: general financial planning principles, education planning, risk management, and insurance planning, investment planning, tax planning, retirement savings and income planning, estate planning, and a capstone course in financial planning. 

Examination 

CFP® practitioners must pass a comprehensive CFP® Certification Examination that tests their ability to apply financial planning knowledge in an integrated format. You are eligible to apply and sit for the CFP® Certification Examination after successfully completing the educational requirement. The CFP® Examination is administered by the CFP® Board. Additional information can be found at www.cfp.net. 

Experience 

CFP® professionals must have three years minimum experience in the financial planning process prior to earning the right to use the CFP® certification marks. This experience may be obtained before or up to five years after the exam. 

Ethics 

CFP practitioners agree to abide by a strict code of professional conduct, known as the CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Additional information can be found at  www.cfp.net

 

Contact Us

Executive Education 
3000 Business Education Complex 
501 South Quad Drive 
Baton Rouge, LA 70803 
225-578-5516 
[email protected]