Effective January 1, 2020 Qualified Associate Financial Planner™ certification will replace FPSC Level 1® certification. QAFP™ certification demonstrates that a financial planner has the knowledge, skills, experience and ethics to provide holistic financial planning strategies and solutions for clients with less complex financial planning needs.
Candidates pursuing QAFP certification will be required to complete Core Curriculum education, preparing them to work with clients who have less complex financial planning needs, whereas candidates pursuing CFP® certification will be required to complete both Core Curriculum and Advanced Curriculum education, preparing them to work with clients who have financial planning needs at all levels of complexity.
Click here for a list of FP Canada-Approved Core Curriculum and Advanced Curriculum providers and programs.
FP Canada-Approved Core Curriculum education completed prior to December 31, 2019 will satisfy both the new Core Curriculum and Advanced Curriculum requirements effective January 1, 2020.
To view a complete list of professional education and course equivalency fees, click here.
Completion of an FP Canada-Approved Core Curriculum program is a requirement on the path to QAFP certification and CFP certification. The Core Curriculum aligns to the FP Canada Competency Profile and the knowledge requirements of a QAFP professional detailed in the Financial Planning Body of Knowledge. FP Canada-Approved Core Curriculum Programs are offered by several institutions throughout Canada, both in person and online.
Students should confirm with their education provider the full set of courses that satisfy the requirements for Core Curriculum.
Completion of an FP Canada-Approved Advanced Curriculum Program is a requirement on the path to CFP certification. The Advanced Curriculum aligns to the FP Canada Competency Profile and the knowledge requirements of a CFP professional detailed in the Financial Planning Body of Knowledge. FP Canada-Approved Advanced Curriculum Programs are offered by several institutions throughout Canada, both in person and online.
Students should confirm with their education provider the courses offered comprise the Advanced Curriculum program.
Certain education providers offer programs comprising courses which satisfy both the requirements for Core Curriculum and Advanced Curriculum. These FP Canada-Approved Core Curriculum and Advanced Curriculum Programs are offered by several institutions throughout Canada, both in person and online.
Students should confirm with their education provider the full set of courses that satisfy the requirements for Core Curriculum and Advanced Curriculum.
For more information on the path to QAFP certification, refer to FP Canada’s QAFP Certification Policies.
For more information on the path to CFP certification, refer to FP Canada’s CFP Certification Policies.
Candidates who hold certain designations and licenses in good standing may apply for education exemptions from components of FP Canada’s Core Curriculum and Advanced Curriculum requirements.
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In addition to the technical competence that is key to success, financial planners must develop essential professional skills and gain a strong grasp of their ethical obligations.
Through the FP Canada Institute Professional Education Programs, students will apply their technical knowledge in practice, learn how to communicate important messages effectively and understand the key psychological and behavioural factors that motivate clients.
Through the FP Canada Institute Introduction to Professional Ethics course, students on the path to QAFP™ certification and CFP® certification will develop a deep understanding of their ethical obligations.
For more information on the FP Canada Institute courses and programs, refer to the FP Canada Institute Student Handbook
A two-hour long self-study course, Introduction to Professional Ethics (IPE) equips students with the requisite foundational knowledge of the ethical obligations owed by all professionals, and the specific application of these obligations to financial planning practice. IPE teaches students the distinction between integrity-based professional obligations and compliance-based obligations, with emphasis on the financial services landscape. The course introduces the specific professional obligations of QAFP professionals and CFP professionals, why they matter and what they mean in practical terms.
Learn more about the Introduction to Professional Ethics course
The CFP Professional Education Program is an online, self-study program. It teaches students how to apply the totality of the body of knowledge gained in their Core and Advanced Curriculum Programs in an integrated fashion and to the practice of financial planning. This program introduces models and techniques for undertaking all phases of the financial planning process with clients who have situations and/or needs at various levels of complexity.
The CFP Professional Education Program teaches students how to apply their technical knowledge, and learn and apply fundamental and advanced principles of human behaviour and professional skills in the areas of communications, critical thinking, managing relationships, ethical obligations and dilemmas, all which may be required in client engagements that are both more and less complex.
The CFP Professional Education Program uses real-world case scenarios for students to develop a deep understanding of, and competence in the integrated, holistic nature of financial planning practice.
The QAFP Professional Education Program is an online, self-study program. It teaches students how to apply the body of knowledge they have acquired from their FP Canada-Approved Core Curriculum Program in an integrated fashion and to the practice of financial planning in less complex client engagements. This program introduces models and techniques for undertaking all phases of the financial planning process in less complex client engagements.
The QAFP Professional Education Program teaches students how to apply their technical knowledge and learn and apply key facets of human behaviour and fundamental professional skills in the areas of communications, critical thinking, managing relationships and ethical obligations and dilemmas in these less complex client engagements.
The QAFP Professional Education Program uses real-world case scenarios for students to develop a deep understanding of, and competence in the integrated, holistic nature of financial planning practice.
Offered by the FP Canada Institute, the QAFP-to-CFP Certification Bridge Program is designed for QAFP professionals who are interested in pursuing CFP certification and have completed the QAFP Professional Education Program. This program focuses on the application of both the Core and Advanced Curriculum and both fundamental and advanced principles of human behaviour in client engagements that are both more and less complex.
The QAFP-to-CFP Certification Bridge Program uses real-world case scenarios for students to develop a deep understanding of, and competence in the integrated, holistic nature of financial planning practice.
There is no prerequisite education requirement for the IPE course.
Candidates pursuing CFP certification may enrol in the CFP Professional Education Program if they:
1 FPSC Level 1® certificants, who automatically convert to QAFP certification on January 1, 2020, must complete IPE prior to enroling in CFP Professional Education Program .
Candidates pursuing QAFP certification may enrol in the QAFP Professional Education Program if they:
2 FPSC Level 1 certificants, who automatically convert to QAFP certification on January 1, 2020, must complete IPE prior to enroling in QAFP Professional Education Program (completion of IPE and QAFP Professional Education Program is required by July 31, 2021 to maintain QAFP certification).
Candidates pursuing CFP certification may enrol in the Bridge Program if they:
Candidates pursuing QAFP certification must write the QAFP examination within four years of completing Core Curriculum or IPE, whichever is completed first.
Candidates pursuing CFP certification must complete the CFP examination within four years of completing Advanced Curriculum or IPE, whichever is completed first. QAFP professionals in good standing are exempt from this four-year time limit.