Path to QAFP® Certification
Qualified Associate Financial Planner™ certification is a great way to start your career in financial planning. QAFP professionals have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, experience, and ethics to understand their clients’ everyday financial planning needs and to provide holistic financial advice for Canadians that fits their diverse lives and supports their goals. This certification can also be a stepping stone to CFP certification. For more information, please refer to the QAFP Certification Policies.
Explore the steps below or click the diagram on the right to learn more about your path to certification.
5 Steps to QAFP Certification
The Path to QAFP Certification begins when you enrol in an FP-Canada Approved Core Curriculum Program or the Introduction to Professional Ethics (IPE) course.
Upon completion of both of these education programs, you are eligible to register for the QAFP examination.
You may apply for QAFP certification when you pass the QAFP exam and complete one year of qualifying work experience.
To be eligible for QAFP certification, applicants must hold a post-secondary diploma, or higher, from an accredited college or university. FP Canada will accept international diplomas and degrees where there is supporting documentation
establishing that the international diploma/degree is equivalent to a Canadian diploma or degree.
You may choose to complete the QAFP Professional Education Program prior to challenging the QAFP exam. To maintain QAFP certification, you must complete the QAFP Professional Education Program within one year of attaining QAFP certification. Candidates interested in bridging to CFP® certification have the option to complete the CFP Professional Education Program instead of the QAFP Professional Education Program within one year of achieving QAFP certification.
FP Canada-Approved Core Curriculum Program
Enrol in an FP Canada-Approved Core Curriculum Program. You may choose to complete this program before, at the same time, or after completing the IPE course.
Learn more about the Core Curriculum Program
Helpful Resources
QAFP Certification Policies
Financial Planning Body of Knowledge
Introduction to Professional Ethics (IPE)
Enrol in the IPE course. You may choose to complete this course before, at the same time, or after completing the Core Curriculum Program.
Learn more about the IPE course
Helpful Resources
QAFP Certification Policies
QAFP Examination
Write the QAFP Examination.
A four-hour, computer-based exam consisting of both stand-alone and case-based multiple-choice questions. The QAFP examination focuses on specific elements of the FP Canada Standards Council™
Competency Profile and integrates several financial planning areas.
Learn more about the QAFP examination
Apply for QAFP Certification
Once you have completed one year of qualifying work experience, you are ready to apply for QAFP certification.
Note: A post-secondary diploma, or higher, is required for QAFP certification. For more information on exceptions and additional transition provisions, please visit our post-secondary education requirements FAQ page.
Learn more about work experience requirements
Learn more about post-secondary education requirements
Helpful Resources
QAFP Certification Policies
Standards of Professional Responsibility
QAFP Professional Education Program
Complete the QAFP Professional Education Program within one year of achieving QAFP certification. This program may also be completed prior to writing the QAFP examination.
Candidates interested in bridging to CFP certification have the option to complete the CFP Professional Education Program instead of the QAFP Professional Education Program within one year of achieving QAFP certification.
Learn more about the QAFP Professional Education Program
Helpful Resources
QAFP Certification Policies