The certification period expires on the last day of the renewal month every two years. The expiration date is located on the CFP Board ID card and can also be accessed by logging in to CFP Board’s website. The CE requirement is effective immediately upon initial certification. The number of CE hours for newly-certified CFP is prorated for the period from initial certification to the end of the initial certification period.

Excess CE may not be carried forward to the next 2-year license term.

Courses cannot be repeated more than once in a 2 year license term.

Students may take courses through online self-study courses.

• Self-Study Courses: Students should read the course material prior to taking the final exam.
• CFP Board-approved Ethics CE Course: Students must read all chapters of the online course material before taking the exam.

• Self-study final exams are open-book. Students may refer to the course material as often as needed.
• The CFP Board-approved Ethics CE exam is closed book, and no outside information may be used to complete the exam. If a student failed the exam more than three times they must restart the course from the beginning.

Exam Monitor Requirements:

• Self-study final exams are open-book and do not require a proctor.
• CFP Board-approved Ethics CE exams are closed-book and do not require a proctor.

Self-Study Final Exam: 70%

WebCE provides online, printable certificates of completion. Certificates of completion are available to print online immediately after the final exam is passed. The licensee must keep a copy of each certificate of completion in his or her files for 4 years.

Twice-a-day Reporting: WebCE reports course completions electronically to the CFP Board twice every business day.