CFP frequently asked questions

Yes, Athabasca University is an approved educational provider of approved Core Curriculum programs. AU provides the required courses students must complete to qualify to write the QAFP Examination. Introduction to Professional Ethics is also required (not provided by AU). You may choose to complete this before, at the same time, or after completion of the other courses.

AU was granted approval on June 14, 2016.

If you took courses prior to Athabasca University becoming an approved Core Curriculum provider, you may be eligible to write the exam. However, you must also have taken FNCE 322: Personal Finance in its new revision (revision 5) which opened in April 2017 as it covers necessary content in order to meet FP Canada's education requirements.

You may need to provide a transfer credit equivalency report in order to show the course was equivalent to the course(s) here. An advisor in our Student Support Centre can help you with this.

You will need to have taken all four of the Core Curriculum courses, including the newest revision of FNCE 322: Personal Finance or higher as well as have maintained a minimum grade of 65% in each course. You do not need to be a BComm or BMgmt program student to take these courses. You will also need to have completed the FP Canada Introduction to Professional Ethics.

Athabasca University is an approved provider of the Core and Advanced Curriculum program. In addition to the Core Curriculum courses you must also complete our TAXX 301 to meet the advanced curriculum. Find more information on what is involved in addition to these curriculum requirements here.

No. You can choose to take just the four courses offered by AU to prepare for the QAFP® Certification examination. However, some of the courses included in the Core Curriculum may have prerequisites that will be required to be completed prior to starting. If you have any questions about the Core Courses or prerequisites, please contact the Student Support Centre for assistance.

Yes! You are able to use the designation and logo. You can find the logo’s and proper usage guidelines here.

Effective April 1, 2022, new applicants for QAFP certification must hold a post-secondary diploma from an accredited college or university.

Effective April 1, 2022, new applicants for CFP certification must hold a post-secondary degree from an accredited college or university.

*QAFP professionals and CFP professionals already certified on or before March 31, 2022, are exempt from the post-secondary education requirements.

Find out more here.

Find out more about how to become a CFA.