No, the CFP® certification is not free. Obtaining and maintaining the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designation involves several costs, including specific fees required during the application and initial certification process.
The Cost of CFP® Certification
Pursuing the CFP® certification requires meeting specific education, examination, experience, and ethics requirements. A significant part of this process involves financial investment in fees.
Required Fees for Certification
According to the requirements for CFP® Certification, candidates must pay specific fees. These include:
- A non-refundable application fee: This fee is $200.
- A non-refundable certification fee: This fee covers your initial certification period and is a prorated amount of the standard $455 annual certification fee.
These fees are necessary steps towards achieving the CFP® designation and are separate from costs associated with education programs, exam preparation, or the CFP® Certification Exam fee itself.
Therefore, candidates should budget for these and other potential costs when planning to pursue the CFP® certification.
