Prerequisites

All registrants must have earned a bachelor's degree before beginning the course. No particular major or emphasis is required. Beginning January 1, 2007, CFP Board will require candidates for CFP® certification to hold a bachelor's degree before they receive the CFP® certification. Existing certificants who have not earned their bachelor's degree by 2007 will be exempt from the new requirement. Refer to CFP Board's Web site for more information regarding the CFP® certification.

Students must take courses in numerical order by term, and are required to enroll in the Fundamentals course in their first quarter of the Program. For part-time students, those taking one course each quarter, the Fundamentals course must be their first. For full-time students, those taking two courses each quarter, the Fundamentals course may be paired with one other course, but must be taken in the first term.

Get Started!

• Choose a starting date. Students may join the SMU Program in April or September on the Main Campus in Dallas. The SMU CFP® in Plano program begins annually in January.
• Choose a track. Students may elect to take one course per quarter, on the Traditional Path, or take 2 courses per quarter on the Pacesetter Path.  For an overview of the course tracks and information about the Pacesetter Path discount, click here. Students in the SMU CFP® in Plano program move through the program one course at at time, at an accelerated pace; each of the seven courses in the program are taught in 6-week modules.
• Enroll in an Information Session.  Offered throughout the year, these 2-hour sessions are packed with information about the SMU Program and the CFP® certification process.
• Complete the Program Application. Click here to complete the SMU Program Application.
• Register for class.  Students may enroll online after application is approved, via phone, or via fax. Traditional Track and Plano students begin the program with Course 101; Pacesetter Path students begin with 101 and 103.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP (with flame logo)®, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements.

SMU does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and . CFP certification is granted solely by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to individuals who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met ethics, experience and examination requirements.

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Email your comments or suggestions to the webmaster. Questions? Call 214-SMU-CPFP.