In order to work as a certified financial planner, you must complete a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) board-registered education program. The CFP Board defines what schools and programs it accepts as fulfilling their educational requirements. A large number of online programs are accepted, and many of them affiliated with major universities. Options vary from school to school, including part-time coursework or the opportunity to take some courses at a local campus.
You must also hold a bachelor's degree, in any field, from an accredited university in order to take the certification exam. You can get this before or after your financial planning program, as long as it is completed before your CFP exam.
Taking classes is the next step in completing your education. Online courses in financial planning must meet the requirements set forth by the CFP Board in that they must cover particular material. However, online courses are much more varied in structure than traditional courses. Some might have frequent quizzes and tests, while others might be more discussion-based. If you have certain restrictions, such as working odd hours or taking care of a family, contact the professor to see if you'll be able to fulfill the demands of the course.
Since online schools require self-discipline and motivation, take care to ensure that you are completing all the requirements of each course. The teacher may not remind you of assignments or events, so it's up to you to stay on top of things. Using a planner or calendar can help you keep track of class assignments and prevent you from missing or forgetting anything important.
Take the certification exam. This cannot be done online, but must be completed in one of the three yearly exams offered. The exam is 10 hours long and covers many topics in each section.
Gain experience in the financial planning field. The CFP board requires three years of related experience to become certified. This ensures that by the time people are officially certified, they are well acquainted with their duties and how to deal with a variety of financial situations.
Before certifying you, the CFP Board will run a background check to ensure that you are eligible to work as a certified financial planner. It is best to know if anything will disqualify you from eventual certification before you begin this process so that you don't waste years of time only to discover that you cannot fulfill the requirements. You could apply your education and experience to other positions, but if working as a certified financial planner is your ultimate goal, make sure your background is untarnished.