For Individuals
For Teams
  • FPAP certification program
  • 41 total courses (28 required)
  • Self-Paced & 100% Online
  • Get this program and CFI's full training catalog for your organization
  • Manage learning, create custom paths & measure progress
  • For teams of 2 or more learners

FPAP™ Program Overview

FP&A professionals are essential to driving business strategy and financial performance. For finance professionals looking to gain technical, analytical, and business partnership skills, CFI’s FP&A certification program provides the rigorous training you need to succeed in this high-impact field. Through the FPAP™ Certification, you’ll build advanced financial models, develop accurate forecasts, and deliver analysis that leads to smarter, data-driven decisions and improved operational results.

This program sharpens your quantitative and qualitative skills and trains you in advanced Excel techniques for dynamic modeling, Power Query to streamline data processing, and Power BI to visualize your insights. These tools and techniques streamline workflows, helping you work faster with fewer errors and freeing up time for high-value analysis.

Whether you're working in finance today or pivoting into FP&A, this program gives you more than technical skills. An FPAP™ Certification positions you as a strategic thinker ready to influence business decisions and make a positive impact on any organization's financial performance.

What's in the Financial Planning & Analysis Professional Program?

41 courses

2250+ lessons

170+ interactive exercises

Learn by doing with guided simulations

Blockchain certificate

To verify your skills

500,000+ 5-star ratings

Best-in-class training, as rated by you

Earning Your Certificate in Financial Analysis

Step 1.

Prep Courses

Optional

Choose from 5 optional courses to learn or review the fundamentals.

Excel Fundamentals - Quick Start Guide
4.9 (216 Ratings)
2h 33min
2h 33min
Excel Fundamentals - Formulas for Finance
4.8 (4,948 Ratings)
2h 14min
2h 14min
Accounting Fundamentals
4.9 (7,488 Ratings)
2h 28min
2h 28min
Introduction to 3-Statement Modeling
4.8 (159 Ratings)
3h
3h
Corporate Finance Fundamentals
4.8 (2,942 Ratings)
1h 36min
1h 36min
See All Prep Courses
Step 2.

25 Required Courses

The Role of The FP&A Professional
4.9 (109 Ratings)
1h 2min
1h 2min
FP&A for New Analysts
4.8 (15 Ratings)
2h
2h
Economic Analysis for FP&A
5 (7 Ratings)
2h 14min
2h 14min
Financial Analysis Fundamentals
4.8 (1,916 Ratings)
2h 4min
2h 4min
Budgeting Processes
1h 44min
1h 44min
FP&A Modeling Pt.1 - Design
4.9 (13 Ratings)
38min
38min
FP&A Modeling Pt.2 - Formatting & Revenue
5 (14 Ratings)
1h 25min
1h 25min
FP&A Modeling Pt.3 - Headcount Analysis
5 (7 Ratings)
1h 6min
1h 6min
FP&A Modeling Pt.4 - Contractor Analysis
4.8 (4 Ratings)
27min
27min
FP&A Modeling Pt.5 - Debt and Capex Analysis
4.8 (4 Ratings)
47min
47min
FP&A Modeling Pt.6 - Financial Statement Aggregation
5 (6 Ratings)
1h 9min
1h 9min
FP&A Modeling Pt.7 - Dashboard Visualizations
4.6 (7 Ratings)
43min
43min
FP&A Modeling Pt.8 - 3-Statements
5 (7 Ratings)
1h 58min
1h 58min
FP&A Variance Pt.1 - Build & Configuration
4.8 (4 Ratings)
1h 13min
1h 13min
FP&A Variance Pt.2 - Roll Forward & Analysis
5 (4 Ratings)
59min
59min
FP&A Variance Pt.3 - Protection & Presentation
5 (4 Ratings)
1h 27min
1h 27min
Forecasting Techniques
5 (6 Ratings)
49min
49min
Data Visualization & Dashboards - The Basics
5 (14 Ratings)
1h 16min
1h 16min
FP&A Tool Selection
4.5 (2 Ratings)
1h 24min
1h 24min
Workflow Best Practice for Analysts
4.9 (29 Ratings)
1h 56min
1h 56min
Communication and Presentation Skills for Finance Professionals
4.5 (2 Ratings)
1h 30min
1h 30min
Making Effective Business Decisions
5 (1 Ratings)
2h 7min
2h 7min
Crafting the Narrative: Storytelling With Data
5 (2 Ratings)
2h 5min
2h 5min
Managing Your Stakeholders
4.5 (2 Ratings)
54min
54min
Professional Ethics
4.9 (5,042 Ratings)
50min
50min
Hide All Core Courses
Step 3.

Elective Courses

Choose a minimum of 3 electives (out of 11 available) to master more advanced topics and specialized areas.

Fundamentals of Data Analysis in Excel
4.8 (334 Ratings)
3h 30min
3h 30min
Power Query Fundamentals
5 (297 Ratings)
2h 41min
2h 41min
Power BI Fundamentals
4.9 (191 Ratings)
3h 41min
3h 41min
Presentation of Financial Information
5 (857 Ratings)
43min
43min
Scenario & Sensitivity Analysis in Excel
4.9 (824 Ratings)
48min
48min
Excel VBA for Finance
4.8 (47 Ratings)
3h 54min
3h 54min
Corporate & Business Strategy
5 (825 Ratings)
2h 24min
2h 24min
AI-Powered Scenario Analysis
5 (8 Ratings)
2h 11min
2h 11min
ESG Integration & Financial Analysis
4.9 (52 Ratings)
3h 15min
3h 15min
AI-Enhanced Financial Analysis
4.9 (20 Ratings)
1h 37min
1h 37min
Excel Data Visualization and Dashboards
4.9 (934 Ratings)
1h 32min
1h 32min
See All Elective Courses
Step 4.

Final Exam

After completing the required courses, take the final exam (with a minimum passing grade of 70%) to earn your program certification.

Step 5.

Get FPAP Certified

Congratulations on becoming a certified Financial Planning & Analysis Professional! Upon completion of the program, you will receive a blockchain digital certificate with your new credentials.

Skills & Learning Objectives in Financial Planning & Analysis Professional

1
24%
Financial Modeling
2
24%
Excel
3
14%
Storytelling and Data Visualization
4
12%
Budgeting & Forecasting
5
12%
Financial Analysis
6
14%
Business Partnering
1
2
3
4
5
6
  1. 1.
    24%
    Financial Modeling
  2. 2.
    24%
    Excel
  3. 3.
    14%
    Storytelling and Data Visualization
  4. 4.
    12%
    Budgeting & Forecasting
  5. 5.
    12%
    Financial Analysis
  6. 6.
    14%
    Business Partnering

Financial Modeling

  • Explore best practices for designing FP&A models and understand how they differ from other financial modeling approaches.
  • Gain hands-on experience in Excel modeling and apply commonly used formulas and functions to specific FP&A workflows.
  • Master a step-by-step process for managing monthly forecast models, set new budget forecasts, and efficiently roll models forward into a new fiscal year.

Financial Analysis

  • Leverage FP&A model templates to efficiently analyze monthly financial data as it becomes available.
  • Assess historical year-over-year performance to identify seasonal trends and determine the right time to update forecasts.
  • Conduct both quantitative and qualitative analysis and craft clear, insightful commentary tailored for key stakeholders.

Excel

  • Use Excel efficiently by mastering time-saving keyboard shortcuts.
  • Enhance data analysis by using data tables, pivot tables, and other essential functions.
  • Apply advanced formulas and functions to increase the power and flexibility of your financial models.

Budgeting & Forecasting

  • Implement a range of forecasting methods to create accurate and reliable financial forecasts.
  • Monitor actual results versus budgeted figures through variance analysis and complementary techniques.
  • Evaluate how variances affect financial statements and use these insights to refine and enhance future budgeting processes.

Storytelling and Data Visualization

  • Design clear, impactful visuals that highlight key financial insights with clarity and precision.
  • Understand how to select the most effective visual representation based on the type and structure of your data.
  • Integrate multiple visuals into a cohesive narrative, enabling users to explore trends and issues through interactive dashboards.

Business Partnering

  • Apply economic thinking to understand key drivers of financial performance.
  • Streamline workflows and adopt best practices for consistency and efficiency.
  • Communicate financial insights clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
  • Build strong relationships across the business to influence decisions and drive strategy.

Meet Your Instructors

Tim Vipond, FMVA

Tim Vipond, FMVA

Tim is the Co-Founder and CEO of CFI Education with an extensive background in entrepreneurship, financial analysis, and investment banking.
Duncan McKeen

Duncan McKeen

Duncan is the Executive Vice President, Financial Modeling at CFI. Since 2014, Duncan has been focused on designing courses and teaching financial modeling to employees working in accounting, valuation, investment banking, equity research, and private equity.
Jeff Schmidt

Jeff Schmidt

Jeff is the Vice President, Financial Modeling at CFI. Prior to joining CFI, Jeff Schmidt taught financial modeling and valuation to thousands of learners all over the world for over a decade.
Meeyeon Park

Meeyeon Park

Meeyeon is based in Vancouver, BC. Having spent most of her career in Toronto, Meeyeon has previous experience in both the buy/sell-side of Finance with roles at Ontario Teachers Pension Plan in Fixed Income Portfolio Management and BMO Capital Markets in Investment Banking. Meeyeon holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, with High Distinction, from the University of Toronto.
Ryan Spendelow

Ryan Spendelow

Ryan joins CFI having spent over a decade designing and delivering training solutions for the investment banking and investment management industries around the globe. Based in London, Ryan is experienced at creating innovative training solutions that deconstruct complex products and ideas into simple to understand concepts.
Sebastian Taylor

Sebastian Taylor

Seb started his career in risk management, managing the implementation and operations of quantitative energy hedging strategies. Having since worked in several different industries, from finance to retail and service, Seb’s business intelligence skills were developed within the realities of real-world business requirements.
Scott Powell

Scott Powell

Scott is the Co-Founder of CFI. Over the past 30 years, he has focused on designing and delivering learning solutions for clients in the financial services sector, particularly in the areas of commercial banking, investment banking, capital markets, and asset management.

Paul Barnhurst

From his early days in procurement to leading FP&A functions across multiple companies, Paul shares how the role has evolved into one of the most strategic areas of corporate finance today.
Carl Seidman

Carl Seidman

Carl’s FP&A development methodologies and curriculums have been implemented by leading organizations as part of their financial leadership development programs (FLDPs) for top talent and emerging leaders.
Glenn Hopper

Glenn Hopper

Glenn is a technology-minded CFO with more than two decades of experience in finance and accounting leadership. He is a consultant and author who writes about the intersection of artificial intelligence and corporate finance. His book, Deep Finance: Corporate Finance in the Information Age, provides a digital transformation roadmap for businesses to follow to become data-driven organizations. His expertise spans financial leadership and strategy, finance automation, data science, and operational efficiency. Glenn has a master's in finance from Harvard University with a graduate certificate in business analytics, and an MBA from Regis University.

Careers in Financial Planning & Analysis Professional

  • Financial Analysts

    Financial Analysts

    Financial Analysts play a key role in delivering insights and strategic recommendations to support high-level decision making. They also partner with departments such as sales, marketing, and operations to drive effective financial planning and guide business decisions.
  • Project Evaluator

    Project Evaluator

    Collaborate with project managers and senior leadership to assess potential initiatives and develop comprehensive project budgets. Project Evaluators also work closely with teams across marketing, engineering, and operations, while partnering with fellow financial analysts and FP&A professionals for peer reviews and cross-functional collaboration.
  • FP&A Manager

    FP&A Manager

    Lead the FP&A team while fostering cross-departmental collaboration to ensure integrated and strategic financial planning. FP&A Managers are responsible for developing and overseeing the annual budget and forecasts, analyzing financial reports to assess company performance, and delivering actionable recommendations to senior leadership.

The FPAP program's courses have upskilled teams at:

What Our Students Say

The content inside FPAP is incredibly valuable. The courses are not only practical but also engaging and very well-structured. They’ve helped me sharpen my technical skills and gain much more confidence in areas like financial modeling, budgeting, and strategic analysis.

I also really appreciate how up-to-date and job-relevant the material is. The mix of Excel-based modeling, real-world examples, and case-driven learning makes a huge difference. It’s clear that CFI genuinely understands what finance professionals need in today’s fast-moving world.

Lilia Bekheda

I believe the program fully performs what it promises, bridging the gap between work and higher education. For me it means an added value that I cannot describe in words. The program focuses on technical knowledge, which is highly valued since, on average, a student only learns theory before starting work.

Benjamin Briner

CFI delivers an outstanding online education for any aspiring finance professional. The well-arranged dashboard, the top-notch produced video lectures, interactive exercises, and quizzes keep me engaged and motivated throughout the whole program. The CFI programs are a great bridge between financial theory and professional practice.

Henry

The financial modeling training was the best I have received in my entire corporate finance career. I learned how to be good at financial modeling, PowerPoint presentation, budgeting & FP&A. 

Oluwafaka P.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you haven’t found your answer from our FAQ, please send us a message.

What is the FPAP certification and who is it designed for?
The Financial Planning & Analysis Professional (FPAP™) Certification is designed for finance professionals with at least 1–3 years of experience who want to develop expertise in FP&A. It’s also an excellent fit for analysts looking to step into more strategic roles, or professionals from adjacent fields who want to transition into FP&A.
What are the admission requirements for the FPAP?
There are no formal prerequisites for the FPAP Certification. The program is designed to be accessible for professionals with a finance background as well as those transitioning into FP&A. All you need is a computer, Excel (2016 or newer), and an internet connection. You have the option to take prep courses in Excel, accounting, corporate finance, and financial modeling.
How long does it take to complete the FPAP, and how flexible is the program?
On average, it takes about 78 hours to complete the FPAP Certification. All courses are fully online and self-paced, so you can work through the material on your own schedule. Many learners successfully balance the program alongside full-time work.
Is the FPAP certification recognized worldwide by employers?
Yes. The FPAP Certification is globally recognized and respected by employers in corporate finance and related fields. CFI alumni work in more than 170 countries, and the certification has helped thousands of professionals gain credibility, earn promotions, and transition into senior FP&A roles.
What career opportunities can the FPAP help me pursue?
The FPAP prepares you for roles such as FP&A analyst, senior analyst, FP&A manager, and other strategic finance positions. By mastering budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and business partnership skills, you’ll be well-positioned for higher-responsibility roles and long-term career growth.
How does CFI ensure the FPAP training is practical and job-ready?
The FPAP curriculum is designed by industry experts and includes real-world case studies, Excel-based exercises, and course assessments. You’ll practice the same tasks finance professionals perform on the job, ensuring you graduate with skills that are immediately applicable in FP&A roles.
How are FPAP exams conducted, and how do I earn my certificate?
Each course includes an online exam featuring multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and Excel-based questions. You’ll need at least 80% to pass, and you can retake assessments as needed. A final FPAP exam is also required to earn your certification. See more details on the FPAP final exam.
Are CFI courses accredited?
Yes. CFI is accredited by the Better Business Bureau® (BBB) and by CPA institutions in Canada, as well as the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) in the U.S. for continuing professional education (CPE) credits. This ensures that your learning meets rigorous professional standards. You can find more information here.
How much does the FPAP Certification cost, and what’s included with my subscription?
The FPAP Certification is included in your annual CFI subscription, which gives you unlimited access to all courses, programs, and future updates. Your subscription includes everything needed to complete the FPAP—video lessons, case studies, Excel templates, and final assessments—without hidden fees. Flexible pricing options are available for both individuals and teams, and all prices are listed in USD.
What kind of learner support and career resources does CFI provide during the program?
CFI programs are built for flexible, self-paced learning, but you’re never on your own. You’ll have access to technical and general support by email, plus a global learner community to share insights and network with peers. Learners on the Full Immersion plan also receive premium benefits such as personalized model feedback, instant help with AI Tutor, and one-on-one email support from expert instructors.

If you haven’t found your answer from our FAQ, please send us a message.

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