CFP® Continuing Education: Requirements and Best Practices

Written by CFI Team

Reviewed by Jeff Schmidt

Read Time 5 minutes

Earning the CFP® designation shows clients you’re serious about professional standards. Keeping it, however, means committing to a challenging set of CFP® continuing education requirements. Those hours prove you’re current, ethical, and worthy of client trust.

In the sections ahead, we’ll outline exactly what the CFP Board requires, how CE credits work, and how to stay organized so renewal isn’t stressful. You’ll also see how CFI can help you push beyond the basics and build skills that continually advance your career.

CFP® Continuing Education

What Is CFP® Continuing Education for Financial Advisors?

As a Certified Financial Planner®, your certification isn’t a box you check and forget. The CFP Board requires continuing education (CE) to make sure you keep pace with evolving standards and the technical skills your clients depend on.

CFP® continuing education is ongoing professional training that keeps you sharp in ethics and the core knowledge areas financial planners use every day. It helps you stay compliant, credible, and trusted in your role.

CFP® CE Requirements at a Glance

The CFP Board makes the continuing education rules as straightforward as possible, ensuring every financial planner follows the same structure. As spelled out by the following requirements, these consistent rules make it easy to track hours and know exactly what’s expected:

30 hours of CE are required every two years
2 of those hours must be in Ethics
The remaining 28 hours cover Principal Knowledge Topics
Unused hours don’t carry over to the next cycle
All credits must be reported by the renewal deadline, with only a short grace period allowed

These guidelines outline the core CFP® continuing education requirements. In practice, CFP credits are tracked as continuing education hours, measured the same way other professions calculate time-based learning, such as CPE credits.

How CFP® Continuing Education Credits Work

Professionals can earn CFP® CE credits in different ways, depending on whether the program is online, self-study, or live. Each format follows its own rules for how credit hours are calculated and approved.

As you’ll see, credit-hour rules determine how different program formats are applied and which topics qualify toward your CFP® requirements.

Online and Self-Study Programs

Self-study courses are a flexible way to complete financial planner CE requirements. One credit hour is earned for every 50 minutes of study, and each course must include a quiz or exam, typically five questions per credit hour.

To receive credit, you’ll need a passing score of 70% or higher. This ensures the time you spend studying translates into documented learning that meets CFP Board standards.

Live Courses and Events

Advisors can also earn credit through live classes or webinars. Again, time is measured in 50-minute blocks, with the first full hour required before additional time can be counted in half-hour increments.

Eligible vs. Ineligible Topics

Credits apply only to technical knowledge areas such as investment planning, retirement, tax, and estate planning. Practice management, sales training, and product marketing do not qualify since they fall outside the CFP Board’s required domains.

Reporting and Tracking Your CFP® CE Credits

Accurate, timely reporting is critical since incorrectly logged hours can lead to certification lapse. To avoid problems at renewal time, it’s important to understand how providers report, when self-reporting is required, and how long to keep your records.

Provider Reporting Standards

Most approved continuing education providers submit completions directly to the CFP Board, typically within two weeks. Some update records even faster, which can be helpful as deadlines approach.

Self-Reporting a Course

If you take a program that isn’t registered with the CFP Board, you can self-report it. This process requires a $60 fee per course, along with documentation such as a completion certificate that verifies credit hours.

Recordkeeping Requirements

Planners are responsible for keeping proof of their continuing education in case of an audit. CFP Board guidance varies slightly, but the safe approach is to retain records for at least four years.

Special Situations for Certified Financial Planner Continuing Education

There are certain circumstances in which planners are exempt from following the standard set of CE requirements. These unique situations can include prorated hours for new certificants and cases where CE for another designation may also count toward CFP® renewal.

New Certificants and Prorated Hours

Planners who are newly certified may have prorated CE requirements before starting their first full cycle. Those who pass the CFP exam but have not yet earned their certification can accrue 15 hours per year, or about 1.25 hours per month, until the certification is finalized.

Overlapping CE Credit

Education completed for another professional designation, such as the CPA or CFA, can sometimes count toward the CFP requirement. To qualify, the content must clearly align with the Principal Knowledge Topics set by the CFP Board.

Practical Tips for Meeting CFP® Continuing Ed Requirements

The rules themselves are simple, but keeping up with continuing education can feel overwhelming when deadlines get close. A few smart habits make it easier to stay organized and avoid renewal stress.

Complete your Ethics requirement early so it isn’t hanging over you at the end of the cycle.
Spread hours steadily across two years rather than trying to cram them in at the last minute.
Choose certified financial planner continuing education providers that report completions quickly to the CFP Board.
Keep both digital and paper copies of completion records in case of an audit.
If you prefer live events, register well in advance so your schedule doesn’t get in the way.

Well-structured learning options, such as CFI’s course collections, can also help you plan a mix of programs that keep your skills growth and career development on track.

Turn CFP® Continuing Education Into a Career Opportunity With CFI

Continuing education keeps your certification in good standing, but it doesn’t have to stop there. The same commitment that protects your license can also help you strengthen your expertise and build new opportunities in your career.

While we aren’t a CFP Board CE provider, our programs and finance certifications for career growth are designed to help professionals evolve and excel. CFI’s collections of courses in finance, modeling, and Excel give you practical training that supports long-term development.

CE hours fulfill a requirement, and turning them into a foundation for deeper learning is how you continue to grow. Join CFI for free to start building skills that move your career forward.

FAQ: Certified Financial Planner CE

Get clear answers to common questions about CFP® continuing education. These quick explanations cover the essentials and address common areas of confusion.

Does CFP® CE carry over?

CFP® CE does not carry over from one cycle to the next. Any hours you complete beyond the requirement will not count toward future renewal periods.

Do you need a Series 7 if you are a CFP®?

No, a CFP® does not need a Series 7 license to hold the designation. The CFP mark is independent, though some roles may require additional licenses depending on the work performed.

What do you need to renew CFP®?

To renew, a CFP® must complete 30 hours of CE, including two hours in Ethics, and submit the renewal fee. All credits must be properly reported to the CFP Board before the deadline.

How many hours of CE does a CFP® need?

A CFP® needs 30 continuing education hours every two years. This includes two Ethics hours and 28 hours covering the Principal Knowledge Topics outlined by the CFP Board.