- Learning
- Canadian Securities Course (CSC®)
- Investment Funds in Canada (IFC)
- Conduct and Practices Handbook Course (CPH®)
- Wealth Management Essentials (WME®)
- Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course (DFOL)
- Investment Management Techniques (IMT®)
- Advanced Investment Strategies (AIS)
- Portfolio Management Techniques (PMT®)
- Partners, Directors and Senior Officers Course (PDO)
- Branch Compliance Officer's Course (BCO)
- Investment Dealer Supervisors Course (IDSC)
- Chief Compliance Officers Qualifying Examination (CCO)
- Derivatives Fundamentals Course (DFC)
- Trader Training Course (TTC)
- Options Supervisors Course (OPSC)
- Futures Licensing Course (FLC)
- Options Licensing Course (OLC)
- Chief Financial Officers Qualifying Examination (CFO)
- Canadian Commodity Supervisors Exam (CCSE)
- Licensing & Regulatory Organizations
- Certificate in Financial Services Advice (CFSA)
- Certificate in Advanced Financial Advice (CAFA)
- Certificate in Advanced Investment Advice
- Certificate in Technical Analysis (CITA)
- Certificate in Investment Dealer Compliance (CIDC)
- Certificate in Derivatives Market Strategies (CDMS)
- Certificate in Retirement Strategy (CRS)
- Certificate in Estate Planning & Trust Strategy (CETS)
- Certificate in Personal Banking (CPB)
- Certificate In Bank Management (CBM)
- Micro-Certificate in Alternative Investments (MCAI)
- Micro-Certificate in Applied Behavioural Finance (MCABF)
- View All Certificate Pathways
- Fellow of CSI (FCSI®)
- Personal Financial Planner (PFP®)
- Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®)
- Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM)
- Designated Financial Services Advisor (DFSA™)
- Estate & Trust Professional (MTI®)
- CSI Path to Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
- CSI Path to Qualified Associate Financial Planner (QAFP™)
- CSI Path to Financial Planning Program – Quebec (IPF)
- View All Designation Pathways
- Personal Financial Services Advice (PFSA)
- Financial Planning I (FP I)
- Financial Planning II (FP II)
- Financial Planning Supplement (FPSU)
- Investment Advisors Training Program (IATP)
- Financial Planning Integration Course (FPIC)
- Applied Financial Planning Certification Exam (AFP)
- CIWM Certification Examination
- Life Licence Qualification Program Insurance Course (LLQP)
- View All Courses
At A Glance
Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF)
A globally recognized program for professionals advancing into quantitative finance, risk, and derivatives.
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CFSA: Preferred Credential for Personal Bankers
Better understand your clients' unique financial needs and goals to build positive client relationships with the CFSA.
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PFP® Approved Under FSRA Title Regulation
FSRA has approved the Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation for Financial Planner title use in Ontario.
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Explore Multiple Career Paths
Explore different roles and opportunities available in the financial services industry and view the recommended courses and credentials.
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Meet CE Requirements Quickly and Easily
Explore continuing education courses and meet your requirements for CSI, CIRO, CSF and other professional associations or certifications.
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Drive Effective Client Conversations
Get started with the Personal Financial Services Advice (PFSA) course to enhance your soft skills and build profitable client relationships.
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Explore Multiple Career Paths
Explore different roles and opportunities available in the financial services industry and view the recommended courses and credentials.
- Exams & Administration
At A Glance
Canadian Securities Course CSC®
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Preparing to Take Your CSI Exam?
Write your exam through Remote Proctoring from any location (including your home) or In-Person at one of our test centres.
- Credentials
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Credentials That Matter
Meet the highest standards of experience and education for financial professionals with CSI certificates, designations & fellowship.
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FCSI® – The Highest Honour in Financial Services
Join an elite group of leaders in financial services and make a meaningful impact for your clients with the Fellow of CSI (FCSI®).
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PFP® – The Premier Credential for Financial Planners
Master financial planning skills with the ISO and FSRA-certified Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation.
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CIM® – The Recognized Credential for Investment Managers
Learn how to manage money on a discretionary basis for sophisticated clients with Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®).
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CIWM – The Leading Credential for Wealth Managers
Establish your credibility to address the unique needs of affluent clients with Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM).
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MTI® – Prestigious Credential for Trust & Wealth Managers
Gain expertise in the regulations and tax implications that are crucial for management and transfer of wealth with MTI®.
- Corporate Solutions
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Firm Training Program
A training program for new registrants that reinforces core competencies and elevates job readiness.
- Insights
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Webinars to Boost Financial Literacy
During Financial Literacy Month we aim to help Canadians understand their finances better & navigate the changing economic landscape.
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Become a Speaker With CSI
CSI Podium offers designation holders opportunities to speak on topics to benefit their clients, colleagues, and the investing public via webinars.
- About
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CSI & Fitch Learning: Shaping the Future of Financial Learning Together
The CSI brand will continue, as will its stewardship of the industry’s renowned certifications and designations.
At A Glance
PFP® Approved Under FSRA Title Regulation
FSRA has approved the Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation for Financial Planner title use in Ontario.
Hours of Study: 40 – 50 Hours
Enrolment Period: 1 Year
What is the exam weighting?
The AFP Certification Examination assesses the theoretical and applied knowledge possessed by fully competent financial planners as identified by industry experts and set out within the PFP® Professional Competency Profile. The AFP Certification Examination requires that you successfully complete two examinations.
Although not required, CSI strongly encourages candidates to successfully complete the AFP Exam 1 prior to attempting AFP Exam 2. The assessment in AFP Exam 2 builds on the content and depth examined in AFP Exam 1 with a greater expectation for candidates to analyze, evaluate and formulate strategies to present solutions for client situations.
AFP Exam 1: Stand-alone Multiple-Choice Format
The exam is three hours in duration and includes 105 independent multiple-choice questions. The approximate exam weighting of AFP Exam 1 by core competency is as follows:
| Competency for Exam One | Weightings |
|---|---|
| ENABLING COMPETENCIES | |
| 1. Professional Conduct and Regulatory Compliance | 10% |
| 2. Client Relationship and Practice Management | 6% |
| TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES | |
| 3. Asset and Liability Management | 11% |
| 4. Risk Management and Insurance | 12% |
| 5. Investment Planning | 17% |
| 6. Tax Planning | 14% |
| 7. Retirement Planning | 17% |
| 8. Estate Planning | 13% |
AFP Exam 2: Case Based, Constructed-Response Format
This examination is a constructed-response examination featuring four case studies. These case studies reflect typical financial planning situations that a financial planner may encounter. Each case study has three – five related questions, which may include sub-questions. For each question, candidates are required to construct a response to the posed question and provide a written response on the exam platform. The examination may also include a number of charts or data sheets requiring completion (e.g., cash flow, statement of net worth, etc.). Candidates have up to three hours to complete the examination.
A case study scenario is used to test candidates’ ability to demonstrate the competencies and ability to apply the professional knowledge and skills as set out in the PFP® Professional Competency Profile. The case studies and questions presented on AFP Exam 2 will focus on the candidate’s ability to apply their financial planning knowledge to demonstrate professional competence in the practice of financial planning.
On AFP Exam 2 the assessment of the PFP® Professional Competency Profile is weighted by competency groupings, with an approximate range of +/- 2% variation for each grouping, as follows:
| Competency for Exam Two | Weightings |
|---|---|
| ENABLING COMPETENCIES | |
| 1. Professional Conduct and Regulatory Compliance | 10% |
| 2. Client Relationship and Practice Management | 7% |
| TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES | |
| 3. Asset and Liability Management | 13% |
| 4. Risk Management and Insurance | 12% |
| 5. Investment Planning | 15% |
| 6. Tax Planning | 14% |
| 7. Retirement Planning | 19% |
| 8. Estate Planning | 10% |
What is the exam structure?
| Structure | Information |
|---|---|
| Exams | 2 |
| Exam Format | Proctored (remote or in-person at a test centre) |
| Exam Duration | Exam 1: 3 hours Exam 2: 3 hours |
| Question Format | Exam 1: Stand-alone multiple-choice Exam 2: Multiple cases – Constructed-Response Format |
| Questions Per Exam | Exam 1: 105 Exam 2: Four case studies, each case includes three – five related questions |
| Attempts Allowed Per Exam | 2 To successfully complete the AFP certification examination, you must pass both AFP 1 and AFP 2. The initial enrollment period for completing both exams is one year, there are no extensions for the AFP certification exam. If you fail either Exam 1 or Exam 2 twice, you must wait six months from your last failed exam attempt before re-enrolling in the AFP program. If you have previously passed one of the two required exams, you can transfer the mark from the successful attempt to your new enrollment if it is within 2 years of successfully completing that exam attempt. This mark transfer is allowed only once. |
| Passing Grade | 60% Candidates must earn a score of 60 or greater to pass each of AFP Exam 1 and AFP Exam 2. The marking methodology is further explained in the Candidate Guidelines. |
| Assignments | None |
What Continuing Education (CE) credits will you earn?
| Accreditation | Credits |
|---|---|
| FSRA Life Insurance | 15 |
| ADVOCIS Structured Learning CE | 30 |
| ICM Life Insurance | 15 |
| AMP Mortgage | 10 |
| ICS Life Insurance | 10 |
| MTI | 30 |
| CIM Professional development | 30 |
| AIC Life Insurance | 30 |
| CIRO-ID Professional Development | 20 |
| CIRO-MF Professional Development | 20 |
| DFSA Professional Development | 20 |
| CFP General CE | 30 |
View CE credits for all CSI courses and all associations.
While CSI makes every effort to ensure that the information is up-to-date, we are unfortunately unable to fully guarantee its accuracy. The information listed in the chart may be subject to change.