Personal Financial Planner (PFP^®)

Personal Financial Planner (PFP^®) designation, a leading industry standard.

Recognized by Canada’s largest financial institutions, the PFP^® designation is a leading industry standard that ensures those who earn it demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attributes necessary to evaluate and manage all aspects of a clients' unique financial situation. Earning the PFP^® designation certifies the holder to be a comprehensive and holistic financial planner.

Since 2010, over 4300 Personal Financial Planner designations have been awarded to industry leading financial planning professionals.  Accredited by the American National Standards Institute to ISO 17024, which acknowledges meeting global standards for certifications, CSI ensures PFP professionals meet the highest standards of competence and professionalism.

The PFP^® is a comprehensive financial planning designation that is flexible and accessible. Course and certification exams can be written any time of the year. There are tailored education paths for securities, mutual fund, insurance and banking professionals, and students can achieve interim certificates while they work towards completing the PFP designation.

The PFP^® Professional Competency Profile is the foundational document for the Personal Financial Planner (PFP^®) designation that describes the required competencies (i.e., the knowledge, skills and abilities) of professionals awarded the designation. The Competency Profile is the defining resource for what a financial planner can and should do in practice. As such, it is used to set the requirements for the pre-requisite education programs, the work experience component, the Applied Financial Planning Certification Examination and for continuing education requirements. The Competency Profile was updated in June 2017.

For more information about certification requirements for the Personal Financial Planner (PFP^®) designation and to access investor information, connect to the PFP^® designation website.

Due to Quebec provincial regulations, individuals representing themselves to the public as a financial planner must hold the Pl. Fin. designation. Therefore the PFP designation cannot be used in Quebec for this purpose. If you are interested in becoming certified as a financial planner in the Province of Quebec, please click here to review CSI’s financial planning program for the Province of Quebec.

Click here if you are you a CFP holder and looking for advanced standing to earn the PFP designation.

AFP Certification Examination

The Applied Financial Planning (AFP) is the Certification Examination required in order to achieve the Personal Financial Planner (PFP^®) designation. It represents the final hurdle for candidates to complete the certification requirements for CSI's Personal Financial Planner (PFP^®) designation. For more information about certification requirements, including required work experience, click here.

Educational Requirements

If you have successfully completed the following educational requirements offered through CSI or other approved provider, you are eligible to enroll in the Applied Financial Planning (AFP) Certification Examination:

• Investment Funds in Canada (IFC) or the Canadian Securities Course (CSC^®)
• Personal Financial Services Advice (PFSA)*
• Financial Planning I (FP I)*
• Financial Planning II (FP II)*

*The above courses must be completed not more than 5 years prior to application to write the AFP Certification Examination. Exemptions can be granted for courses offered by other education providers.

PFP^® FAQS

Looking for more information on the Personal Financial Planner (PFP^®) designation? Check out our most frequently asked questions.