Professional Certification Resources
Useful Resources About the College's Certification Marks
Students who successfully complete the requirements of the College’s professional certification programs and comply with standards of professional conduct are authorized to use the College’s certification marks for a given program. The College’s certification marks may only be used by those specifically authorized by the College.
Learn more about communicating your recent educational accomplishment(s), renewing or relinquishing a certification or designation or filing a complaint or grievance against a designee.
Communicate Your Professional Certification Accomplishment
The College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company has developed this Professional Designations Toolkit to support our professional certification holders in creating communications and awareness about the credential(s) you have earned and what that means to the clients you serve. This toolkit contains ideas for how to communicate your recent educational accomplishments and other resources.
Renew a Professional Certification
Following the initial conferment of one of the College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company’s professional certifications and designations, authorization for continued use of the credential must be renewed every 2 years. To avoid late fees or possible suspension of your certification or designation, click here to review and become familiar with renewal requirements. Designations are eligible for renewal beginning 120 days prior to the expiration date. You can complete your renewal online in less than 10 minutes by logging into your student account. If you require assistance with the process, please contact the Student Support Department at 800-237-9990, option #2.
Reinstatement after Expiration
To determine your tier or the number of years lapsed from your designation, please use the date of your designation's renewal as a reference point. This will help determine whether you are eligible for renewal, reinstatement, or if your designation has been terminated.
AWMA® Designation Petition (for current SE-AWMA designees only)
Individuals who are currently authorized to use the SE-AWMA® designation are invited to broaden their expertise in wealth management by obtaining the AWMA® designation. To request authorization to use the AWMA® designation completion of the AWMA® Designation Petition is required to supplement your current SE-AWMA® designation application. Need assistance or have a question? Please contact us at renewals@cffp.edu.
Fill Out the form linked here to petition for additional approval to use the AWMA®️ designation.
Understanding Designation Renewal, Reinstatement, and Termination Timelines
Description
Designation Renewal Date (120 Days Before Renewal)
You can renew your designation online 120 days prior to the renewal due date.
Grace Period (60 Days After Renewal Date)
Designees have a 60-day grace period after the renewal date to complete their renewal process.
Expired Period (61 Days to 2 Years)
Designees are given a two-year period from the renewal date to renew their designation (late fees apply).
Reinstatement After Expiration (2+ to 6 Years)
Individuals seeking reinstatement between 2-6 years from their renewal date following the expiration date must submit the reinstatement documents for a thorough review.
Termination of Designation (6 Years or More)
Individuals who do not reinstate within 6 years following their renewal date are ineligible for reinstatement and are instead required to re-enroll in the education program and fulfill all designation requirements.
Fee
Designation Renewal Date (120 Days Before Renewal)
$95.00 Renewal Fee
Grace Period (60 Days After Renewal Date)
$95.00 Renewal Fee
Expired Period (61 Days to 2 Years)
$95.00 Renewal Fee
Reinstatement After Expiration (2+ to 6 Years)
$250 reinstatement fee
Termination of Designation (6 Years or More)
Tuition for re-enroll
Instructions
Designation Renewal Date (120 Days Before Renewal)
Access your student account to initiate the renewal process:
Grace Period (60 Days After Renewal Date)
Access your student account to initiate the renewal process:
Expired Period (61 Days to 2 Years)
Access your student account to initiate the renewal process:
Reinstatement After Expiration (2+ to 6 Years)
To request reinstatement of your certification or designation, please complete the linked form for
Termination of Designation (6 Years or More)
See below for detailed instructions.
Process for Re-enrollment After Designation Termination
An individual may request the College for Financial Planning to reinstate their right to use the certification or designation. Individuals between 2-6 years from their renewal date following the expiration date can fulfill all outstanding renewal requirements and pay all outstanding fees. Please complete the following forms for review to request a reinstatement.
Provide proof of 16 credits of continuing education (CE).
Written confirmation of attendance for CE, such as a Certificate of Attendance or Certificate of Completion, must be provided by the sponsoring organization. This document should include specific details such as your name, the program's name, the CE sponsor's name, the date and location of the program, the number of CE credits earned, and the signature of a sponsor’s representative. Please send a copy of CE credits that have been completed within 2 years to renewals@cffp.edu.
After receiving all the necessary documents, we will review your information to determine if a reinstatement can be approved. If further steps are required, we will contact you with additional instructions. Please be aware that the reinstatement process may take up to 30 days if your request needs review by the Designation Management Committee. Moreover, if your request must be forwarded to the Ethical Conduct Committee, additional time will be needed. Should you have any questions during this process, please don't hesitate to contact us at renewals@cffp.edu.
Reinstatement requests that are not approved will necessitate re-enrollment in the education program and completion of all designation requirements.
Additionally, please be aware that if your submission is approved, there is an associated reinstatement fee of $250.00.
Relinquish a Professional Certification
If you need to voluntarily relinquish your certification or designation from the College, please complete the designation relinquishment form.
File a Grievance Against a Designee
Individuals authorized to use one of the College for Financial Planning’s professional certifications are subject to a disciplinary process. Complaints against a designee may be filed by a designee’s client, employer, or any other individual with whom the designee has established a formal business engagement for purposes of providing asset management, retirement planning, or financial planning services to that individual. The College for Financial Planning investigates all complaints and its Ethical Conduct Committee determines whether allegations are justified and whether the conduct warrants disciplinary action.
Contact Us
If you need further assistance or have questions, please contact us directly at renewals@cffp.edu.