How the CFP® certification may complement Kaplan Professional’s Master of Financial Planning If you’re considering Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) certification through the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), Kaplan Professional’s Master of Financial Planning can support the required study pathway while also building advanced knowledge and practical capability for a career in financial advice. Kaplan Professional offers a Master of Financial Planning designed to build applied capability across key areas of financial advice. A recommended study pathway can also support students who independently choose to work towards CFP® certification through the FAAA. CFP® certification is separate from the Kaplan Professional qualification and isn’t required to complete the Master of Financial Planning. The optional CFP® pathway involves three distinct study components: 10 core subjects with Kaplan Professional, one elective with Kaplan Professional and the CFP® certification unit completed directly with the FAAA. The CFP® unit is separate from the Kaplan Professional elective and is subject to the FAAA’s eligibility, assessment and application requirements. Already completed Kaplan Professional’s Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning? As the Graduate Diploma comprises the first eight core subjects of the Master of Financial Planning, graduates progressing through this pathway generally need to complete the remaining two core subjects and one Kaplan Professional elective, along with the separate CFP® certification unit through the FAAA. The Master of Financial Planning is designed to build capability across ethics, superannuation and retirement advice, insurance advice, estate planning, taxation, client engagement, investment advice and complex financial planning, whether or not you choose to pursue CFP® certification. If you choose to pursue CFP® certification, you’ll also need to meet the FAAA’s industry experience and other certification requirements before applying for the designation. Completing the Master of Financial Planning alone doesn’t automatically confer CFP® certification. Indicative timing for students who choose this pathway Complete the Kaplan Professional study components | Finish the 10 core Master of Financial Planning subjects and one Kaplan Professional elective. The time required will depend on your study load, subject availability and any recognised prior learning. Complete the separate CFP® certification unit with the FAAA | You’ll undertake the CFP® unit directly with the FAAA in addition to the 10 Kaplan Professional core subjects and one Kaplan Professional elective. The CFP® unit is offered in semester format with three intakes each year. You can complete the required experience evidence, written assignment and certification examination in one semester, or spread the assessments across a calendar year from enrolment. Meet the experience requirement | The practising designation pathway requires one year of full-time, or part-time equivalent, client-facing experience covering all six primary elements of the financial planning process. The non-practising designation pathway requires four years of full-time, or part-time equivalent, relevant experience that supports the financial planning process. Apply for the designation | Once you’ve met the education, assessment, experience, ethics and membership requirements, you can apply to the FAAA for CFP® certification. Typical timing: The overall timeframe will depend on your study load, recognised prior learning and whether you already meet the relevant FAAA experience requirement. If you’re an eligible, experienced adviser who’s completed the required Kaplan Professional subjects, you may be able to complete the final CFP® certification unit within one semester, while the FAAA allows up to one calendar year for its assessments. What other professional designations can you work towards? Depending on your elective choice, the Master of Financial Planning can also support pathways towards other specialist professional designations. Choosing SMSF Regulations and Taxation can support a pathway towards the SMSF Specialist Adviser™ (SSA®) designation with the SMSF Association, recognising specialist knowledge and capability in SMSF advice. You may also be eligible for the Accredited Behavioural Finance Professional℠ (ABFP℠) credential or Chartered Retirement Planning Counsellor℠ (CRPC℠) designation through the College for Financial Planning® – recognising specialist knowledge in behavioural finance and retirement planning respectively. The most suitable study pathway will depend on your career goals. You can complete the Master of Financial Planning as a standalone postgraduate qualification through Kaplan Professional, or use your studies to support your pathway towards CFP® certification and other relevant professional designations.