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Build your future
in financial advice

Whether you are exploring a career in financial advice, starting out in the industry, working toward adviser status, building specialist expertise, or looking for CPD and compliance support, Kaplan Professional can help you find the right next step.

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Explore the profession

New to financial advice?
Start
with these helpful articles.

Financial advice career guide

Explore course types, career pathways and what a financial advice career can look like.

Education standards and requirements

Understand the current framework around education requirements, Professional Year, the ASIC exam and ongoing CPD obligations for financial advisers.

Compare higher education study options

See the difference between the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master's and bridging course options.

If you are ready to start a career in financial advice,
these entry qualifications and courses are a great place to begin.

Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning

A four-subject AQF 8 qualification designed with industry input. It is the ideal starting point for individuals without a relevant degree, career changers or those needing an entry point into approved postgraduate study.

Diploma of Financial Services

Covering client engagement, ethical practice and RG 146 requirements, this diploma prepares students for roles across superannuation, financial advice, banking and insurance, while providing a pathway to approved postgraduate study.

Advanced Diploma of Paraplanning

A dedicated entry pathway for aspiring paraplanners. The course is 100% online, self-paced and designed to build support role-ready skills, while leading to the FPQP® specialist designation pathway.

Launching your financial advice career

Part of the Financial Adviser Accelerator Suite, this practical introductory topic explores career pathways, industry expectations, compliance, client management and market awareness, providing a strong foundation for success in financial services.

Not sure where to begin?

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Become a financial adviser

100% online study with six intakes each year – Financial Adviser Standards (FAS) approved

Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning

Eight-subject AQF Level 8 qualification and FAS-approved benchmark program that satisfies education requirements for financial advisers, while providing a pathway to specialist designation eligibility.

Master of Financial Planning

The highest qualification in our financial planning suite, this 12-subject AQF Level 9 master's degree develops advanced advice expertise through specialist electives, while supporting pathways to professional and specialist designations.

Need help mapping your study plan?

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Professional Year (PY)
and exam support

Access information, courses, tools and resources designed to support early career financial advisers through their Professional Year and ASIC Financial Adviser Exam journey.

The Financial Adviser Accelerator Suite (FAAS)

Built for the next generation of financial advisers, this accelerated development suite combines technical learning, client-focused skills and professional practice to build capability, confidence and career momentum.

Financial Adviser Exam preparation

A focused exam preparation topic that strengthens the judgement, reasoning and professional decision-making capabilities assessed in ASIC’s Financial Adviser Exam, available within the FAAS.

Professional Year Library

A dedicated Ontrack continuing professional development (CPD) solution for PY participants, providing continuing education across technical advice, regulation, ethics and professional practice to support structured PY training requirements.

Supervising the Professional Year

A short course delivered through Ontrack that equips experienced financial advisers, mentors and supervisors with the knowledge and practical skills to meet PY obligations, design effective training plans and fulfil supervision responsibilities.

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Specialise

Build deeper expertise

and differentiate your career

College for Financial Planning® designations

Kaplan Professional offers three globally recognised designation pathways in Australia through the College for Financial Planning®: ABFP®, CRPC® and FPQP®.

Master's + CFP® certification pathway

Kaplan Professional’s integrated pathway combines the Master of Financial Planning with the Financial Advice Association Australia's (FAAA) CFP® Certification Program. The pathway uses 10 core subjects and 1 elective from the Master's, with the CFP® certification unit completed through the FAAA.

Master's + SSA® pathway

A specialist SMSF pathway that combines the Master of Financial Planning with the SMSF Association's SSA® designation, including FPE020 SMSF Regulation and Taxation. Existing Master's graduates can complete FPE020 to become eligible to apply for the designation.

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CPD and compliance support

Compliance today. Capability for tomorrow.

Ontrack Financial Advice library

A comprehensive continuing education resource offering a broad range of learning designed to support ongoing professional development across Technical Competence, Client Care and Practice, Regulatory Compliance and Consumer Protection, Professionalism and Ethics, and General content.

Responsible Manager Forums

Designed for existing, new and prospective Responsible Managers, as well as senior leaders and directors responsible for governance, compliance and oversight within AFS licensees.

Ontrack platform + partner services

Through the Ontrack platform, Kaplan Professional delivers end-to-end partner support across continuing education strategy, capability development, learning pathway design, reporting and analytics, onboarding, and bespoke content creation.

Need help mapping your study plan?

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Employers, licensees and team leaders

Support your people at every stage

Corporate solutions

Workforce capability

Develop the skills, knowledge and behavioursneeded to support performance, compliance andcareer growth. From onboarding and rolereadiness to leadership development andprofessional education, we help organisationsbuild capability at every stage of the employeelifecycle.

Blended learning solutions

Combine the best of online, virtual and face-to-face learning to create engaging and effectivedevelopment experiences. Our blended solutionsare designed to meet diverse learner needs whilesupporting capability, compliance andperformance outcomes.

Bespoke education programs

Custom-built learning solutions designed aroundyour organisation’s unique objectives, workforceneeds and regulatory requirements. From tailoredshort courses and capability frameworks tocustomised qualifications, we create programsthat deliver measurable impact.

Not sure where you fit yet?

We can help you identify the right next step based on your background, goals and current stage in the profession.

Entry level ⟶

into financial advice Industry

Diploma of Financial Services

Tier 1
Tier 2
General Advice Specialisation

Changer ⟶

with relevant experience and/or qualifications

Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning

FAS approved Financial Adviser

Senior

Financial adviser

Master of Financial Planning

Master of Applied Finance
OR
Master of Financial Services

Ontrack CPD Content Libraries and Short Courses

Professional Year

ASIC Exam

CFP®

SSA®