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Kaplan Professional has partnered with the College for Financial Planning® – a Kaplan US company – to offer three globally-recognised designations in Australia. Over 50 years ago, the College for Financial Planning® introduced the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in the United States*, which is now the world’s most recognised financial planning credential. The College for Financial Planning® today is one of the largest and most respected worldwide providers of financial planning designations with 12 global certifications available and more than 100,000 designation holders worldwide. You can apply to earn these globally-endorsed designations based on your previous studies with Kaplan Professional, whether that be specific subjects or a full qualification.
* In 1969, the International Association for Financial Planners (IAFP) and the College for Financial Planning were created to help meet the financial needs of Americans. In 1985, the College entered an agreement to establish an independent, nonprofit certifying and standards-setting organisation. Ownership of the CFP® marks and responsibility for continuing the CFP® certification program was transferred to the new organisation, International Board of Standards and Practices for Certified Financial Planners, Inc. (IBCFP), now known as CFP Board.
Apply before 30 June 2024 to save 15% off the initial certification fee and be among the first in Australia to achieve one of these globally-recognised financial advice designations. Find out more.
Apply before 31 July 2024 to save 15% off the initial certification fee and be among the first in Australia to achieve one of these globally-recognised financial advice designations.
Showcase your hard-earned expertise and knowledge as a specialist in your field, enhancing your credibility and trust in the eyes of consumers. Bolster your credentials to complement your education, experience and any other designations you may have earned.
If you have already completed education as part of the Financial Adviser Standards, regardless if you qualify for the experience pathway or not, the three designations are designed to offer recognition and reward for your efforts.
As consumers actively seek financial advisers who are certified specialists in their particular field, these designations allow you to further differentiate yourself from your peers and other industry participants.
The ABFP® designation showcases technical proficiency and a thorough understanding of psychological theories of behavioural finance. Designed for mid-career and advanced career financial advisers, distinguish yourself from your peers with your capability to understand what drives the markets, and investors’ motivations and decision-making behaviours.
^ Equivalent historical Kaplan Professional subjects apply. Please click here for more information.
Mid-career and advanced career financial advisers and investment professionals who can demonstrate foundational knowledge of behavioural finance history, portfolio construction principles, and best practices for integrating behavioural finance theories into real-life situations.
Showcase you hold the following specialist knowledge:
Equivalent historical Kaplan Professional subjects apply. Please click here for more information.
As financial advisers face an increasingly complex onslaught of retirement planning questions as aging baby boomers look for investments to meet their lifestyle needs in 10 years, 20 years and beyond, the (CRPC®) is for individuals who want to showcase their experience, knowledge and skills in delivering comprehensive retirement advice to clients. It is also suitable for those who want to grow their business in this in-demand and specialist area of financial advice.
Experienced financial advisers who are focused on retirement planning for individuals, including pre-and post-retirement needs, asset management and estate planning.
The FPQP® is an ideal way for new and existing paraplanners to showcase their capabilities. It is also suitable for frontline employees and support staff to highlight their industry experience, and the foundational knowledge and skills they have gained throughout their career.
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Am I eligible to apply for a College for Financial Planning® specialist designation?
Kaplan Professional financial planning courses and subjects have been mapped to College for Financial Planning® designation programs.
To be eligible for the CRPC® and ABFP® individuals must:
To be eligible for the FPQP® individuals must:
I have received RPL for a required subject/s for the designation, am I eligible to apply?
Individuals who have been awarded Advanced Standing or Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) for one (1) the of required subject/s for either the CRPC® and ABFP® designations may be eligible if they have also completed a Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning.
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Kaplan Professional financial planning courses and subjects have been mapped to the College for Financial Planning® designation programs. This also includes historical Kaplan Professional subjects completed between 2006 to 2019.
Please refer to the equivalency table below.
How do I apply for a College for Financial Planning® specialist designation?
Complete the application form on this page and one of our RPL assessment team members will review your eligibility. This process can take up to 10 working days. Once the application has been assessed, you will receive an email detailing next steps.
Individuals applying for the ABFP® or CRPC® designations will need to provide the following information:
Individuals who have been awarded Advanced Standing or Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) for one (1) of the required subject/s for either the ABFP® or CRPC® designations may be eligible if they have also completed a Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning.
Individuals applying for the FPQP® Designation will need to provide the following their Student ID.
I am interested in becoming a College for Financial Planning® designation holder and need some support.
If you are considering becoming a College for Financial Planning® designation holder and have not yet applied, but have questions or need support, please get in touch in one of the following ways:
I am a College for Financial Planning® designation holder and I need some support.
Kaplan Professional will provide any support or assistance required by an Australian College for Financial Planning® designation holder. If you have a question or need support, please contact us your preferred way:
What are the fees and charges to become a College for Financial Planning® designation holder?
In addition to the tuition fees with associated course/subjects you are required to complete, the following fees apply:
Kaplan Professional in partnership with the College for Financial Planning® has developed a marketing toolkit for designation holders to help support and guide communications and awareness about the credential(s) earned, and what that means to their clients and peers.
Designees will be notified by email when they are due to renew up to 8 weeks prior to the expiration date.
Designation holders who have complied with the designation rules, completed all required continuing professional development, requested renewal and paid the certification renewal fee will be granted an extension to their license to use the designation for a further 24-month period.
Paraplanning courses FAQs
Financial planning courses FAQs
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The College for Financial Planning® designation marks may only be used by individuals specifically authorised by Kaplan Professional and the College for Financial Planning®. Use of the specialist designation marks denotes professionals who have successfully completed the program’s requirements and are currently complying with the Standards of Professional Conduct and ongoing renewal requirements. As the owner of these marks, the College for Financial Planning® has the legal responsibility to ensure they are protected and used only by those who have received written authorisation to use them.Please refer to the College for Financial Planning® Professional Designation Marks Usage Guidelines for instructions on how you may use the certification marks you have earned.
On successfully completing the application process for a College for Financial Planning® designation through Kaplan Professional, you will receive a confirmation email from Credly’s digital badge platform with instructions on how to set up your account, then claim and share your digital badge. Learn more about digital badges here.
Showcase your commitment to professional growth by featuring your specialist designation as part of your professional profile. You can achieve this across social media, within your client communications (email, newsletter and website) and also through your organisation where relevant and applicable.
Consider including:
Social media handles:
LinkedInKaplan-professional-australia college-for-financial-planning/
Facebook KaplanProfessional CollegeFFPX (formally Twitter) KPAustralia
Instagram Kaplan_Professional
We have provided some suggested announcements that you can copy and amend to suit your personal profile.
Featuring your specialisation across social media platforms such as LinkedIn, informs your personal network and could help attract new clients. Before promoting your designation(s) on social media, ensure compliance with the platforms’ respective terms.
When spreading the word about your specialist designation, it is not just about posting to social media. We encourage you to share what skills you have gained in order to obtain your specialist designation.
If you work with or for an organisation, they may be willing to share your achievement through their regular communication channels internally and externally. This could include email, social media and their website.
Sharing a testimonial, whether written or in video format, is another effective way to promote a recently obtained professional specialist designation. It allows you to communicate with potential clients about the significance of the expertise you have gained for your financial advice career. Kaplan Professional features testimonials from students across our website and social media platforms. If you would like to share your success story, please email marketing@kaplan.edu.au.
Kaplan Professional has partnered with the College for Financial Planning® – a Kaplan US company – to offer three globally-recognised designations in Australia.
Over 50 years ago, the College for Financial Planning® introduced the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in the United States*, which is now the world’s most recognised financial planning credential. The College for Financial Planning® today is one of the largest and most respected worldwide providers of financial planning designations with 12 global certifications available and more than 100,000 designation holders worldwide.
You can apply to earn these globally-endorsed designations based on your previous studies with Kaplan Professional, whether that be specific subjects or a full qualification.
Limited Introductory Offer
Apply before 31 July 2024 to save 15% off the initial certification fee.
Kaplan Professional is offering education update presentations for advice firms – available online or in person – designed to help advisers navigate the evolving professional landscape.
The financial advice profession is rarely a straight path. Increasing regulation, rising client expectations, technological change and higher professional standards mean advisers must continually adapt to remain relevant and competitive.
This presentation maps the full career lifecycle of an adviser – from entry into the profession through to specialisation, leadership and long-term sustainability. At each stage, we explore the capabilities required, the common challenges advisers face, and the role education plays not just as a compliance requirement, but as a strategic enabler of professional growth.
• Education pathways from entry to senior leadership
• How capability requirements evolve across career stages
• The shift from minimum standards to advanced technical and strategic expertise
• The role of ongoing education in building resilience, sound judgement and sustainable careers
Designed for adviser teams and leadership groups, this presentation provides practical insights into how structured learning supports long-term performance, professionalism and business sustainability.
To book an education update session for your advisers please contact your Corporate Relationship Manager to arrange a suitable time.
Date: Wednesday, 11 March
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm AEDT
Fee: $280
Where: Online (Zoom)
Host: Matthew Farley
A certificate of attendance outlining CPD hours will be awarded at the conclusion of this workshop. A full list of topics is available on our website.
Date: Thursday, 19 March
Time: 1:00pm – 3:30pm AEDT
Fee: $340
Host: Dr Jenny Diggle
Kaplan Professional has expanded the Financial Adviser Accelerator Suite with a new set of practical topics designed to further strengthen capability across both technical and client engagement areas.
As client expectations continue to rise and advice scenarios become more complex, early career advisers must combine sound technical knowledge with strong communication skills and thoughtful decision-making. The latest additions to the suite support this ongoing professional development.
Practical frameworks to enhance credibility, strengthen adviser presence and build more meaningful, long-term client relationships.
Structured approaches to assessing appropriate cover, modelling client scenarios and supporting well-reasoned, client-centred risk advice.
Applying probability-based thinking to improve strategic judgement and support more confident decision-making in uncertain environments.
These additions build on the Financial Adviser Accelerator Suite focus on applied, real-world learning, equipping advisers with skills that can be immediately implemented in practice.
The ongoing expansion of the Financial Adviser Accelerator Suite reflects Kaplan Professional’s commitment to supporting advisers as they continue to develop deeper expertise and deliver high-quality, client-focused advice.
For advisers who have now met the education standard, the focus shifts from compliance to opportunity.
Kaplan Professional offers clear pathways to build on the bridging courses and subjects already completed and convert that study into a full, recognised qualification. Advisers who have completed individual units toward the education standard may be eligible to articulate into the Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning or Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning, formalising their academic achievement and strengthening their professional standing.
From there, eligible Graduate Diploma alumni can upgrade to the Master of Financial Planning, completing the remaining subjects to attain a postgraduate qualification that positions them above the minimum regulatory requirement. The Master’s program also provides direct pathways toward leading professional designations, including CFP® and SSA®, enabling advisers to align academic progression with industry-recognised credentials.
Advisers who have completed the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning are already eligible to obtain leading professional designations through the College for Financial Planning®. This includes globally-recognised credentials such as the Accredited Behavioural Finance ProfessionalSM (ABFP®) and Chartered Retirement Planning CounsellorSM (CRPC®) designation.
No further study is required to meet the education component for these certifications, allowing advisers to leverage their existing qualification to secure respected professional recognition and further strengthen their standing in the industry.
Beyond core qualifications, Kaplan Professional also offers access to additional specialist electives and professional designation pathways, allowing advisers to differentiate in areas such as superannuation, retirement, ethics and client strategy.
In short, completing the education standard doesn’t have to be the end point. With Kaplan Professional, it can be the foundation for higher qualifications, respected designations and long-term career progression.
Contact your Corporate Relationship Manager to discuss the education options and pathways for your adviser network. Alternatively, contact 1300 135 798 (option 2) or email courseadvice@kaplan.edu.au.
Kaplan Professional will host a special Women in Finance webinar on Tuesday, 3 March, celebrating the achievements, leadership and career journeys of women shaping the financial services industry.
The session will explore leadership, career progression and the role education has played in supporting professional success across diverse areas of the sector.
Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning dux, two-time Olympian and Financial Adviser at HLB Mann Judd.
Graduate Diploma graduate, business owner and founder of a caregiving training institute in Bangladesh, with more than 20 years’ industry experience.
Master of Applied Finance graduate and Director at BDO Sydney, specialising in governance, risk and assurance across financial services.
Date: Tuesday, 3 March
Time: 1:30pm AEDT
Location: Online (Zoom)
The webinar will include practical leadership insights, reflections on career growth, discussion on the impact of education in finance, and an interactive Q&A session.
Now
9 March
25 March
29 May
Kaplan Professional is offering eligible Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning alumni a limited-time opportunity to upgrade to the Master of Financial Planning at a fixed alumni price of $5,000.
This exclusive offer enables alumni to complete their remaining four subjects – two core subjects (FPC009 Complex Financial Planning and KAP001 Capstone Project) and two electives – at a substantially reduced cost compared to standard postgraduate tuition fees.
To access the offer, eligible alumni must enrol and commence their first subject by the Study Period 2 census date, 25 March 2026.
Upgrading to the Master’s degree provides advisers with the opportunity to deepen technical expertise, broaden strategic capability and position themselves strongly as professional standards across the industry continue to rise. The program also supports progression toward additional professional designations.
Full details, including subject structure, study plans and application steps, are available below.