This rigorous online certificate program is designed for financial professionals with relevant work experience and credentials who are preparing for CFP® Certification. The 6-course curriculum is comprised of five core courses covering the major disciplines of financial planning and the required Financial Plan Development capstone course.
The instructor-led online courses blend live, web-based sessions with online discussion boards, assignments, and testing. Each course is scheduled over a 4-week period and include two 3-hour live sessions conducted online each week. The weekly online live sessions are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-6pm Pacific Standard Time. Students are encouraged to attend the live sessions, but they also are recorded for later viewing. Students are provided a two week window between courses to pre-study materials for the next course. The required curriculum can be completed within nine months.
All candidates completing the program are awarded a certificate that bears the gold seal of the University of California and is signed by the Dean of UCLA Extension.
Certificate Curriculum
Five Core Courses
| X 430.511 | Financial Planning Process and Insurance |
| X 430.512 | Investment Planning |
| X 430.513 | Income Tax Planning |
| X 430.514 | Retirement Planning |
| X 430.515 | Estate Planning |
Capstone Course
| X430.516 | Financial Plan Development and Presentation Course |
Certificate Booklet | Enroll in Certificate
Program Schedule
The Accelerated Online Certificate program is offered three times per year in conjunction with the March, July, and November CFP® Examination dates. Each program cycle is scheduled to end approximately 8-10 weeks prior to the exam, providing students ample time to prepare and study for the exam, and to also enroll in the CFP® Review course.
Next Program Begins Sept 5, 2017
Enroll in this program and be ready for the July, 2018 CFP® Exam!
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Program Instructors
Linda Hewitt, CFP®, CRPC
Nancy Le Claire, CFP®, CPA, ChFC, CRPC
As co-founders of Financial Planning Educational Solutions, a training firm that specializes in personal financial planning and the review course for the CFP® Certification Examination, Ms. Hewitt and Ms. Le Claire have worked with numerous clients, including Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Charles Schwab.
Certificate Requirements
Students must:
- Submit an Application for Candidacy with a non-refundable application fee of $200. Students are recommended to enroll in the certificate and the first course, X 430.511 Financial Planning Process and Insurance, approximately 1 month prior to the program start date.
- Receive a minimum 2.5 GPA or better for courses completed in the certificate.
Recommended Prerequisites
A four year degree (any major) is recommended since this is a requirement for CFP Certification. Students should also have 3 year’s work experience in investment, banking, insurance or financial planning is recommended or 3-year’s experiences as a CPA®, Attorney, CFA®, CLU, or ChFC. A Series 7 license is also highly recommended.
Transfer of Courses
A maximum of two courses can be transferred into this certificate program. Courses must be equivalent in course content and unit value to be eligible, and must have been taken within the last five years. Course requirements will not be waived based on previous work experience.
Keir Program Materials
Students are required to purchase and pre-study course study materials from Keir Education prior to each course session. Estimated costs for these materials are $85 (plus tax and shipping) for each core course and $185 (plus tax and shipping) for the capstone course. For further information about the Keir Materials, please contact Mary Grace Caudill, Program Coordinator at Keir Educational Resources, at mcaudill@KeirSuccess.com or 800-795-5347 ext. 101
Once enrolled, students are provided specific instructions for ordering the Keir materials. In-class online materials are also provided to students and are included in the cost of the program.
MCLE/CPE Credit
Courses in this program have been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit by the State Bar of California and may also be applied toward the State of California‘s continuing professional education (CPE) requirement for the licensure of Certified Public Accountants.
Available Discounts
10% course discounts are available to FPA and CalCPA members as well as to employers who register 3 or more of their employees in a course. View additional discounts
Articulation Agreement – California Lutheran University
UCLA Extension has established an articulation agreement with California Lutheran University’s California Institute of Finance. Cal Lutheran will accept up to 15 units (five courses) from this certificate program as credit towards their Master of Business Administration in Financial Planning. For more details on the articulation, click here or contact Cindy Grether, Program Manager at the School of Management, at cgrether@clunet.edu or (888) 372-4155.
