The CFP certification is a professional credential for financial planners, granted by CFP Board in the US and FP Canada in Canada, that requires education, an exam, experience, and ongoing ethics commitments.
In the US, candidates complete coursework, pass the CFP exam, meet an experience requirement (6,000 hours, or 4,000 hours through an apprenticeship pathway), and agree to CFP Board's Code of Ethics, which includes a fiduciary duty when giving financial advice.
The CFP is a credential, not a license or a pay model: CFP professionals can be fee-only, fee-based, or commission-based.
How to check
Search the person on CFP Board's verification tool at cfp.net (US) or FP Canada's directory (Canada).
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