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Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board), delivered by Prometric

CFP® Certification Examination

The exam behind the CFP® mark — 170 questions that test whether you can apply planning knowledge to real client situations.

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Questions170 multiple-choice — stand-alone items, short scenarios and case studies with linked questions
TimeTwo 3-hour sections in one day, with an optional break between them
BlueprintConduct 8% · General Principles 15% · Risk & Insurance 11% · Investments 17% · Tax 14% · Retirement 18% · Estate 10% · Psychology 7%
WherePrometric test centers in three windows a year; remote proctoring only by approved request (U.S.)
Fee$825 early · $925 standard · $1,025 late registration, per window
Who sits itCandidates who have completed CFP Board-registered education coursework
ScoringPass/fail against a cut score set by CFP professionals in a standard-setting study — no fixed pass rate

About the exam

The CFP® Certification Examination is the exam requirement for CFP® certification, the credential CFP Board grants to financial planners who meet its education, examination, experience and ethics standards. You sit it after completing CFP Board-registered education coursework, and it's offered in three testing windows a year — March, July and late October/November.

The exam has 170 multiple-choice questions over one day: two 3-hour sections, with an optional break between them. Questions are stand-alone items, short client scenarios and longer case studies with several linked questions, spread across eight domains from Professional Conduct and Regulation to Psychology of Financial Planning — Retirement Savings and Income Planning is the heaviest at 18%. Our timed practice exam simulates one 85-question, 3-hour section — half the real exam — at the real pace.

Our practice covers all eight domains and their Principal Knowledge Topics with client-scenario questions built the way CFP Board writes them, using current tax law and planning numbers. Add flashcards for the rules and thresholds, unfolding client case simulations where every recommendation shows its consequence, and illustrated guides to the planning process, retirement plans, trusts and more.

How we track your progress

Every blueprint domain moves through five levels as you study:

  1. Not startedNo questions answered in this domain yet.
  2. Getting startedFirst questions answered — not enough yet to judge.
  3. DevelopingAt least 5 answered and 50% or better on your recent questions.
  4. ProficientAt least 15 answered and 70% or better on your recent questions.
  5. Exam readyAt least 25 answered, 80% or better recently, and holding up on hard questions.

The exam blueprint

CFP Board Principal Knowledge Topics (2021 practice analysis), tested since March 2022 — tax law includes One Big Beautiful Bill Act provisions tested from the March 2026 exam — 8 domains and 70 Principal Knowledge Topics, each domain a set percentage of the exam. Tap a domain to see its topics.

1 Professional Conduct and Regulation 8% of the exam
CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Standards of ConductCFP Board's Procedural RulesFunction, purpose and structure of financial institutionsFinancial services regulations and requirementsConsumer protection lawsFiduciary standard and its application

37 practice questions in this domain so far

2 General Principles of Financial Planning 15% of the exam
Financial planning processFinancial statementsCash flow managementFinancing strategies and debt managementEconomic conceptsTime value of money concepts and calculationsEducation needs analysisEducation savings vehiclesEducation fundingGift and income tax strategies for education

69 practice questions in this domain so far

3 Risk Management and Insurance Planning 11% of the exam
Principles of risk and insuranceAnalysis and evaluation of risk exposuresHealth insurance and health care cost managementDisability income insurance (individual and group)Long-term care insurance and long-term care planningQualified and non-qualified annuitiesLife insurance (individual and group)Business owner insurance solutionsInsurance needs analysisInsurance policy and company selection

48 practice questions in this domain so far

4 Investment Planning 17% of the exam
Characteristics, uses and taxation of investment vehiclesTypes of investment riskMarket cyclesQuantitative investment concepts and measures of returnAsset allocation and portfolio diversificationBond and stock valuation conceptsPortfolio development and analysisInvestment strategiesAlternative investments and liquidity risk

74 practice questions in this domain so far

5 Tax Planning 14% of the exam
Fundamental and current tax lawIncome tax fundamentals and calculationsCharacteristics and income taxation of business entitiesIncome taxation of trusts and estatesTax reduction and management techniquesTax consequences of property transactionsTax implications of special circumstancesCharitable and philanthropic contributions and deductions

64 practice questions in this domain so far

6 Retirement Savings and Income Planning 18% of the exam
Retirement needs analysisSocial Security and Medicare planningEldercare and special needs planningTypes of retirement plansQualified plan rules and optionsNon-qualified plan rules and optionsKey factors affecting plan selection for businessesDistribution rules and taxationRetirement income and distribution strategiesBusiness succession planning

78 practice questions in this domain so far

7 Estate Planning 10% of the exam
Property titling and beneficiary designationsStrategies to transfer propertyEstate and incapacity planning documentsGift, estate and GST tax compliance and calculationSources for estate liquidityTypes, features and taxation of trustsMarital deductionIntra-family and other business transfer techniquesPostmortem estate planning techniquesPlanning for divorce, unmarried couples and other circumstancesPlanning for special needs and circumstances

48 practice questions in this domain so far

8 Psychology of Financial Planning 7% of the exam
Client and planner attitudes, values and biasesBehavioral financeSources of money conflictPrinciples of counselingGeneral principles of effective communicationCrisis events with severe consequences

32 practice questions in this domain so far

What you get when you access this exam

Free with your QuizMe account.

Questions built on the Principal Knowledge Topics

Every question is tagged to a CFP Board domain and topic — client scenarios that ask what the planner should recommend, calculate or do next.

Hints that teach

Reveal the rule, threshold or planning principle behind the question when you're stuck. Every answer comes with the full rationale.

Adaptive practice

Questions steer toward your weakest domains, weighted like the real exam, and get harder as you get stronger.

Timed practice exams

Domain-weighted exams that simulate one 85-question, 3-hour section at the real pace — with a pacing indicator and full review.

Flashcards, case simulations and guides

120 flashcards, 8 unfolding client cases where every recommendation shows its consequence, and interactive illustrated guides you explore hotspot by hotspot.

Progress in every domain

Each domain moves from Not started to Exam ready, so you know exactly what to study next.

Test at home or at a center

The CFP® exam is offered in three testing windows a year (October 29–November 5, 2026; March 16–23, 2027; July 13–20, 2027) and delivered by Prometric. Register through your CFP Board account at cfp.net — early registration costs less.

At a Prometric test center

  • Hundreds of Prometric centers across the U.S. — book early, seats fill up in each window.
  • Bring current government-issued photo ID that matches your CFP Board registration.
  • Bring a financial calculator from CFP Board's approved list; check the Exam Candidate Handbook.
  • Phones, bags, watches and notes go in a locker; plan for check-in before each section.

Remote proctoring (by approved request only)

  • Not an open choice: CFP Board approves remote testing only on request — for example, if you live more than 60 miles from a test center or have a qualifying medical condition.
  • Available in the U.S. only; request it well before the registration deadline.
  • A live proctor watches through your webcam for both sections.
  • Test alone in a quiet room with a clear desk — no notes, phone or second monitor.

Exam-day game plan

How to walk in ready — and how to pace 85 multiple-choice questions — one of the exam's two 3-hour sections.

Pacing checkpoints

Checkpoints are for one of the exam's two 3-hour sections (85 of the 170 questions), which is what our timed exam simulates. On test day you'll do this twice, with an optional break in between.

21questions0:45
43questions1:31
64questions2:16
85questions3:00

The week before

  • Take one full timed section (85 questions, 3 hours) 3–5 days out, then rest.
  • Spend your last sessions on Retirement, Investments and General Principles — together half the exam — and anything still below Proficient.
  • Drill time value of money on your approved financial calculator until the keystrokes are automatic.
  • Review this year's planning numbers: contribution limits, the estate exclusion, Social Security and the current tax rules.

During the exam

  • Read the case facts first, then each question — note the client's goals, ages, tax bracket and constraints.
  • Ask what the client needs and what the Code requires: when two answers look right, pick the one that acts in the client's best interest.
  • Don't sink five minutes into one calculation — pick your best answer, flag it and move on.
  • Watch the clock at each checkpoint; case-study sets take longer than stand-alone items.
  • Answer every question — there's no penalty for guessing.

Keep your head

  • A few nerves sharpen focus. If you freeze, take three slow breaths and reread the question.
  • Use the break between sections to eat, stretch and reset — don't replay the first half.
  • You're measured against a cut score set by practicing CFP professionals, not against other candidates.

After you pass

  • Passing the exam is one requirement: to use the marks you also need a bachelor's degree, the experience requirement, a background check and agreement to CFP Board's Code and Standards.
  • Certificants complete continuing education every two years — currently 30 hours, including CFP Board-approved ethics; confirm the current rules at cfp.net.
  • Next step: finish your experience hours and submit your certification application to CFP Board.

Official sources and further reading

Ready to start?

450 questions and scenarios across the blueprint — and growing.

Enroll free

CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and the CFP® certification mark are certification marks owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. QuizMe and thinQtank Learning are not affiliated with or endorsed by CFP Board or Prometric. Details are summarized from CFP Board's published exam information; fees and policies change — always confirm at cfp.net. Our Exam ready level asks for 80% or better.