Is it time to consider a career as a financial planning professional?
This CFP Board-registered certificate program is a step in achieving the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. Upon successful completion of this 18-unit program, participants will be awarded an SDSU Executive Financial Planner Advanced Certificate, and will be eligible to sit for the CFP Board exam.
Estimated Cost
Min. Completion Time
Course FormatWho Should Apply — Do you meet one of these criteria?
- Financial services firm employees with client contact experience
- Attorneys, CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and CFAs
- Accountants and financial professionals
- Candidates with advanced degrees in business
Fully accredited by the AACSB International, the College of Business Administration conveniently offers the Executive Financial Planner program. Students pursuing further graduate studies may apply units from this certificate toward the Master of Science degree in Financial and Tax Planning.
Certificate Requirements
Applicants eligible for the Executive Financial Planner program should have a bachelor's degree and two or more years of experience in the fields of financial services, finance, law, or accounting. Others will be considered on a case-by-case basis. To be admitted to the program, candidates must meet the departmental and university admission requirements. Students who earn the certificate will complete 18 units of coursework including FIN 522, FIN 590, FIN 651, FIN 657, FIN 705, and ACCT 503.
SDSU offers three CFP Board-registered financial planning programs that qualify graduates to sit for the CFP Board's comprehensive exam. In addition to the six-course (18 unit) program described here, students may also qualify for the CFP Board exam by earning either of the following on-campus degrees:
- B.S. in Financial Services with a Certificate in Personal Financial Planning
- M.S. with a Concentration in Financial and Tax Planning
How to Apply
Visit the Executive Financial Planner website at https://business.sdsu.edu/financial-planning-certificate/requirements for admission requirements, and curriculum.
Please contact the Faculty Director Thomas Warschauer, Ph.D., CFP®, tom.warschauer@sdsu.edu for more information.
One three-unit certificate class taken prior to matriculation may be transferable to the Executive Financial Planner Advanced Certificate program.
In order to earn an advanced certificate or master's degree, you must apply and be admitted to SDSU. For more information, please contact the Division of Graduate Affairs at gra@sdsu.edu, visit https://admissions.sdsu.edu/graduate or call (619) 594-5213.
Labor Analysis
Financial Planner — Nationwide
Job Postings
Last 12 months
4,659
Projected Growth
Over 10 years
+14.90%
Salary Range
Average
$50,000-$80,000
This CFP Board-registered certificate program is a step in achieving the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®,CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
The program provided me with an opportunity to get an amazing education and designation, while I still could produce at my current employment.
~ Adam Shaw, SDSU Financial Planning student