e-Financial Planning Certificate Program
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DePaul's e-Financial Planning Certificate Program is a live, instructor-led, Internet-delivered financial planning program designed to meet the education requirement for the CFP® Certification Examination in only eleven months. Through our program, you'll learn how to plan, assess and evaluate a client's financial future through the development of a comprehensive financial plan.
Unlike most distance learning options, our course is not an Internet self-study program. Rather, classes are conducted live over the Internet. Students with Internet access can attend "virtual classrooms" and interact with instructors and other students using a headset and voice-over-IP technology from anywhere in the country.
CFP® Certification
Since 1972, CFP® certification marks have become the most widely recognized financial planning credential among consumers. Research by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. shows that clients of CFP® practitioners are more satisfied. Having CFP® certification sets financial planning professionals apart from the crowd and assures that their clients know that they are trained professionals. DePaul's e-Financial Planning Certificate Program is designed to provide the knowledge and prerequisite coursework required to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination.
Who should attend?
The e-Financial Planning Certificate Program is designed for anyone pursuing CFP® certification, including professionals in the fields of investment brokerage, insurance, banking, accounting and the law. In addition, professionals from other industries who want to make a career change and are looking for rigorous instruction in financial planning are encouraged to enroll.
Benefits
DePaul's e-Financial Planning Certificate Program offers:
- Exceptional instruction- All of DePaul's courses are taught by professional financial planners with either CFP® certification or other appropriate professional license or designation. During classes, you can communicate with instructors and other students using a headset and your computer's speakers or through text chat.
- Convenience and flexibility- Take class from your home or office, with no need to travel or leave work early to attend class. You can choose to attend regularly scheduled live classes or listen to the archived version at a time that is more convenient for you.
- Proven student success- Graduates of our program consistently outperform the national average for first-time test-takers of the CFP® Certification Examination. In addition to preparing for the exam, our program equips you to succeed in today's competitive profession of financial planning.
Affiliations
The Financial Planning Certificate Program is certified by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., to provide you with the educational component of CFP® certification. It provides an overview of what might be ultimately tested in the certification examination, but this is an education program, not an exam-prep program.
DePaul University does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame logo)® certification marks. CFP® certification is granted only by CFP Board to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met its ethics, experience and examination requirements.
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 CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
CEUs
Five out of six required courses in the e-Financial Planning Certificate Program are approved for CE/CPE credit. DePaul offers continuing education units (CEUs) to each student upon successful completion of their course. Each 10 hours of in-class participation = 1 CEU.
Students who are eligible for CE credit from the Illinois Department of Insurance or the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation should indicate this on the attached registration form under the section titled Continuing Education Credit. DePaul University will submit the CE/CPE information for only those students who have indicated this on the registration form. Submission will occur upon successful completion of a course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click here for the DePaul University Continuing and Professional Education Departmental Student Policies.
What are the system requirements?
At a minimum, students should have speakers connected to their computer so they can hear the instructor. Ideally, students should purchase a headset or microphone, so they can ask questions of the instructor and use the voice-over-IP technology. Minimum system requirements are given below:
At a minimum, students should have speakers connected to their computer so they can hear the instructor. Ideally, students should purchase a headset or microphone, so they can ask questions of the instructor and use the voice-over-IP technology. Minimum system requirements are given below:
Requirements
- Windows 7, Vista, or XP; Mac OSX 10.4+
- 256 MB RAM
- IE 7.0+, Safari 3.0+, Firefox 3.0+ (Browser must be Java and JavaScript enabled)
- Internet access at 56k or above
It is highly recommended that students perform a system check of their computer before registering for the course. A system check can be performed by clicking here.
What prior education do I need for this program?
While there is no official prerequisite requirement, the CFP Board requires an undergraduate degree to award Certified Financial Planner™ certification. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you have a four-year degree before enrolling in the program.
While there is no official prerequisite requirement, the CFP Board requires an undergraduate degree to award Certified Financial Planner™ certification. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you have a four-year degree before enrolling in the program.
Are there fees if I register late?
All registrations are due seven calendar days before the course start date. Any registration submitted after that date will be charged a mandatory $75.00 late registration fee.
All registrations are due seven calendar days before the course start date. Any registration submitted after that date will be charged a mandatory $75.00 late registration fee.
Can my tuition be reimbursed by my company?
Some students receive at least partial reimbursement from their employers. In addition, your company may be able to take advantage of the Employee Education Assistance Act (IRS Code, Section 127), which may allow for partial of full reimbursement of your tuition. To find out if you qualify, check with your supervisor or company's human resources department.
Some students receive at least partial reimbursement from their employers. In addition, your company may be able to take advantage of the Employee Education Assistance Act (IRS Code, Section 127), which may allow for partial of full reimbursement of your tuition. To find out if you qualify, check with your supervisor or company's human resources department.
Students whose employers have tuition reimbursement programs may be eligible for company deferrals. The deferral program requires a copy of the company's tuition reimbursement policy, completion of a deferral form and a $50 deferral fee.
May I transfer courses into the DePaul program?
We accept courses from any CFP Board certified program. Requests must be made in writing to the Program Manager, and an official transcript of record from the school must be sent, along with course descriptions from the school's catalog. The Program Manager will give final approval.
We accept courses from any CFP Board certified program. Requests must be made in writing to the Program Manager, and an official transcript of record from the school must be sent, along with course descriptions from the school's catalog. The Program Manager will give final approval.
You must complete four or more of the classes with DePaul in order to receive our e-Financial Planning Certificate.
What is the schedule?
The program consists of six required modules presented over eleven months. For each module, students meet twice a week usually on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Central.
The program consists of six required modules presented over eleven months. For each module, students meet twice a week usually on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Central.
Do I have to take the courses in order?
The courses are designed to be taken in sequence, but it is not required. You may take the courses in whichever order best fits your schedule and current needs. However, students unfamiliar with tax concepts are advised to take Income Tax Planning prior to Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits and Estate Planning. The Financial Plan Development course should be taken after the first five courses, or concurrently with the fifth course.
The courses are designed to be taken in sequence, but it is not required. You may take the courses in whichever order best fits your schedule and current needs. However, students unfamiliar with tax concepts are advised to take Income Tax Planning prior to Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits and Estate Planning. The Financial Plan Development course should be taken after the first five courses, or concurrently with the fifth course.
Will there be homework?
The amount of homework varies by instructor and course. Typically students in the program are expected to spend at least 10 hours a week outside of class time on each required course.
The amount of homework varies by instructor and course. Typically students in the program are expected to spend at least 10 hours a week outside of class time on each required course.
Will it be a problem if I need to miss a class?
If you cannot make the live online classes, you have the option of listening to an archived recording of each class.
If you cannot make the live online classes, you have the option of listening to an archived recording of each class.
Do I need to purchase a textbook?
Each module uses a workbook as well as a textbook. The workbooks are included in the cost of tuition, but the textbooks must be purchased separately.
Each module uses a workbook as well as a textbook. The workbooks are included in the cost of tuition, but the textbooks must be purchased separately.
Textbooks are available for purchase at the Chicago Loop Campus Bookstore, (312) 362-8792, and online at www.depaul.edu/bookstore/. The bookstore arranges the books under the headings FPEC 100-200, online the books are found under the FPEC department. Textbooks are also available for purchase online at www.mbsdirect.net.
What are the educational requirements to obtain the CFP® Certification?
The CFP Board outlines 89 integrated financial planning topics that must be mastered through formal study in a CFP Board-Registered Educational Program. The length of the program must be equivalent to at least 18 semester credit hours. DePaul University's e-Financial Planning Certificate Program is approved and registered by the board.
The CFP Board outlines 89 integrated financial planning topics that must be mastered through formal study in a CFP Board-Registered Educational Program. The length of the program must be equivalent to at least 18 semester credit hours. DePaul University's e-Financial Planning Certificate Program is approved and registered by the board.
A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university is also a requirement for CFP® certification.
CFP Board outlines the educational requirements here.
Do you offer a follow-up review in preparation for the CFP® exam?
Currently, we do not offer a Comprehensive Review for the CFP® exam. However, there are a variety of review providers specifically for the CFP® examination.
Currently, we do not offer a Comprehensive Review for the CFP® exam. However, there are a variety of review providers specifically for the CFP® examination.
Will I automatically receive CFP® certification after completing the program?
The DePaul University Financial Planning Certificate only fulfills the education requirement of CFP Board.
The DePaul University Financial Planning Certificate only fulfills the education requirement of CFP Board.
In addition to the education requirement, to obtain CFP® certification, the CFP Board also stipulates that you must:
- Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- Pass the CFP® Certification Examination
- Meet the experience requirement of at least three full years of qualifying full-time work
- Pass CFP Board's Candidate Fitness Standards and Background Check.
- Pay certification fees
Questions regarding the exam, required experience or any other requirements should be directed to CFP Board at www.cfp.net.
Is there a minimum grade point average to take the CFP® Certification Exam?
No set grade is required at this time. The only requirement is that you pass each of our courses.
No set grade is required at this time. The only requirement is that you pass each of our courses.
What is the challenge process?
Certain degrees and professional credentials will automatically allow students to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination without having to verify the education requirement. However, CFP Board recently required that all challengers must complete a financial plan development course. The following degrees and credentials have been approved by CFP Board as meeting most of the educational requirements: CPA, ChFC, CLU, CFA, licensed attorney, Ph.D. in business or economics or Doctor of Business Administration. For details on the challenge process, please refer to CFP Board's Guide to CFP® certification. For a booklet, call CFP Board at 800.487.1497.
Certain degrees and professional credentials will automatically allow students to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination without having to verify the education requirement. However, CFP Board recently required that all challengers must complete a financial plan development course. The following degrees and credentials have been approved by CFP Board as meeting most of the educational requirements: CPA, ChFC, CLU, CFA, licensed attorney, Ph.D. in business or economics or Doctor of Business Administration. For details on the challenge process, please refer to CFP Board's Guide to CFP® certification. For a booklet, call CFP Board at 800.487.1497.
Why choose DePaul's eFinancial Planning certification program?
DePaul University Continuing and Professional Education has offered the Certificate Program in Financial Planning since 1999. Alumni of DePaul's program frequently exceed the national average pass rate on the CFP® certification exam. Our courses are taught by top-flight financial services professionals who will provide the latest information available on the topic areas.
DePaul University Continuing and Professional Education has offered the Certificate Program in Financial Planning since 1999. Alumni of DePaul's program frequently exceed the national average pass rate on the CFP® certification exam. Our courses are taught by top-flight financial services professionals who will provide the latest information available on the topic areas.
Does this program qualify for financial assistance through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)?
Yes. As a certified program under the ILLINOIS workNet initiative, this program has been approved for workforce training grants. Funding may be available for those receiving unemployment benefits. Please contact us for more information.
Yes. As a certified program under the ILLINOIS workNet initiative, this program has been approved for workforce training grants. Funding may be available for those receiving unemployment benefits. Please contact us for more information.
Registration
For online registration, go to the individual course page, and add the course section to your shopping cart.
You can also register by phone, fax or mail. To register by fax or mail, use this PDF registration form. (Adobe Acrobat required.)
Registration Options
To register, click on a listing in the box below:
Online Track (6 Courses Required)
Required Courses
Module 1: Fundamentals of Financial Planning and Insurance Planning - Online
Module 2: Investment Planning - Online
Module 3: Income Tax Planning - Online
Module 4: Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits - Online
Module 5: Estate Planning - Online
Module 6: Financial Plan Development - Online
Other Program Options
In-Class Track
Financial Planning Certificate Program Certification Maintenance
Advanced Topics in Financial Planning Exam Prep and Review Courses Calculator Training Workshop CFP® Certification Examination Review Information Sessions Financial Planning Certificate Program Information Session e-Financial Planning Certificate Program Virtual Information Session
Financial Planning Certificate Program Certification Maintenance
Advanced Topics in Financial Planning Exam Prep and Review Courses Calculator Training Workshop CFP® Certification Examination Review Information Sessions Financial Planning Certificate Program Information Session e-Financial Planning Certificate Program Virtual Information Session
For more information contact:
Dorothy Jagonase
- e-mail: djagonas@depaul.edu
- telephone: (312) 362-5321
- fax: (312) 362-8764