Program Cycle: Personal Financial Planning (Accelerated Online) Certificate
Program Cycle: Personal Financial Planning (Accelerated Online) Certificate
This rigorous online certificate program is designed for financial professionals with relevant work experience and credentials who are preparing for the CFP® Certification Examination. The 7-course curriculum is comprised of 5 core courses covering the major disciplines of financial planning plus the required Financial Plan Development Capstone and Ethics courses. This is a cohort-based program and enrollment is limited to those who have successfully completed their previous courses. The instructor-led online courses blend live, web-based sessions with online discussion boards, assignments, and testing. Students complete the curriculum within 9 months.
Program Schedule
Each course (except for the Capstone which meets asynchronously with 3 live sessions) is scheduled over a 4-week period and includes two 3-hour live sessions each week. The weekly live sessions are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-6pm PT and are also recorded for later viewing. Students are provided a 2-week window between courses to pre-study the materials for the next course.
Program Orientation/Info Session:
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (livestreamed 4:30-6:00pm PT)
Attend our program orientation to get an overview of what’s to be expected throughout the program, meet your instructors, and ask questions you may have.
To register for the program orientation, please visit the course page.
Core Courses:
| Course Title and Number | REG# | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Planning Process and Insurance MGMT X 430.511 | REG# 403249 | September 23-October 16, 2025 |
| Income Tax Planning MGMT X 430.513 | REG# 404021 | October 21-November 18, 2025 |
| Investment Planning MGMT X 430.512 | REG# 403257 | December 2-18, 2025 and January 6-8, 2026 |
| Retirement Planning MGMT X 430.514 | REG# 404022 | January 27-February 19, 2026 |
| Estate Planning MGMT X 430.515 | REG# 404023 | March 17-April 16, 2026 |
Required Capstone Course:
| Course Title and Number | REG# | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Plan Development and Presentation Course MGMT X 430.516 | REG# 404024 | April 27-May 31, 2026 |
The capstone course fully meets the CFP® Board’s educational standards requiring students to complete a financial plan development course. Completion of this course is also required for those who will be sitting for the CFP® Certification Examination under a “Challenge” status.
Required Ethics Course:
| Course Title and Number | REG# | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics in Personal Financial Planning MGMT X 440 | - | Offered quarterly. |
Please note: The dates for the Ethics course are offered throughout the program cycle.
CFP® Certification Examination:
Students completing this program cycle are eligible to sit for the July 2026 CFP® Certification Examination. Contact the CFP® Board at (800) 487-1497 or visit cfp.net for the exam dates and to register for the exam.
Program Orientation/Info Session:
Monday, April 20, 2026 (livestreamed 5:30-7:00pm PT)
Attend our program orientation to get an overview of what’s to be expected throughout the program, meet your instructors, and ask questions you may have.
To register for the program orientation, please visit the course page.
Core Courses:
| Course Title and Number | REG# | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Planning Process and Insurance MGMT X 430.511 | REG# 408035 | May 19-June 11, 2026 |
| Investment Planning MGMT X 430.512 | REG# 408036 | July 7-July 30, 2026 |
| Income Tax Planning MGMT X 430.513 | REG# 408065 | August 11-September 3, 2026 |
| Retirement Planning MGMT X 430.514 | REG# 408067 | September 22-October 15, 2026 |
| Estate Planning MGMT X 430.515 | REG# 408070 | November 3-December 3, 2026 |
Required Capstone Course:
| Course Title and Number | REG# | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Plan Development and Presentation Course MGMT X 430.516 | REG# 408066 | January 4-February 7, 2027 |
The capstone course fully meets the CFP® Board’s educational standards requiring students to complete a financial plan development course. Completion of this course is also required for those who will be sitting for the CFP® Certification Examination under a “Challenge” status.
Required Ethics Course:
| Course Title and Number | REG# | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics in Personal Financial Planning MGMT X 440 | - | Offered quarterly. |
Please note: The dates for the Ethics course are offered throughout the program cycle.
CFP® Certification Examination:
Students completing this program cycle are eligible to sit for the March 2027 CFP® Certification Examination. Contact the CFP® Board at (800) 487-1497 or visit cfp.net for the exam dates and to register for the exam.
How to Apply
Students must submit an Application for Candidacy with a nonrefundable application fee of $200 and enroll in the first course (Financial Planning Process and Insurance MGMT X 430.511) approximately 1 month prior to the program start date. This will allow ample time to order and pre-study the materials for the first class session. Students are then recommended to enroll in the subsequent courses 2 weeks prior to each course section.
Payment of the certificate candidacy fee is required in order to have your transcripts transferred to the CFP® Board for review, in order to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination.
About Our Instructors
This program is taught by highly qualified and motivated instructors who have their CFP® certification and extensive teaching experience.
Estimated Program Tuition: $6,700*
The estimated program tuition includes the registration fees for the 5 required core courses, the Financial Plan Development Capstone course, and the Ethics course. (*Please note: This figure does not include the cost for the certificate candidacy fee or the required textbooks/materials, which students must purchase separately.)
For more details on the program and to enroll, please visit the Personal Financial Planning: Accelerated Online Certificate page.
Scholarships
The Jeff DeLarme Personal Financial Planning Scholarship Fund was established in 2024 in partnership with our instructor, Jeff DeLarme, to provide financial assistance and greater access to education for students entering the industry while pursuing their careers in personal financial planning.
The Jeff DeLarme Personal Financial Planning Scholarship provides funding for qualified UCLA Extension students who have a passion for continuing education and professional development and who are working toward completion of either one of the Personal Financial Planning Certificates. Beginning in 2025, UCLA Extension will award this scholarship annually to cover the cost of completing the next three courses of one of these programs.
Please note:
- Students must be currently enrolled in the Personal Financial Planning Certificate (CE0032) or the Personal Financial Planning: Accelerated Online Certificate (CE0384), and have paid the candidacy fee.
- Students must have completed at least 3 courses from their chosen PFP certificate program. Students who have already completed their first 2 courses and are currently enrolled in/taking their 3rd course may also apply.
The Joseph G. Devanney Scholarship Fund was established by the Devanney Estate to support students enrolling in the capstone course for the Personal Financial Planning Certificate or the Personal Financial Planning: Accelerated Online Certificate at UCLA Extension. Mr. Devanney was an instructor in the program for 20 years and is often thought of as the “grandfather” of the certificate.
Since Fall 2009, one Joseph G. Devanney Scholarship has been awarded each academic quarter to offset the course fee for either certificate’s capstone course: MGMT X 430.38 Personal Financial Planning Capstone (PFP) or MGMT X 430.516 Financial Plan Development and Presentation Course (PFP Accelerated).
Please note:
- Students must be currently enrolled in the Personal Financial Planning Certificate (CE0032) or the Personal Financial Planning: Accelerated Online Certificate (CE0384), and have paid the candidacy fee.
- Students must have completed all other courses of the Personal Financial Planning Certificate or the Personal Financial Planning: Accelerated Online Certificate (aside from the capstone course).
Students may only apply for this scholarship the quarter immediately prior to taking the capstone course.