Required Courses
Courses should be taken in numerical order by course number.
UCLA Extension winter holiday closure: December 21 through January 1. Learn More
certificate
Personal Financial Planning: Accelerated Online
This cohort-based, 100% remote program is designed to prepare experienced financial professionals for CFP® certification.
This program is perfect for...
- Finance professionals with relevant work experience in investments, banking, insurance or financial planning
- Those seeking to prepare for the CFP exam at an accelerated pace
- Financial services firms with a need to prepare cohorts of advisors for CFP certification
- CPA professionals or attorneys at law
What you can learn.
- Develop and present comprehensive financial plans
- Get hands-on experience with investment and retirement planning
- Identify the role of insurance in the financial planning process
- Learn income tax and estate planning
Expedite your Certified Financial Planner exam prep.
The Personal Financial Planning: Accelerated Online Certificate is a rigorous, fully live online program from UCLA Extension. It was designed for finance professionals who have at least 2-3 years of work experience in investment banking, insurance or financial planning, or three years of experience as a CPA, attorney, CFA, CLU or ChFC. A Series 7 license is also highly recommended.
The 7-course curriculum can be completed within nine months and comprises instructor-led courses blending live, web-based sessions with online discussion boards, assignments and testing. Each course is scheduled over a 4-week period and includes two 3-hour live sessions each week. Students are provided a 2-week window between enrollments to pre-study materials for the next course.
Show More
Courses
Click below to view the required and elective courses, if applicable, for this program.
Ethics Requirement
May be taken at any time during the program.
Optional Internship Course
Program Schedule
The Accelerated Online Certificate program is offered three times per year in conjunction with the March, July, and November CFP® Examination dates. Each program cycle is scheduled to end approximately 8-10 weeks prior to the exam, providing students ample time to prepare and study for the exam, and to also enroll in the CFP® Review course.
- November 2024 CFP® Exam: Program Cycle - Feb. to Sept. 2024
- July 2025 CFP® Exam: Program Cycle - Sept. 2024 to May 2025
Students must submit an Application for Candidacy with a nonrefundable application fee of $200 and enroll in the first course (MGMT X 430.511 Financial Planning Process and Insurance) approximately 1 month prior to the program start date. This will allow ample time to order and pre-study course materials for the first class session. Students are then recommended to enroll in the subsequent courses two weeks prior to each course section.
Payment of the certificate application 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 exam.
Attend this free 1.5-hour live webinar to learn more about how UCLA Extension's CFP Board-approved Personal Financial Planning programs fit your needs and can help you reach your career goals.
Next date: January 16, 2025
Estimated Cost Breakdown
All courses in this program are paid for individually, unless otherwise noted. An application form is required to establish candidacy in this program. From the 'Apply Now' button, complete the online application and pay the application fee if applicable.
**Federal Financial Aid Gainful Employment Disclosures
The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges and universities to disclose certain information for any financial aid eligible program that, “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation”. This information includes program costs; occupations that the program prepares students to enter; occupational profiles; on time completion rate; and for the most recent award year: the number of students who have completed the program, the number of students who complete the program within the estimated duration, the job placement rate, and the median Title IV and private loan debt incurred by those who complete the program. For gainful employment information for this program, visit our Financial Aid page.
An internship in personal financial planning can provide you with practical experience in a variety of job functions. Certificate students must complete a minimum of 20 units of program curriculum (5 courses) before enrolling in the internship.
Courses in this program have been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit by the State Bar of California and may also be applied toward the State of California‘s continuing professional education (CPE) requirement for the licensure of Certified Public Accountants.
The Joseph G. Devanney Scholarship Fund was established by the Devanney Estate to support students enrolling in the capstone course in the Personal Financial Planning Certificate at UCLA Extension and is offered quarterly.
Mr. Devanney was an instructor in the Personal Financial Planning Certificate program for 20 years and is thought of by many as the “grandfather” of the certificate.
Did you know?
Discount for FPALA & CalCPA Members
FPALA and CalCPA members can receive 15% off eligible courses.
Contact us for more information.
Transfer Credits to an Advanced Degree
Graduates of the UCLA Extension Personal Financial Planning (PFP) Certificate program are eligible to transfer up to five courses* toward the online Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Financial Planning at California Lutheran University (CLU).
Contact Us
Speak to a program representative. Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm.
Programs you may also like...
Corporate Education
Learn how we can help your organization meet its professional development goals and corporate training needs.
Donate to UCLA Extension
Support our many efforts to reach communities in need.