How much does the CFP cost?
The CFP exam fee is $925 at the standard rate, $825 if you register early and $1,025 in the final week. Once you meet all requirements, CFP Board charges a $250 application fee and a $575 annual certification fee, prorated in the first year. The largest variable is your Registered Program coursework, whose price CFP Board does not publish.
Get notified when the CFP question bank launches →
How much does the CFP exam cost?
The CFP exam fee depends on when you register. For the October to November 2026 window, CFP Board set three registration periods:
- Early bird: $825, June 2 to Sept. 1, 2026
- Standard: $925, Sept. 2 to Oct. 6, 2026
- Late registration: $1,025, Oct. 6 to Oct. 13, 2026
Source: CFP Board — Upcoming Exam Dates & Registration Process. Checked 19 October 2026.
How much is the CFP exam if you register for 2027?
The general rule stays the same: the early bird price of $825 applies until six weeks before the registration deadline, and the late price of $1,025 applies in the final week. Registration for the March 16 to 23, 2027 window opens Oct. 21, 2026. CFP Board had not yet published the 2027 fee calendar on the page we checked, so confirm the CFP exam price when you register.
The exam fee covers one attempt. If you fail, you register and pay again for the retake, so the cheapest CFP test cost is passing the first time.
Source: CFP Board — Upcoming Exam Dates & Registration Process. Checked 19 October 2026.
Fees for changing or missing your exam
Plans change, and CFP Board charges for that. Rescheduling within the same window is free 61 days or more ahead, $35 at 31 to 60 days and $100 at 5 to 30 days. Postponing to a later administration costs $500 and is allowed once per registration. Withdrawing gets you a $200 refund. If you do not show up, you forfeit the whole exam fee unless CFP Board grants a waiver.
Source: CFP Board — CFP Exam Candidate Handbook, October 2026. Checked 19 October 2026.
CFP course cost and the cost of CFP program coursework
The CFP course cost depends on the Registered Program you choose, and CFP Board does not list program prices on the pages we checked. When you compare the cost of CFP course offers, look at what is included: the full coursework through the Capstone, whether it is a certificate-level program or part of a degree, and any materials.
Two published CFP Board fees can lower or change your CFP program cost. Transcript Review, for credit on topics you already covered elsewhere, costs $250 and is non-refundable. Holders of credentials such as CPA or CFA can use the Accelerated Path, which still requires the Capstone course; CFP Board does not state a fee for it on the page checked. Review courses are an optional extra.
Source: CFP Board — Transcript Review. Checked 19 October 2026.
Cost of CFP certification after the exam
The CFP certification cost does not stop at the exam. When you have met the education, exam, experience and ethics requirements, you pay a non-refundable $250 application fee and an initial certification fee that is a prorated part of the $575 annual fee, within six months.
After that, the cost of CFP certification is $575 every year. CFP Board set this fee from October 1, 2025, for renewals and new certificants. Continuing education is extra: CFP Board charges a $60 non-refundable reporting fee for each non-registered course you submit.
Source: CFP Board — New CFP Certification Fee, Effective October 1, 2025. Checked 19 October 2026.
Practice exams and study costs
CFP Board Practice Exam I is included with your exam registration. Practice Exam II, a second full-length 170-question exam, costs $225. CFP Board’s study strategy guide, study calendars and tax tables are published on cfp.net.
Certsqill’s CFP question bank adds expert-developed questions with an explanation for every answer option and a readiness score per domain. A 7-day money-back guarantee applies.
Source: CFP Board — CFP Practice Exam. Checked 19 October 2026.
How much does a CFP cost in total?
What many people call the CFP license cost is the cost of CFP certification from CFP Board. There is no single figure, because the coursework price varies by program. The fees CFP Board publishes are: $825 to $1,025 per exam attempt, a $250 application fee, and $575 a year for certification. Add your program’s tuition, any review course and any retakes.
Many candidates do not pay alone: CFP Board reported that just over two-thirds (68%) of March 2026 candidates had some financial support from their employer. CFP Board also lists scholarships among its candidate resources.
Source: CFP Board — Record-Breaking Number of Candidates Sit for the CFP Exam (April 2026). Checked 19 October 2026.
CFP cost: questions people ask
How much does the CFP exam cost?
$825 early bird, $925 standard or $1,025 late registration, per attempt. Source: CFP Board, checked 19 October 2026.
How much is CFP exam registration in the last week?
The late registration fee of $1,025 applies in the final week of registration. Source: CFP Board, checked 19 October 2026.
What is the CFP annual certification fee?
$575 a year, effective October 1, 2025, for renewals and new certificants. Source: CFP Board, checked 19 October 2026.
Is there an application fee for CFP certification?
Yes, a non-refundable $250 application fee, paid with the prorated initial certification fee. Source: CFP Board, checked 19 October 2026.
Can I get a refund if I withdraw from the CFP exam?
You receive a $200 refund if you withdraw by the deadline; postponing costs $500. Source: CFP Exam Candidate Handbook, October 2026, checked 19 October 2026.
How much does the CFP coursework cost?
It depends on the Registered Program. CFP Board does not publish program prices on the pages checked, 19 October 2026.
