CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
Last updated · Confirm dates, fees and eligibility on the official website before you apply.
Personal financial planning across investments, insurance, tax and retirement. Note that giving investment advice for a fee in India additionally requires SEBI Registered Investment Advisor registration, which has its own qualification and net-worth criteria.
- Duration
- 0.5–2 years
- Entry after
- Class 12and 1 other route
- Indicative fee
- ₹60,000 – ₹200,000total, varies by institution
- Entrance exam
- None
- Study mode
- OnCampus
- Licence
- SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration is separately required to give investment advice for a fee
Course overview
Personal financial planning across investments, insurance, tax and retirement. Note that giving investment advice for a fee in India additionally requires SEBI Registered Investment Advisor registration, which has its own qualification and net-worth criteria.
Eligibility and admission
Who can apply. 12th pass for the regular pathway; graduates may use the challenge pathway.
How you get in. FPSB India registration and examination series.
How it is studied. Self-study with optional coaching, combined with the institute's mandatory practical training or experience requirement.
Licence to practise. SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration is separately required to give investment advice for a fee.
Admission rules change every year. Confirm eligibility, the entrance test and the calendar against the current official notification.
Where this can lead
Where people work.
- Wealth management firms
- Private banks
- Mutual fund distributors
- Insurance companies
- Independent advisory practices
- Fintech advisory platforms
What you can study next.
- SEBI Registered Investment Advisor registration
- NISM certifications
- CFA
- MBA Finance
Cost, duration and indicative earnings
Indicative total course fee. About 60,000 - 2,00,000 total including registration and examination fees.
Indicative starting salary. 25,000 - 80,000 per month.
Typical duration. 6 months - 2 years.
Fees and salaries here are indicative ranges, not quotes. Confirm the current fee with the institution and treat the salary as a starting range that varies by employer and location.
What you learn
You study personal financial planning across investments, insurance, tax and retirement through the FPSB India registration and examination series.
| Stage | Core content | Alongside it |
|---|---|---|
| Throughout | Financial planning for investment, insurance, tax and retirement needs. | Self-study or optional coaching, plus the institute’s mandatory practical training or experience requirement. |
Ask before you enrol. How many hours of practical training or supervised financial planning experience will I complete, and how is it assessed?
Who it suits
CFP suits you if you want to work in personal financial planning, covering investments, insurance, tax and retirement.
- You have passed Class 12 and are ready for the regular pathway, or you are a graduate considering the challenge pathway.
- You are comfortable studying for an FPSB India registration and examination series over 6 months to 2 years.
- You want work linked to wealth management, relationship management, insurance advice or financial planning.
- You can plan for total registration and examination costs of about ₹60,000 to ₹2,00,000.
- You understand that paid investment advice needs separate SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration, with its own qualification and net-worth criteria.
- This course does not suit you if you want to charge clients for investment advice immediately without meeting the separate SEBI registration requirements.
What it will actually cost you
Budget about Rs 60,000 - 2,00,000 in total for the CFP pathway, including registration and examination fees.
| Line item | Typical | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| CFP programme, registration and examinations | Rs 60,000 - 2,00,000 total | This is the recorded total fee band for the pathway. It includes registration and examination fees, while study support varies by the route you choose. |
Indicative ranges, not quotations. Confirm the current fee with the institution before you pay anything.
Certifications that change what you earn
For paid investment advice in India, CFP alone is not enough. You need separate SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration.
| Certification | What it proves | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration | You meet SEBI’s separate qualification and net-worth criteria for paid investment advice. | lets you give investment advice for a fee, subject to SEBI registration requirements |
| NISM certifications | You have passed a recognised NISM assessment in a finance or advisory area. | adds a recognised industry credential for advisory-related roles |
What it pays, and what changes it
In India, CFP-linked roles often start at ₹25,000 to ₹80,000 a month. Pay depends heavily on the employer, city, client-facing work and your ability to build trust with clients.
India
Paid investment advice requires separate SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration.
| Stage | Monthly | What it depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level financial planning or relationship role | ₹25,000–₹80,000 | Starting in wealth management, private banking, mutual fund distribution, insurance or a fintech advisory platform. |
Indicative bands for 2026, not measured salary data. What people actually earn varies by employer, state and sector.
The honest part
CFP study costs about ₹60,000 to ₹2,00,000 once registration and examination fees are included. You also need to complete mandatory practical training or experience requirements. The work is not only about choosing investments. It involves insurance, tax and retirement planning, and clients expect clear answers about their money. A CFP qualification alone does not let you charge a fee for investment advice. That needs separate SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration, with its own qualification and net-worth criteria.
The course fits you if personal finance holds your attention across several areas, rather than only stock markets. It links to roles such as wealth manager, relationship manager and insurance advisor in private banks, wealth firms, mutual fund distributors and fintech advisory platforms. Starting pay is recorded at roughly ₹25,000 to ₹80,000 a month, depending on the role and employer.
People who do well usually learn to explain a financial plan in plain language. They keep up with tax, insurance and investment details, while listening carefully to a client’s goals and limits. They also build relevant practical experience instead of treating the examination series as the whole route. Graduates using the challenge pathway still need that work-ready understanding.
Who can apply
2 routes into this course.
| Qualification | Stream | Minimum | Subjects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 12 | Any | — | |
| Graduation | Any | — |
Percentages are indicative. Individual universities set their own cut-offs, and reserved-category relaxations differ by state and institution.
Careers this course leads to
2 routes mapped from this qualification.
A course supports eligibility and preparation. It never guarantees a particular job.
Before and after this course
What you can study next
Common questions
Who can apply for CFP (Certified Financial Planner)?
12th pass for the regular pathway; graduates may use the challenge pathway. Admission is through FPSB India registration and examination series.
How long does CFP (Certified Financial Planner) take?
6 months - 2 years. Self-study with optional coaching, combined with the institute's mandatory practical training or experience requirement.
What does CFP (Certified Financial Planner) cost?
About 60,000 - 2,00,000 total including registration and examination fees. These are indicative ranges, not quotes. Confirm the current fee with the institution.
What can I study after CFP (Certified Financial Planner)?
SEBI Registered Investment Advisor registration, NISM certifications, CFA, MBA Finance.
Does CFP (Certified Financial Planner) need a licence or registration to practise?
SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration is separately required to give investment advice for a fee.
Turn this into a decision you can defend
Compare the route, follow where it actually leads, and keep one alternative in view before you apply.