FAHUB
Here are the TOP designations I have found to be most beneficial for financial advisors. Please add your thoughts!
Note: FA HUB is providing this information as a public service. It is correct to the best of our knowledge, but we neither guarantee its accuracy nor endorse any credentials for which we are not responsible as a credentialing organization.
Source: http://fahub.net/index.php/the-top-designations/
CFP Board
3 years of Financial Service, Bachelors Degree
Complete educational program approved by CFP board CPA, ChFC®, CLU®, CFA, Ph.D. in business or economics, DBA, or JD
Mulitple Choice, 170, Testing Site (Prometric)
~1-2 years
$4,000-$7,000 USD
30 hours every two years
CFA Institute®
4 years of approved work experience or Bachelors Degree
Sequential Passing: Level I, Level II, and Level III
Level I: Multiple Choice, 240, Testing Center Level II: Multiple Choice, 120, Testing Center Level III: Essay + Multiple Choice, 360 minute, Testing Center
~4 years
$3500-$5000
N/A
The American College
3 years of full time, relevant work experience
9 College Level Courses (HS 300, HS 311, HS 321, HS 326, HS 328, HS 330, HS 333, HS 314, HS 319)
Multiple Choice, 50 Questions, Testing Center (9 exams taken sequentially at the end of each course)
~2-3 Years
$5,130
30 hours every two years
IMCA®
3 years of financial service work experience and pass background check
Pass pre-qualification exam and complete online or in-person executive education program with a top 20 business school,
Multiple Choice, 100 Questions, Testing Center
250 hours
$8,500
40 hours, including two ethics hours, required every two years.
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
2 years of public accounting with most states, Bachelors of Business Administration degree in Accounting or Finance
280 Multiple Choice + 28 Case Study Response + 3 Written, Testing Center
~2-3 Years
$3,000
120 hours every three years
Website:
CPA Website
IMCA®
5 years of financial service work experience, pass background check, bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or one of the following designations or licenses: CIMA®, CIMC®, CFA ®, CFP®, ChFC®, or CPA license
Complete pre-study program and week long in-class educational program
Multiple Choice, 125 Questions, Testing Center
~1-2 years
$6,725-$7,870
40 hours, including two ethics hours, required every two years.
The American College
3 years of full time, relevant work experience
8 College Level Courses (HS 311, HS 323, HS 324, HS 330, HS 331 + 3 Elective Courses)
Multiple Choice, 50 Questions, Testing Center (8 exams taken sequentially at the end of each course)
~2-3 years
$4,560
30 hours every two years
College for Financial Planning
None
8 Modules
Multiple Choice, ?, Testing Center
<1 Year
$1260-2060
16 hours every two years
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
2 years of public accounting with most states, Bachelors of Business Administration degree in Accounting or Finance
Minimum of 75 hours of personal financial planning education within the five-year period preceding the date of the PFS application
Examination Details:
Multiple Choice, 160+. Testing Center
~2 years
$1,000-$2500
60 hours (or its equivalent) of continuing professional education every three years
The American College
5 years of estate planning work experience, and either CPA, CFP, CTFA, JD, or CLU/ChFC
GS 815 + 1 Elective Course
<1 year
$3,300
30 hours every two year (15 hours in estate planning)
Website:
AEP Website
