Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve gathered answers to the most common questions we hear from prospective students about the Extended Learning Certificate Program. Browse through the FAQs to see if we’ve already answered what’s on your mind.
Course Format & Delivery
Do I have to travel to campus to attend class?
No. We do not require students to travel to campus to participate in course activities or exams. All courses in the Extended Learning Certificate program are taught 100% online.
Do I have to attend lectures at a certain time during the week?
No. Our courses are asynchronous, and we do not require students to login at a certain time on a certain day to participate in lectures or course activities. Course content is released on a weekly schedule and you have a full week to complete all assignments for that particular unit. You have weekly deadlines, but how you allocate your time during the week to listen to the pre-recorded lectures and complete the assignments is up to you.
How quickly can I complete a course?
Our courses are set up on a semester schedule, which means they have definitive start and end dates each semester. Students can typically work ahead in most courses, but we try to keep everyone at the same pace. Summer courses are 10-weeks long; Spring and Fall courses are 15-weeks long.
Can I complete this program in one semester?
No. We do not teach every class each semester. Our program is instructor led, not self-paced.
How many courses should I take at one time?
This entirely depends on your work/life balance and how much time you have in your schedule. Most students in our Extended Learning Program are working professionals and they typically stick with one or two courses at a time. Courses in our Extended Learning Program are comparable in time and effort to a 3-credit hour upper-level undergraduate course.
The chart below lists how much time you can expect to spend working on course content in a fall or spring semester, which is 15-weeks long.
| Course | Spring, Fall (15-weeks) |
|---|---|
| FPCC 435 Financial Planning Fundamentals | 4 hours per week |
| FPCC 436 Insurance & Risk Management | 4-5 hours per week |
| FPCC 437 Tax Planning for Professionals | 5-6 hours per week |
| FPCC 438 Investment and Portfolio Management | 4 hours per week |
| FPCC 439 Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits | 5-6 hours per week |
| FPCC 440 Estate Planning | 4-5 hours per week |
| FPCC 441 Financial Plan Development & Capstone | 8-10 hours per week |
Can I jump in wherever I want with the courses?
We recommend starting with FPCC 435 Financial Planning Fundamentals. FPCC 441 Financial Plan Development (Capstone) should be the last course taken since it combines topics from all courses and incorporates it into a written financial plan. The remaining courses can be taken in any order.
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Course Planning & Pacing
Do I have to take all seven courses?
If you would like to qualify for the CFP® Exam, then yes, you will need to complete all seven courses and earn a ‘C’ or better in each course. If you only want to take certain courses for personal knowledge, with no intention of sitting for the CFP® Exam, then no, you do not have to take all seven courses.
Can I transfer coursework from another institution?
We accept up to two courses from another CFP Board Registered Program, as long as they were completed within the last 5 years and a grade of ‘C’ or better was earned. A transcript or letter of verification is required. Every program structures their courses differently. Coursework from other institutions may not line up perfectly with our courses.
If you took more than two courses from another institution, or the coursework was completed from an institution that is not a CFP Board Registered Program, then you will need to initiate a Transcript Review with the CFP Board. After that, you can complete the remaining coursework with us and then self-report your eligibility to the CFP Board upon completion of the Capstone course.
Do I need to be continuously enrolled?
No, we do not require students to be continuously enrolled. If you need to take a semester or two off, just let us know and we will work with you to re-enroll when you are ready to jump back in.
Do I have to finish the entire program within a certain time frame?
Your pace through the program is entirely up to you and what works best with your work-life balance. We do not require you to take a certain number of courses each semester. Students intending to sit for the CFP® Exam should complete the required coursework within five years of their start date.
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Tuition & Payment
How much does it cost?
Tuition for each course in the Extended Learning Certificate Program is $575. There are seven courses in the program, so if you take all seven courses, tuition is $4,025. Books are additional and those average about $150 per course. A financial calculator is also required; approximate cost is $40.
When is payment due?
Payment is due at the time of course registration. We are a pay-as-you-go program and only require payment for the course(s) in which you intend to enroll in the upcoming semester. Payment for the entire program up front is not required.
How do I withdraw from a course?
Requests for withdrawal are only accepted via email. Just send us an email stating that you wish to withdraw (be sure to include the course name), and we will help you with the process.
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Program Completion & Next Steps
Will I receive a Certificate of Completion?
For students who successfully complete all seven courses with our program, we will issue an official Certificate of Completion. Grade audits are performed at the conclusion of 441 Financial Plan Development (Capstone). Students must earn a ‘C’ or better in all seven courses to receive an official Certificate of Completion from Texas A&M University. The certificate of completion is only for the financial planning coursework completed through our program. We do not award the CFP® marks.
Does your program verify my eligibility for the CFP® Exam with the CFP Board?
For students who successfully complete all seven courses with our program, we will report your eligibility directly to the CFP Board.
We accept up to two courses completed through another CFP Board Registered Program, provided that the course was completed within the last 5 years and a grade of ‘C’ or better was earned. A transcript or letter of verification is required.
Courses from a non-CFP Board Registered Program
For students who took financial planning courses from an institution that is not a CFP Board Registered Program, you will need to initiate a Transcript Review with the CFP Board. After you receive a response from the CFP Board, then you can complete the remaining coursework with our program. Students who go through the Transcript Review process will self-report their eligibility to the CFP Board after completion of the Capstone course. We provide grade reports at the conclusion of each semester.
Courses from a CFP Board Registered Program
For students who have taken more than two courses from a different CFP Board Registered Program and wish to complete the remaining coursework with us, you will self-report your coursework completion through the CFP Board’s Combo Status/Multiple Registered Program option.
Will these courses appear on an official Texas A&M transcript from the Registrar’s office?
No. Courses taken for Extended Learning Credit are classified as continuing education. The Registrar only issues official transcripts for credit-bearing coursework. If you need a transcript for the Extended Learning courses, please send us a request by email and we will be happy to help you.
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Choosing the Right Pathway
Does this program meet the education requirement for the CFP® Exam?
Yes. The Extended Learning Certificate Program is a registered program with the CFP Board of Standards.
Students who complete all seven courses with a ‘C’ or better in each course will fulfill one part of the coursework requirement for the CFP® certification process. Visit the CFP Board’s website to learn more about the Education requirement.
Is this an CFP® Exam Prep program?
No. We are not an exclusively CFP® Exam Prep program. While we cover all topics required by the CFP Board, we do not teach specifically to the exam. We take a holistic approach and focus more on helping students develop skills and knowledge that will benefit them as a well-rounded industry professional.
We recommend that all students take a CFP® Exam Prep Course before sitting for the exam. Exam prep courses are specifically designed around the CFP® Exam and will give you a better frame of reference for what to expect on exam day.
Is this a master’s degree program?
No. We do not offer a master’s degree or master’s level certificate in financial planning. The Extended Learning Certificate Program is classified as continuing education.
What pathways do you offer?
We currently have three pathways at Texas A&M University in College Station for students to meet the educational requirements for the CFP® Exam:
- Bachelor of Science in Financial Planning for students currently enrolled at Texas A&M.
- Wealth Management track for students admitted into and currently enrolled in the Professional Program in Accounting at Mays Business School.
- Continuing education credit through our Extended Learning Certificate Program.
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Disclaimers
Courses taken for Extended Learning Credit do not count towards a degree at Texas A&M University and are not transferrable to an academic program. These courses are considered continuing education and fulfill the CFP Board’s financial planning education verification requirement to qualify for the CFP® exam. Texas A&M does not award the CFP® marks.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
