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With a Professional Financial Planning Certificate from the University of Utah you will fulfill the educational requirements to sit for the CFP Certification Examination. The CFP® Certification is one of the most recognized designations in the financial advising industry. Completing the education requirement is an important step toward the CFP® certification.
In this 18-credit program, you will learn a broad range of personal financial planning concepts in the areas of insurance and income tax planning, retirement and estate planning, and investment strategies. The curriculum is designed to prepare you for career success and follow guidelines established by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. This is a six-course, online program.
This certificate is offered in collaboration with the Department of Family and Consumer Studies with the College of Social and Behavioral Science. These collaborative noncredit certificates utilize existing for-credit classes and as such, have unique application requirements which are described in the information below.
Class Title | Next Start Date |
---|---|
Financial Skills For Life | 05/17/2021 |
Family Financial Planning Capstone | Online, Starting: 05/17/2021 |
This program prepares individuals for careers in the financial planning field. It is designed for:
Upon successful completion of this certificate program, students should be able to:
This noncredit Financial Planning Certificate Program is a registered program with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. The program meets specific criteria set forward by the CFP® Board for educating individuals who wish to fulfill the Education component for obtaining CFP® certification. Individuals who meet the CFP® Board's education requirement are eligible to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination. Successful completion of the Education and Examination components completes two of the four core prerequisites to obtain CFP® certification. The other two components are Experience and Ethics. The for-credit certificate is currently registered and approved.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements. The University of Utah does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and certification marks. CFP® certification is granted only by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met its ethics, experience, and examination requirements.
For more information regarding the CFP® certification process, please visit www.cfp.net
Courses – 6 noncredit courses are required.
Format – online and on-campus. six courses are online. The program is designed for working professionals in a primarily online format, allowing students to study when and where they want. Each course is held over one semester.
Program Start Options – fall, spring or summer semesters. Course availability varies each semester. Please check with the program advisor to explore your individual program of study options.
Class Schedule – online courses are conveniently available to students at any time. Students must have completed all other courses to take the Capstone Class. Students are encouraged to complete the courses in sequential order as material builds on prior class information.
Average Time to Complete – for students taking 6 credits a semester, the program will take 16 months to complete on average. Some students may be able to complete the program in as little as 12 months. Students must complete the program within four years. There is no minimum or maximum number of credits a student must or can take per semester.
Accelerated Program Format – There is a 12 month accelerated program option available for students starting in the fall. Students take 9 credits during the fall semester, 6 credits in the spring, and 3 credits in the summer.
Prerequisites – There are no course prerequisites to begin the certificate program, however students are encouraged to have some background in math, finance or statistics to maximum learning opportunities.
Qualified certificate students will have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
This noncredit certificate program is not open to University of Utah matriculated (degree-seeking) students. Degree-seeking students wishing to complete the CFP education requirements should consult with the Financial Planning Program director or advisor through the following link: fcs.utah.edu/undergraduate/financial-planning
How can I achieve the CFP® Certification and become a CFP® professional?
This noncredit program meets specific criteria set forward by the CFP® Board to fulfill the education requirement to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination. Earning the CFP® certification demonstrates a standard of excellence for competent and ethical personal financial planning. Successful completion of the Education component completes one of the four core prerequisites to obtain the CFP® certification. The other three components are passing the CFP® Certification Examination, fulfilling the experience requirement, and adhering to the high standards of ethics.
Can I transfer in courses from other programs or universities?
For students who have completed CFP certificate classes previously in a for-credit format at the University of Utah, within the last five years, but who are not currently admitted, up to five 3 credit classes may be used towards the noncredit certificate. This does not apply to the capstone class, PEPEC 550, which must be completed at the end of the noncredit certificate. Satisfactory grade requirements must be met.
For students who have completed a certificate class at another CFP Board approved program, up to one 3 credit class may be transferred into the noncredit certificate. This does not apply to the capstone class, FCS PEPEC, which must be completed at the end of the University of Utah noncredit certificate. Minimum grade requirements must be met.
What can I expect from the Financial Planning Capstone Course?
The capstone course is a unique experience that will integrate knowledge gained in previous courses to evaluate case studies and complete projects both individually and in teams. Guest speakers and interaction with current CFP professionals bring real-world situations and experiences to this valuable course.
Students, who are not well versed with financial planning technology, are strongly encouraged to take the one-credit FCS 596 Technology for Financial Planning (Su) before taking the Capstone course.
What are career opportunities for CFP professionals?
There are numerous career opportunities and resources available for CFP professionals. For more information about how to pursue a career in financial planning, please visit the CFP Board career development website at www.cfp.net/career-center/resources-for-job-seekers.
Are there any special technical or computer requirements for any of the courses?
A financial calculator, such as an HP 12C, is required for PEPEC 350 and recommended for other FCS courses.
The online Professional Certificate in Financial Planning requires six noncredit courses. Courses are offered in a time frame comparable to a traditional semester schedule, with fixed start and end dates. Courses meet with for-credit sections.
This course will introduce students to the theory and practice of financial planning. Students will receive an overview of specific areas of financial planning such as income tax planning, investment planning, retirement planning and estate planning. In addition, the course will present topics on the concepts of time value of money, insurance planning, and the practice of personal financial planning by professional planners. Students may take the online or on-campus section of this course to complete the certificate.
This course introduces risk-return concepts, debt and equity securities, and options and futures contracts. The course uses a Portfolio Project to evaluate the array of financial instrument investment alternatives and their risk profile. Participants analyze expected return characteristics, individually and in combination within a portfolio. Different investment strategies and valuation models are used to understand basic investment principles and practices.
This course includes the comprehensive study of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, other tax-advantaged plans, and employee benefits. In addition, this course will present an overview of the Social Security, disability and health care programs.
The application of income tax laws to the transactions of individuals and businesses is important in planning for the avoidance, minimization, and deferral of taxation. This course examines the federal income tax system with particular reference to the income taxation of individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations (including S corporations).
This course will provide students with an introduction to estate planning and the taxation of estates for the purposes of financial planning. Topics covered by this course include the tax implications of gifts and bequests, federal estate tax, revocable and irrevocable trusts, including bypass and marital deduction trusts.
This course will cover and review in depth some of the different areas of financial planning necessary to complete a comprehensive financial plan for a client. During this course students will work individually and in groups to bring knowledge together from each of the relevant pre-requisite courses to evaluate case study situations representing samples of what may be encountered in the work place as a CFP Professional. Prerequisites: FCS 350, 551, 552, 553, 554 or instructor approval.
Program Cost – Noncredit tuition for each course is $700 / Full certificate cost is $4200
Tuition is due at the beginning of each course offering a convenient pay-as-you-go option. Textbooks are additional costs. Tuition listed subject to change without advance notice.
Why choose the University of Utah?
We understand that you have a choice when it comes to taking professional development courses and we work hard to earn your trust with each and every class!
By selecting the University of Utah, you’ll enjoy the following benefits whether you’re coming to us as someone new to the job market, a career changer, a seasoned professional or a lifelong learner.
Resume Power - benefit from the University of Utah reputation for credibility and quality. Choosing the University of Utah for your certificate program makes a clear statement about your commitment to excellence.
Instructor Excellence - learn from the same high-quality faculty that teach in our degree programs.
The Power of the U Network – students have access to a valuable University of Utah peer and faculty network.
Programs that Fit Your Schedule – most of our certificates offer convenient online or evening classes that offer a schedule that works around you. Go to class whenever and wherever you want.
How to register for an Academic Noncredit Certificate
The following information is required on the supplementary registration information form:
Please have all information available when you are ready to start the application. Once the application is started, there is no option to save and return. Uploading of documents for short-answer response is not available. Please be prepared to enter directly or paste from another document.
Once it’s verified that you meet all certificate requirements, you will be sent a new student information packet and instructions on how to register for your courses.
Deadlines and other important application information
Certificate Completion Requirements
How is my accomplishment recognized?
For students earning an “S-Satisfactory" grade, the completed certificate will appear on University of Utah official transcripts.
Students will also be awarded a University of Utah digital credential (badge) that can be shared on social media sites and used with other professional resources. Digital badges are embedded with metadata that validate the skills demonstrated and other requirements for earning the badge.Digital Credentials / Badges
Follow the link on the badge to the left to find out what metadata is behind the Yoga Teacher Training Certificate or Caring for the Aging Population Micro-certificate badge. This is an example of the type of information you’ll find behind all our academic noncredit certificates.
Find out more about Digital Badges at the University of Utah »
Are there exams? Am I graded?
Certificate classes are graded with a "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" option. For successful certificate completion, students must achieve a "satisfactory" grade in all classes.
Can I apply these classes to a degree at the University of Utah?
This certificate is noncredit and cannot be applied to any for-credit degree.
Is there a minimum or maximum number of credits a student may take in a semester?
There are no minimums or maximum number of credits restrictions for students. The certificate must be completed within two years.
Will I have flexibility in what classes I take and when?
Once admitted, students are responsible for enrolling in individual classes on their own through Continuing Education Academic Noncredit. Students may consult with the certificate program manager if they have questions about specific courses. (See contact us section)
Are these classes eligible for federal financial aid?
Students pursuing a certificate are considered "non-degree seeking," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid loan programs.
Is there a minimum or maximum number of credits a student may take in a semester?
There are no minimums or maximum number of credits restrictions for students. Students skipping one or more semesters are encouraged to communicate with their program advisor regarding completion plans.
What is the average weekly time commitment for each of the classes?
This noncredit class is "yoked" or partnered with a for-credit section. The for-credit section is three credits. For a typical three credit hour class, each student is expect to spend approximately six hours per week outside the classroom.
What are the online courses like?
The online courses in this certificate are flexible in that you don't have to attend online classes at a specific time. Our students use a combination of self-study and peer-to-peer interaction over an online learning network to facilitate instruction. You'll complete weekly assignments, readings, discussions, and occasional group work, as well as exams and other activities designed to enhance learning outcomes, all at times that are most convenient to you.
Using chat, video conferencing, phone calls, email, social media, bulletin boards, and more, you'll stay connected with fellow students and faculty, building personal networks along the way.
Your courses are developed by faculty and instructional designers who understand the specific needs of learners in an online environment. Special consideration is given to advance planning and setting expectations in the online classroom, so each curriculum is outlined in a syllabus distributed at the start of the course. This document provides an overview of the course assignments, grading strategy, student and faculty expectations, and course materials, as well as an understanding of the course goals and learning outcomes.
Does it matter which course I take first or in what order I take the classes?
It might matter. See the individual program details for your specific certificate.
You have a variety of resources available to help you navigate your way through your experience at the U. Below we've listed the contacts that you will likely interact with the most.
Jenny Stout
Academic Advisor
801-581-6521
jenny.stout@utah.edu
Zhou Yu
Associate Professor, Family and consumer Studies/Director, Financial Planning Emphasis
801-585-0437
zhou.yu@utah.edu
Contact Professional Education for questions about certificate requirements, completion process or overall certificate experience.
Professional education
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