GUIDE to CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS ® ▪ FPSC Level 1 Examination in Financial Planning ® ▪ CFP Examination
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GUIDE TO CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS ® ▪ FPSC Level 1 Examination in Financial Planning ® ▪ CFP Examination Effective July, 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .................................................................................................................................................2 Important Dates ............................................................................................................................................................ 3 Path to Certification ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Do You Qualify for Any Exemptions? .......................................................................................................................... 5 Understanding the Exam Content & Structure ...........................................................................................6 Exam Registration ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Registering for the Exam .............................................................................................................................................. 7 Submitting Educational Transcripts ............................................................................................................................ 7 Selecting Language Preference ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Changing Contact Information ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Selecting Exam Location ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Requesting a Testing Accommodation......................................................................................................................... 9 Registering as an International Candidate ................................................................................................................ 10 Fees ......................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Requesting to Withdraw or Postpone ......................................................................................................................... 11 Policy Exception Requests ........................................................................................................................................... 11 Preparing for the Exam .............................................................................................................................. 12 Preparing for the FPSC Level 1 Examination ............................................................................................................ 12 Preparing for the CFP Examination ........................................................................................................................... 14 Exam Day ................................................................................................................................................... 16 Timing ......................................................................................................................................................................... 16 What to Bring .............................................................................................................................................................. 17 What Not to Bring .......................................................................................................................................................20 Items Provided by the Testing Facility .......................................................................................................................20 How to Complete the Examination on the Exam Software ......................................................................................20 Other Information about Testing Facilities ............................................................................................................... 22 Failure to Appear ......................................................................................................................................................... 22 After the Exam ...........................................................................................................................................23 Feedback about the Exam ........................................................................................................................................... 23 Exam Scoring ............................................................................................................................................................... 23 Exam Results ............................................................................................................................................................... 24 Reattempting the Exam .............................................................................................................................................. 25 Appeals Process ........................................................................................................................................................... 26 Ethics and Conduct .................................................................................................................................... 27 On Exam Day ............................................................................................................................................................... 27 After the Exam ............................................................................................................................................................. 27 Other Misconduct ........................................................................................................................................................ 27 Investigation & Enforcement ...................................................................................................................................... 28 Appendix A: Candidate Statement of Understanding .............................................................................. 29 Appendix B: Equations for Rate of Return and Time Value of Money Calculations ................................ 30 Appendix C: Abbreviations or Acronyms .................................................................................................. 31 Page | 1 INTRODUCTION Dear Candidate, Congratulations on your progress along the path to CFP certification. As a candidate for the FPSC Level 1 Examination in Financial Planning or the CFP examination, you’re taking your career to the next level as you pursue excellence as a financial planning professional. We’ve designed this FP Canada Guide to Certification Examinations to serve as a reference as you prepare to write your upcoming exam. It’s required reading, containing everything you need to know before, during and after the exam, including policies that have been developed to provide fair and consistent treatment of all candidates. Policies & Procedures The policies and procedures listed herein apply to the FPSC Level 1 examination taking place on November 28, 2019 and the CFP examination taking place on November 29, 2019. FP Canada reserves the right to amend the policies outlined in this guide at any time. Please check the FP Canada website for any addenda to this guide. By writing the FPSC Level 1 examination or the CFP examination, you will be deemed to have accepted these policies and procedures. Please note that effective January 1, 2020, new examination requirements for both QAFP certification and CFP® certification will be implemented. Learn more about the new paths to certification and new education requirements. We’re Here to Help If you have any questions about the FPSC Level 1 examination or the CFP examination, or your responsibilities or rights as a candidate, please contact FP Canada Stakeholder Support at [email protected], 416.593.8587 or 1.800.305.9886. We're here from Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. We wish you success in your upcoming examination and as you continue the path to certification. Sincerely, FP Canada Page | 2 Important Dates FPSC Level 1 Examination Exam Date: November 28, 2019 CFP Examination Exam Date: November 29, 2019 Date Event September 18 Exam Preparation Webinars October 1 Early bird registration closes October 1 Last day to request an alternate exam location or testing accommodation October 29 Exam registration closes October 29 Last day to request a refund, postponement or change exam location November 6 Last day to provide educational transcripts November 28 FPSC Level 1 examination takes place at locations across Canada November 29 CFP examination takes place at locations across Canada December 13 Last day to notify FP Canada of any change of address prior to release of exam results January 15, Results released for the FPSC Level 1 examination 2020 To be Results released for the CFP examination determined Page | 3 Current Path to Certification The requirements on the path to certification ensure that all individuals who are certified by FP Canada possess the necessary requirements in