The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards said Monday that the pass rate for the March 2024 CFP certification exam was 68%.
The exam, administered during a March 12-19 testing window to 3,683 candidates, broke last March's record of 3,527 exam-takers, according to the CFP Board. The pass rate in March 2023 was 65%.
Kevin Keller, CEO of the CFP Board, said the "unprecedented turnout" for the March exam "reflects the recognition of CFP certification as the standard for competent, ethical financial planning.
"As more Americans seek trusted and qualified advisors, the value of CFP certification becomes increasingly evident."
Based on the March exam results, the CFP Board said that it projects the total number of active CFP professionals will soon surpass 100,000 certificants in the United States, representing about one-third of retail financial advisors.
The March 2024 post-exam survey found that the top reason that exam-takers are pursuing CFP certification is to demonstrate expertise in their job (87%) and to distinguish themselves as a fiduciary (73%).
