Majority of first-time CFP, QAFP exam writers pass: FP Canada  

Enhancing skills, better serving clients cited as reasons for taking the exams

School exam student's taking educational admission test in class, thinking hard, writing answer in university classroom, education and world literacy day concept (School exam student's taking educational admission test in class, thinking hard, writing

The results are in for FP Canada’s May 2026 sitting of the certified financial planner (CFP) and qualified associate financial planner (QAFP) exams.

The CFP exam was written by a total of 653 candidates, and the pass rate for first-time writers was 77%, a release said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, 47 candidates wrote the QAFP exam, and 78% of first-time writers passed.

In a survey, 89% of CFP and QAFP certification candidates said they decided to pursue certification to enhance their skills and better serve clients, the release noted.

Title protection was another motivating factor. About 46% of CFP certification candidates and 56% of QAFP certification candidates reported pursuing certification to use the financial planner title under title protection legislation.

About 32% of CFP exam writers and 11% of QAFP exam writers in May said that certification was required by their employers, the FP Canada survey found.