CFP Board Announces Updates to the Competency Standards
CFP® Board Updates
The CFP Board has finalized its updates to the Competency Standards — and while this may sound procedural, the implications for the profession are far-reaching. These changes reflect a fundamental evolution in how the CFP Board defines competence: moving from task-based checklists to judgment-based decision-making.
The updates were approved following an open public comment period in 2023 and are now being implemented in education programs and future Board policies.
What’s Changing — and Why It Matters
The updated Competency Standards reframe the core expectation of CFP® professionals from simply knowing what to do to demonstrating sound judgment in real-world contexts. Specifically, the standards:
This approach mirrors the way real planning happens: complex, nuanced, and client-specific.
Implications for Education and the Exam
Educators and education providers will need to integrate these standards into coursework by focusing more heavily on:
This also signals potential long-term shifts in how the CFP® exam is constructed — moving toward assessment models that test higher-order thinking.
For Practicing CFP® Professionals
Even for those long past the exam, this shift matters. It reinforces the idea that excellence in planning isn’t just technical — it’s relational, behavioral, and ethical. Planners must continue honing their ability to recognize ambiguity, evaluate tradeoffs, and guide clients with empathy and integrity.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t just an update to standards — it’s a reflection of how the profession is maturing. The CFP® mark now more fully represents not only what you know, but how wisely you apply it.
Sources
CFP Board. “CFP Board Announces Updates to the Competency Standards.” https://www.cfp.net/news/2026/01/cfp-board-announces-updates-to-the-competency-standards
