Academic equivalency

You are eligible for Category Ia academic equivalency if you hold a graduate degree recognized by the Institute with a concentration in personal financial planning consisting of at least 45 hours in each of the seven areas of personal financial planning (legal matters, insurance and risk management, finance, taxation, investments, retirement, and estate planning).

Note that Université Laval’s MBA in financial planning does not meet these requirements unless you have taken additional courses (contact Université Laval for more information).

To become a financial planner, you must earn the financial planner diploma by completing the Institute's Professional Training Course and passing the Institute's exam.

You can then obtain a representative’s certificate from the Autorité des marchés financiers.

If you hold Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification from FP Canada, you may be eligible for Category Ib academic equivalency if you also hold any of the following:

• A bachelor’s degree or graduate diploma in administration, economics, law, actuarial science, or any other related field recognized by the Institute.

or

• At least three certificates in one or more of these fields, each comprising at least 450 university-level course hours obtained across at least 25 different courses.

To become a financial planner, you must earn the financial planner diploma by completing the Institute's Professional Training Course and passing the Institute's exam.

You can then obtain a representative’s certificate from the Autorité des marchés financiers.

You are eligible for Category II academic equivalency if you are a member in good standing of one of the following Quebec professional orders: the Quebec CPA Order, the Chambre des notaires du Québec, or the Barreau du Québec.

To become a financial planner, you must first either take the Institute's Equivalency Exam or enroll in the Executive Program to validate or complete your training in the seven fields of personal financial planning (legal matters, insurance and risk management, finance, taxation, investments, retirement, and estate planning).

Next, you will need to complete the Institute's Professional Training Course and pass the Institute's exam to obtain your diploma in financial planning.

Lastly, to obtain your financial planner designation, you must apply for a representative’s certificate from the Autorité des marchés financiers.

You are eligible for Category III academic equivalence if you have two years of Canadian work experience accumulated within the last five years in at least one of the seven areas of personal financial planning (legal matters, insurance and risk management, finance, taxation, investments, retirement, and estate planning). Qualifying work experience can include work placements. It is based on a minimum 30-hour work week and is defined as full-time. In addition, you must hold either of the following:

• A bachelor’s or graduate degree in administration, economics, law, actuarial science, or any other related field recognized by the Institute.

or

• At least three certificates in one or more of these fields, each comprising at least 450 university-level course hours obtained across at least 25 different courses.

To become a financial planner, you must first either take the Institute's Equivalency Exam or enroll in the Executive Program to validate or complete your training in the seven fields of personal financial planning.

Next, you will need to complete the Institute's Professional Training Course and pass the Institute's exam.

Lastly, to obtain your financial planner designation, you must apply for a representative’s certificate from the Autorité des marchés financiers.

You are eligible for Category IV academic equivalency if you meet the following requirements:

• You hold a bachelor’s or graduate degree from an institution recognized by the Institute in a discipline unrelated to financial planning.
• You hold a certificate in financial planning comprising at least 450 course hours, and at least 45 course hours in each of the seven areas of personal financial planning (legal matters, insurance and risk management, finance, taxation, investments, retirement, and estate planning).
• You have a minimum of two years of Canadian work experience in a full-time position (based on a minimum 30-hour work week, including work placements) accumulated within the last five years in at least one of the seven areas of personal financial planning.

To become a financial planner, you must first either take the Institute's Equivalency Exam or enroll in the Executive Program to validate or complete your training in the seven fields of personal financial planning.

Next, you will need to complete the Institute's Professional Training Course and pass the Institute's exam.

Lastly, to obtain your financial planner designation, you must apply for a representative’s certificate from the Autorité des marchés financiers.

You are eligible for Category Va academic equivalency if you meet the following requirements:

• You hold a bachelor’s or graduate degree from an institution recognized by the Institute in a discipline unrelated to financial planning.
• You have a minimum of two years of Canadian work experience in a full-time position (based on a minimum 30-hour work week, including work placements) accumulated within the last five years in at least one of the seven areas of personal financial planning (legal matters, insurance and risk management, finance, taxation, investments, retirement, and estate planning).

To become a financial planner, you must first pass the Executive Program.

Next, you will need to complete the Institute's Professional Training Course and pass the Institute's exam.

Lastly, to obtain your financial planner designation, you must apply for a representative’s certificate from the Autorité des marchés financiers.

You are eligible for Category Vb academic equivalency if you meet the following requirements:

• You have a minimum of three years of Canadian work experience in a full-time position (based on a minimum 30-hour work week, including work placements) accumulated within the last five years, in at least one of the seven areas of personal financial planning (legal matters, insurance and risk management, finance, taxation, investments, retirement, and estate planning).
• You have successfully completed Université Laval’s Parcours intensif en gestion dans le contexte des entreprises de planification financière OR TÉLUQ’s Programme Ascension.

To become a financial planner, you must first pass the Executive Program.

Next, you will need to complete the Institute's Professional Training Course and pass the Institute's exam.

Lastly, to obtain your financial planner designation, you must apply for a representative’s certificate from the Autorité des marchés financiers.