FPA offers CIMA certificants fast track to CFP certification


The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) has exempted Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) certificants from a core component of the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) programme and has offered them an accelerated path to CFP certification.
Also, the FPA has awarded an “advanced standing” status to CIMA certificants for the CFP 4: Investment Strategies unit, which focused on the development of investment strategies in accordance with the personal circumstances of clients and was one of four modules which non-exempt CFP candidates needed to complete.
The FPA said that the advanced standing for CFP 4 would bring several benefits such as allowing exempted CFP candidates to save around 120 hours of study time and would help to reduce course fees by as much as $1,550.
According to PortfolioConstruction Forum’s managing partner and dean, Graham Rich, the advanced standing would be good news for CIMA certificants who would like to use their investments skills and knowledge as a financial planner.
FPA’s head of education, Shaun Weston-Cole, said: “The FPA welcomes the addition of the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) certification to the list of quality education providers approved for advanced standing for the CFP 4 unit of the CFP Certification Program.”
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