Teresa Woo is working toward launching a business in financial management.
The Professional Program in Personal Financial Planning at UC Berkeley Extension is a CFP® Board Registered Program that provides the comprehensive knowledge and ethical foundation required for a career in financial planning. This academically rigorous program consists of 18 semester units and 270 hours of instruction, specifically tailored for career professionals and individuals seeking to fulfill the educational requirements for the esteemed CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) certification.
The curriculum is composed of eight core courses and one specialized elective, designed to cover the eight principal knowledge domains mandated by the CFP® Board of Standards, Inc. While providing a rigorous foundation in traditional financial theory, our program distinguishes itself through its forward-looking integration of artificial intelligence in personal financial planning. Beyond the systematic integration of AI-driven analytics and relationship management throughout the general curriculum, the program introduces AI Foundations for Financial Advisors, a new elective designed to provide targeted, in-depth expertise in the technological revolutionizing of the industry.
Applications are now open for the Professional Program in Personal Financial Planning Scholarship! This award is designed to support students who are looking to pursue a rewarding career as a financial adviser. Don't miss the chance to offset your educational costs and join the next generation of industry leaders.
If approved, this award will cover the cost of two course fees for the terms indicated (Fall 2026 and Spring 2027). The evaluative criteria for this award include academic and professional history and academic and professional intent. This award is intended for individuals residing in the United States. For international students, please visit our International Programs page for eligible offerings.
To be eligible for this award, applicants must be currently registered in the Professional Program in Personal Financial Planning. While a bachelor's degree is highly recommended for all applicants, please be advised that a completed bachelor's degree is required to sit for the CFP® certification exam.
Deadline: May 1, 2026
The curriculum consists of 8 required courses and 1 elective course for a total of 18 semester units (270 hours of instruction). Candidates must pay a nonrefundable program registration fee.
You must take all courses for a letter grade. To receive the certificate, you must complete each course with a grade of C or better. All coursework must be completed within five years.
By registering, you declare your intention to complete the curriculum. To register online for the Professional Program in Personal Financial Planning, complete these two steps:
Each course is priced individually, and you pay the course fee at the time of enrollment. The program has an estimated cost of $11,275 (not including course materials or registration fee). Course fees are subject to change.
Once you have completed the program coursework, notify UC Berkeley Extension that you have completed the curriculum and request your certificate. Send an email to extension-business@berkeley.edu. After your records have been reviewed, verified and approved (usually within two to three weeks), your certificate will be mailed to you.
Upon your request, we will notify the CFP Board of your eligibility to take the national exam after your grades and course completion have been verified.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc.
The Professional Program in Personal Financial Planning is accredited and registered with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. This registration allows those who have successfully completed the UC Berkeley Extension program and who wish to obtain the CFP® certification to take the national CFP® certification examination. Coursework is designed to cover 101 topics tested on the exam. To sit for the exam, please email us at extension-business@berkeley.edu for additional details.
CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® are federally registered marks of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. See the CFP Board for details. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
UC Berkeley Extension does not certify individuals to use the CFP and Certified Financial Planner designations. CFP certification is granted only by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board–registered program, have met its ethics, experience and examination requirements.
For information regarding CFP certification, please write to the CFP Board at 1425 K St NW #800, Washington, DC 20005; call (202) 379-2200; or email mail@cfp-board.org.
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