Professional Financial Advisor™ (PFA) FAQs

Professional Financial Advisor (PFA) Course 1

$ 225 + applicable taxes for Advocis Members.
Non members pay $425 + applicable taxes.
  • Content on-demand
  • Access to corporate trainer and recorded webinars
  • Customizable study schedules
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Professional Financial Advisor™ (PFA™) Program FAQ

General Program

The Professional Financial Advisor program is designed for newer advisors as well as those who are established practitioners. Designed to meet the everyday demands of an advisor’s practice, the program is focused on the disciplines of financial planning, practice development, compliance & regulatory topics, ethics and professional standards.

The PFA is an integrated, 4-course program that will engage candidates in actively strengthening practice development skills; deepening technical financial planning and regulatory knowledge; incorporating ethical practices into a sustainable financial advisory business; as well as developing sales, business and marketing skills. Candidates will be assessed via a series of exams and a final comprehensive exam.

All courses, including assessments, are delivered online.

Individuals who complete any of the Advocis Financial Planning Program modules qualify for exemptions from the corresponding FP module(s) within the PFA program courses.

This designation is unique and distinct from the CLU®, CFP® and CHS™. It is designed to bridge technical financial planning knowledge, regulatory responsibilities and ethics to real-world practice.

There are no required prerequisites.

Yes. Each course has a six-month term. The exception is if a course extension has been purchased. This will be added on to the course term. For more details, please see our extension policy

Yes. Please click here for cancellation policy.

If you have not finished all of the assessments within the course term, you can apply for an extension.

You must complete each course in the prescribed order.

Yes. CE credits will be issued via your CE Tracker upon successful completion of each PFA course. Please refer to each course description for CE credit details.

Once you have completed the PFA Designation Program and Final Comprehensive Exam, you will be provided with the PFA Designation Holder’s Agreement which you must complete, sign and return. Once the agreement has been processed and approved, you will be notified when you can begin using the designation.

The PFA designation is conferred in Canada exclusively by The Institute for Advanced Financial Education. Click here for CE requirements.

Final Comprehensive Exam

Yes. Once you have completed all four PFA courses, you must purchase and register to write the Final Comprehensive Exam.

The Final Comprehensive Exam is scheduled two times a year (May and November). 

Please click here for Final Comprehensive Exam Rewrite policy.

Program Module Descriptions
Program Overview
Program Policies