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Home Professional Financial Advisor Program – Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the PFA for?
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.
What does the program structure look like?
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.
Are the courses delivered via classroom or online?
All courses, including assessments, are delivered online.
Are there course equivalencies?
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.
How does the PFA differ from the CLU®, CFP® or CHS™?
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.
Are there prerequisites to the PFA designation program?
There are no required prerequisites.
Is there a deadline to complete all four PFA courses?
Yes. You must complete all four courses within a 2-year term.
Will I be able to cancel my registration?
Yes. Please click here for cancellation policy.
Will I receive any CE credits after completing the PFA courses?
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.
When will I receive my PFA designation?
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.
What are the CE requirements for maintaining my PFA designation?
The PFA designation is conferred in Canada exclusively by The Institute for Advanced Financial Education. Click here for CE requirements.
Do I have to register to write the Final Comprehensive Exam?
Yes. Once you have completed all four PFA courses, you have to purchase and register to write the Final Comprehensive Exam.
When do I have to take the Final Comprehensive Exam?
The Final Comprehensive Exam is scheduled four times a year (February, May, August and November). You are required to select the exam that is scheduled closest to your successful completion of Course 4: Fine Tuning your Practice and The Value of Advice.
What if I am not successful in passing the Final Comprehensive Exam?
Please click here for Final Comprehensive Exam Rewrite policy.
Do I have to complete all four PFA courses by a specific date?
When you register for the self-study program, you can go at your own pace and complete the course exams when ready. However, keep in mind that you must successfully complete all four courses within the 2-year term.
What are my options if I do not successfully complete my course within the course term?
If you have not finished all of the assessments within the course term, you can apply for an extension. For more details, please visit our Policies page.
Can I complete the four PFA courses in any order?
You must complete each course in the prescribed order.
Click below to download resources.
Contact Maja Golich, Education Coordinator at mgolich@advocis.ca.
Click below to download resources.
Contact Maja Golich, Education Coordinator at mgolich@advocis.ca.
Click below to download resources.
Contact Maja Golich, Education Coordinator at mgolich@advocis.ca.
Click below to download resources.
Contact Maja Golich, Education Coordinator at mgolich@advocis.ca.
Click below to download resources.
Contact Maja Golich, Education Coordinator at mgolich@advocis.ca.
Click below to download resources.
Contact Maja Golich, Education Coordinator at mgolich@advocis.ca.
Join us for another year of benefits, resources, and
access to your professional association.
Click below to download resources.
Send an email to ce@advocis.ca.
Click below to download resources.
Contact Sue Bailey, Education Coordinator at mgolich@advocis.ca.
Click below to download resources.
Contact Maja Golich, Education Coordinator at mgolich@advocis.ca.
Click below to download resources.
Contact Maja Golich, Education Coordinator at mgolich@advocis.ca.
Click below to download resources.
Contact Maja Golich, Education Coordinator at mgolich@advocis.ca.
Start strong in your career as an advisor with the advantage of the PFA designation.
Registration for the Fall 2021 Semester is NOW AVAILABLE.
Our Registration Portal is undergoing maintenance. You may experience issues when registering for a course or program.
Please email Member Services or call us at 1-877-773-6765 for assistance.
Develop the skills to build and express the value of your advice
with the PFA designation.
Registration for the Fall 2021 Semester is NOW AVAILABLE.
NOTICE: We are currently experiencing a technical issue with our course registration system. Our support team is working diligently to resolve this problem and we expect to restore service shortly. If you require immediate assistance with course registration, please contact our Member Services team via email at info@advocis.ca
NOTICE: We are currently experiencing a technical issue with our course registration system. Our support team is working diligently to resolve this problem and we expect to restore service shortly. If you require immediate assistance with course registration, please contact our Member Services team via email at info@advocis.ca.
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