Overview & Examinations of Financial Planning Certifications

The "Certified Skilled Professional of Financial Planning" credential was added as one of the government certifications under the Human Resources Development Promotion Act in April 2002. There are three levels of the credentials (1st-grade, 2nd-grade and 3rd-grade) and each examination assesses candidafe's skills based on the certain government standards to assure one's competency. JAFP currently provides the following examinations; the practice-skill portion of the 1st-grade examination, and the knowledge-based & practice-skill portions of the 2nd and 3rd-grade examinations.

The major differences between Certified Skilled Professional of Financial Planning certifications and CFP® and AFP certifications are: 1) the candidates for CFP® and AFP certificants must complete the "ethics" and "education" requirements for prior to the certification is granted; and 2) meet the "continuing education" requirement for its renewal.

JAFP Certifications & Government Certifications

Examinations

  CFP® Certification Examination The 1st-grade Certified Skilled Professional of Financial Planning Exam
(Practice-skill portion)
Accreditation
body		 JAFP Government (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare)
Eligibility
  • 1. 

    AFP certificants

  • 2. 

    Those who completed CFP® education program at Masters level
  • 1. 

    CFP® certificants

  • 2. 

    Those who passed CFP® certification exam

  • 3. 

    Those who passed Knowledge-based portion of the1st-grade CSPFP exam conducted by KINZAI (Kinzai Institute of Financial Affairs Inc.)

  • 4. 

    Those who passed the 1st-grade CSPFP exam (both Knowledge-based and Practice-skill exams conducted by KINZAI)

  • 5. 

    Those who completed the education program offered by KINZAI and have practice experience of more than one year
Subjects
  • 1. 

    Financial Asset Planning

  • 2. 

    Real Estate Investment Planning

  • 3. 

    Life Planning & Retirement Planning

  • 4. 

    Risk & Insurance

  • 5. 

    Tax Planning

  • 6. 

    Estate & Business Succession Planning(120 min./subject)

 Practice-skill Exam in Financial Planning
Recommendations
(120 min.)
Formats Multiple-choice Essay format
Locations 16 cities in Japan 14 cities in Japan
Months June, November September
Fees JPY5,500 / subject per Exam
JPY4,400 / 2 or more subjects per Exam		 JPY20,000
  The 2nd-grade Certified Skilled Professional of Financial Planning Exam The 3rd-grade Certified Skilled Professional of Financial Planning Exam
Accreditation
body		 Government (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare) Government (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare)
Eligibility
  • 1. 

    Those who completed AFP education program

  • 2. 

    3rd-grade CSPFP

  • 3. 

    Those who have practice experience of 2 years & more

 Those who are (or will be) engaged in financial planning
Subjects
  • 1. 

    Knowledge-based Exam (120 min.)

  • 2. 

    Practice-skill Exam (90 min.)
  • 1. 

    Knowledge-based Exam (120 min.)

  • 2. 

    Practice-skill Exam (60 min.)
Formats
  • 1. 

    Multiple-choice

  • 2. 

    Essay format

 Multiple-choice
Locations 47 prefectures throughout Japan 47 prefectures throughout Japan
Months May, September, January May, September, January
Fees
  • 1. 

    JPY5,700

  • 2. 

    JPY6,000
  • 1. 

    JPY4,000

  • 2. 

    JPY4,000
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