A record number of candidates was reported in the July 2026 CFP® Certification Exam, a result that was hailed as another sign of the continued growth of the financial planning profession.
The CFP Board announced the results of the exam, which was administered during a July 14-21 testing window. It was the largest July exam in history, with 3,621 candidates taking part. The pass rate was 66%.
“Record exam participation is worth celebrating, but the story is bigger than growth alone,” said CFP Board CEO K. Dane Snowden. “Together with firms, academic institutions and others across the profession, we are building a stronger workforce and helping more Americans access trusted, holistic financial planning.”
Along with the growing number of candidates, the exam also highlighted trends indicating a younger and more diverse profession.
July saw new exam records for women candidates (1,011) and for racially and ethnically diverse candidates (834), making it the third most diverse CFP® Certification Exam exam of all time. Of the candidates who registered, 75% were under age 40 and 44% were under age 30. Similar trends for younger candidates were seen in the March 2026 exam.
A survey taken after the July exam indicated that the main reason exam candidates seek CFP® certification is to demonstrate their expertise (39%), followed by distinguishing themselves as a fiduciary (33%). The majority (64%) of July exam-takers say they received some level of financial support from their employers on their path to CFP® certification.
The 10 states with the most CFP® exam candidates were California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Exam candidates from those states made up 54% (1,959 individuals) of the total July 2026 candidate cohort.
The CFP® exam is offered three times annually, in March, July and October/November. Registration for the October 2026 CFP® Certification Exam is now open. This exam will be administered from October 29 – November 5, 2026. The registration deadline is October 13, and the Education Verification Deadline is October 6.
Hyman Cotter PC represents advisors, brokers and other financial professional in all matters involving the CFP Board, including CFP Board investigations. Headquartered in Chicago, our securities attorneys represent clients nationwide. For more information relating to CFP Board investigations and discipline or other matters, contact Hyman Cotter at (833) 665-0784 or through our online contact form for a free consultation.
