Academically equivalent, both bachelor of art and bachelor of science degrees will prepare students for a career as a Financial Planner or Advisor.
To become a Certified Financial Planner, students must complete four key requirements:
- Education
- Complete a bachelor's degree.
- Complete a seven-course sequence from a CFP Board Registered Program (the LCMC consortium qualifies as a CFP Board Registered Program).
- Exam
- Complete a 170 question, 6-hour multiple choice exam offered in March, July, or November).
- Experience
- Complete 6,000 hours of professional experience relating to financial planning or complete 4,000 hours of an apprenticeship. This experience must be completed within five years of sitting for the exam.
- Ethics
- Complete the ethics declaration form and pass a background check.
Departments/Programs
| Required Courses | 63 hours |
|---|---|
| ACCT 1310 Principles of Accounting I | 3 hours |
| ACCT 1320 Principles of Accounting II | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 2000 Principles of Marketing | 3 hours |
| ECON 1530 Macroeconomic Principles | 3 hours |
| ECON 1540 Microeconomic Principles | 3 hours |
Mathematics course (choose from): | 3-5 hours |
Statistics course (Choose from:) | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 2300 Business Communication | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 2500 Principles of Management | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 2700 Business Law I | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 3300 Quantitative Methods | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 3700 Financial Management | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 3710 General Principles of Financial Planning* | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 3720 Risk Management & Insurance Planning* | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 3730 Investment Planning* | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 3740 Tax Planning* | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 3750 Retirement Savings & Income Planning* | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 3760 Estate Planning* | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 4450 Financial Plan Development* | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 4600 Business Ethics | 3 hours |
| BUSAD 4970 Business Internship | 3 hours |
| Capstone | 3 hours |
|---|---|
| BUSAD 4800 Strategic Management | 3 hours |
*This course is offered remotely via NWU's partnership with a Consortium. The partnership allows students to earn NWU credit for specific courses. Classes are designed by top academics and industry leaders, vetted by NWU, and taught by experts in the field.