Educational Activities:

The following is an outline of some of the more common educational activities. These activities can be used for either general and/or technical credits. Activities are reviewed only upon audit. A maximum number of credits are allocated to each activity.

1. Seminars/Conferences/In-house Training/Webinars – can be claimed for CE credits (1 hour = 1 CE credit). When calculating credits, one full day usually equals 6 CE credits. However, additional credits may be allocated upon review. The maximum amount allocated for one full day of training is 7 CE credits.

For activities that cover both general and technical topics, the appropriate number of credits for each category must be identified. Example:

• Morning session – covers sales/marketing technique = 3 general credits
• Afternoon session – covers tax and estate planning = 3 technical credits

2. Computer Training/Computer Courses:

• If the content covers one or more topics covered in Technical Knowledge Listing then it will qualify for technical credits, otherwise they can be used as general credits
• If the training is of a financial tool used when preparing/developing a client’s financial plan then this will qualify for technical credits
• If the content falls under the general requirements (i.e. computer training for sales, processing/administration, internal policies, technology update, Outlook/Word etc), then you can claim these type of activities as general credits
• When calculating credits, one full day of training usually equals 7 CE credits. Additional credits may be allocated upon review

3. Self-study Courses with an Exam – using printed materials, audio or videotapes, or electronic media. Self-study courses usually have a recommended number of study hours. You can claim the full number of study hours as CE credits if you successfully complete an exam and/or assignment. If you do not successfully complete the exam and/or assignment, then you can only claim half the recommended number of study hours. Once you pass the course then you can claim the remaining half.

NOTE:

• A maximum of 30 technical credits if it falls under the technical category. Additional credits may be considered upon review
• A maximum of 10 general credits if it falls under the general category

4. Credit Courses (including credit courses for MBA programs) - If you are enrolled in a university or college credit course for one full semester then it will qualify towards your CE requirements. You must remember to cross reference the course content to determine which category it falls under.

NOTE:

• A maximum of 30 technical credits if it falls under the technical category
• A maximum of 10 general credits if it falls under the general category
• You are only allowed to claim the full credits upon successful completion
• If you are unsuccessful, you are entitled to claim a maximum of ½ the credits towards study time OR in-class
• The remaining ½ can only be claimed once you pass the course/program

5. Prep Courses – Courses that you take to prepare you for a final exam can be used towards your CE requirements. The guideline of 1 hour of education = 1 CE credit applies to both the general and technical categories when calculating your credits.

NOTE:

• A maximum of 6 CE credits per day (7 CE credits if additional evidence is provided)
• A maximum of 20 technical credits if it falls under the technical categories
• A maximum of 10 general credits if it falls under the general categories

6. Review courses without an exam – Courses that have no exam or assignment to complete, can be used towards your CE requirements, however would only qualify towards your general requirements.

7. Online Courses – These courses usually have a recommended number of study hours OR credits rewarded upon successful completion. You can claim the full number of study hours/credits once you successfully complete the course. If you do not successfully complete the course you can only claim half for study time. Please note that credits that exceed 6 CE credits require further review.

8. Obtaining a Professional Licence and/or Designation – This is eligible for CE credits and usually has a recommended number of study hours. You can claim the full number of study hours as CE credits (usually up to a maximum of 30 CE credits for technical activities and up to a maximum of 10 for general activities) if you successfully pass the exam. If you do not successfully complete the exam, then you can only claim half the recommended number of study hours and will be able to claim the remaining half once you successfully complete the exam. For designations that do not offer an exam, credits will be rewarded based on the amount of days spent to complete the program.

NOTE:

• A maximum of 6 CE credits per day (7 CE credits if additional evidence is provided).
• A maximum of 30 technical credits if it falls under the technical categories. Additional credits may be considered upon review.
• A maximum of 10 general credits if it falls under the general categories.

9. Writing:

Technical Credits – will be allocated if you are involved in writing:

• articles on financial planning for professional trade publications
• newsletters related to one or more topics covered in Appendix B – Technical Knowledge Required
• books on financial planning geared to professionals engaged in the financial services industry
• course material on financial planning geared to post secondary education

NOTE: Articles/newsletters/novels must be directed to the financial service profession in order to qualify for technical credits. In addition, you can receive credit for your preparation time up to a maximum of 15 credits per year.

General Credits – will be rewarded if you are involved in writing articles/newsletters for persons not engaged in financial services (e.g. for the general public or clients, and/or for marketing purposes) up to a maximum of 10 general credits per year.

10. Teaching/Presenting:

Technical Credits – if you are an instructor, discussion leader or speaker to the financial service profession and/or post secondary students and teach/present topics that qualify for technical credits, you can claim a maximum of 15 technical credits per year for this activity.

NOTE: When reporting teaching credits:

• You are allowed two credits per hour of actual teaching/presenting time for the first time you conduct the class or seminar
• If you are teaching/presenting more than one course/seminar, the maximum amount of credits you can claim in the year for teaching activities is still 15 technical credits

a) General Credits - teaching or presenting seminars/courses designed for persons other than financial services professionals or post-secondary students (e.g. general public, presentations for marketing purposes, television, radio talk shows, high school programs, etc.) is eligible for up to a maximum of 10 general credits per year.

11. Other Educational Activities – Other activities may qualify for CE credits. To determine whether or not a particular activity would qualify as an “education activity” please send your inquiries to ceconnection@fpsccanada.org [3].

carry over provision [4].

• If an activity covers one or more of the areas listed in “ Technical Knowledge Listing “, then it will qualify for technical credits
• You will only get credit for the content that qualifies for technical credits. For example, if you attend a full day event that consists of general content in the morning and technical content in the afternoon, then you will need to report the following: 3 general credits for the morning session and 3 technical credits for the afternoon
• There are many different activities in which a CFP professional can engage to meet the technical requirements:
• To find out what will qualify for technical credits please see Guidelines on assessing technical activities [5]
• To find out about different types of activities please see Educational Activities [6]
• Click here to report your CE credits online with FPSC Online Services. [7]

ceconnection@fpsccanada.org [8].

Audit Requirements

A percentage of CFP professionals are chosen for the random audit each year. In the event you are audited, you will be requested to supply sufficient supporting documentation to verify completion of your technical credits. You are not required to supply supporting documentation for your general credits.

For additional information regarding sufficient supporting documentation click on the following link - Supporting Documentation Required for Verification of Technical CE Activities [9]

licensing@fpsccanada.org [10]).
In addition, former CFP professionals will be required to report sufficient CE credits, along with supporting documentation, to cover the credits they were required to complete while their licence was lapsed (e.g., 3 years of lapsed licence will require demonstration of 90 CE credits). If unable to comply or complete the required CE credits upon reinstating, former CFP professionals must contact the Professional Affairs Department at ceconnection@fpsccanada.org [11] for further assistance.

Download the CE Exemption Form [12].

CFP professionals who are granted a CE Exemption for the above noted circumstances may also be eligible for a fee reduction. Please contact the Administration Department (licensing@fpsccanada.org [13]) for additional information.

NOTE: FPSC reserves the right to impose minimum CE requirements for multiple CE exemption requests for medical/disability leave. Further, upon cessation of exemption period, FPSC may require specific training to ensure that the CFP professional is fully current and qualified.