The Financial Planning Association (FPA) has partnered with Kaplan Professional and RMIT University, allowing financial planners to combine the certified financial planner (CFP) certification program with a Master of Financial Planning degree.
The new partnership follows a similar arrangement between the FPA and Deakin Business School, announced in February, that gives financial planners the ability to combine their professional study requirements into one course.
As part of the latest arrangement, the CFP certification program will be included as an elective option counting towards Kaplan Professional’s Master of Financial Planning degree. The degree has also been mapped against CFP certification units.
Kaplan Professional is currently enrolling students for its June/July intake, while RMIT University is expected to commence enrolling students for its first semester in 2021.
FPA chief executive Dante De Gori said: “This is a huge win for financial planners, who will not only be able to graduate with a FASEA (Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority)-approved Master of Financial Planning, but will also have satisfied all of the education requirements of the CFP certification program.
“Our growing number of partnerships with leading education providers around Australia is a significant benefit for financial planners, who are now able to graduate with both an academic qualification and the highest global professional designation in financial planning, which is recognised in 27 countries around the world.
“We are aligning our education options with other professions like accounting, where professional designations are already embedded into their academic programs.”
Last month, the FPA addressed industry concerns regarding its recent proposal to replace the current Australian financial services licence system with individual registration through a single disciplinary body.
In May, it announced changes to its strategy and corporate structure, reflecting a shift in focus for the professional body.
