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CE Guidelines


NAPFA’s continuing education (CE) policy is an important part of its commitment to the highest competency standards in the industry. NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisors and Provisional Members complete 60 hours of CE spread across a broad range of subjects every two-year cycle.

 

The requirement is actually two-fold
1. A minimum of five credit hours in each core area: 
      o Insurance & Risk Management
      o Investments
      o Income Tax Planning
      o Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits
      o Estate Planning
      o Communications
2. A minimum of two hours in Ethics of Financial Planning

The 28 additional hours may be earned in either core or elective areas.

The program is based on the honor system. You are ultimately responsible for deciding what subject categories your CE activities represent and what you consider to be appropriate and valuable for your continuing professional education within these guidelines.

Reporting Cycles
Each two-year cycle begins January 1 of an even year and ends December 31 of the following year (i.e. 01/01/12 –12/31/13).

Reporting Deadline — February 15th
You have 45 days after the end of the cycle to submit your NAPFA Continuing Education Summary Report on line. The due date for the 2012-2013 reporting cycle is 02/15/2014.

New Guidelines effective 1/1/2012
• The 30 required CORE hours must be CFP, CFA, CPA, CLE or NAPFA approved
• Reading – Up to eight hours of the remaining 28 core/elective hours may be acquired as a result of what you read.
      o  Each book counts as one credit hour. 
      o  Trade Magazines – good for one hour in an elective area
•Writing – Up to eight hours may be obtained as a result of what you author.  
      o  Any article published by an independent third party will earn two credit hours (core or elective).  
      o  Blogs or newsletters are not considered “published”
• Teaching – Up to eight hours may be earned from presenting consumer or advisor oriented sessions.
• Hours may not be carried over to the next reporting period. (CFP Board does not allow this either).
 
Seminars, webinars, etc.
Typically, one hour of time listening qualifies for one hour of CE. While most NAPFA Study Group meetings qualify for credit, sales presentations don’t.

Pro-rating for New Members
Requirements are pro rated for new members based on their start date:
Cycle Year   Start Date      Pro rata
Year 1         Jan – June       100%
Year 1         July – Dec         75%
Year 2         Jan – June         50%
Year 2         July – Dec         25%

Subject Codes for CORE Areas
  • B - Insurance & Risk Management
  • C - Investments
  • D - Income Tax Planning
  • E - Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits
  • F - Estate Planning
  • G - Ethics
  • J - Communications 
Subject Codes for ELECTIVE Areas
  • A - Financial Planning Process
  • H - Accounting, Cash Flow Mgmt. & Budgeting
  • I - Economic and Political Environment
  • K - Marketing and Practice Management
  • L - Strategic Thinking
  • M - Technology
The Technical Details
Credits are posted to your account two ways:
  • NAPFA uploads your credits earned at NAPFA events.
  • You must enter information for credits you earn outside of NAPFA events.
To ensure a broad range of ongoing educational efforts, no more than 15 hours may be earned within any one core subject and no more than five hours may be earned in any one elective subject.
At the end of every reporting cycle 3% of the members are randomly selected to undergo an audit. Those who are audited must submit documentation for each reported hour.
If necessary, prior to the February 15th deadline, you may submit an Extension Request Form to receive a 90-day extension moving the reporting date to May 15th. 

 
Failure to Comply
  • Members not complying with the CE standards and fail to submit an Extension Request Form will have their status changed to CE Deficient and consumer and media referrals will cease.
  • Members who apply for an extension and allow the 90-day extension period to expire without submitting a compliant CE report will also have their status changed to CE Deficient and are ineligible for consumer and media referrals.
  • Members who are CE Deficient because they have not submitted their CE Summary report by renewal time must relinquish all benefits and reference to membership in NAPFA. They may renew as Financial Services Affiliates. They are eligible to return to Member status any time within the next two years by submitting a compliant CE report and meeting all other membership requirements.
Easy to Use NAPFA Online CE Management Tools
  •  Log into the professional side of www.napfa.org and click on either the CE link near the top of the page or on the left rail.            
    •  My CE Course/Program List allows you to view credits earned during any designated timeframe and add/edit credits earned outside of NAPFA.
    • Reports and Forms on the left side rail will take you to five important documents.
        • Summary Report (completed reports may be submitted online)
        • CE Report (details all credits earned for a specific time period)
        • CE Extension Reporting Form (delays reporting responsibility until May 15th)
        • CFP Board Report (shows CFP credits earned through NAPFA and reported to the CFP Board).
           
For more information call, 800-366-2732 (option 2, ext. 107) or email Jane Hagen at hagenj@napfa.org

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