You must take 7 courses to complete the certificate program.
Each course meets for three
hours once a week in the evenings. Courses on the main campus are approximately one quarter,
or 11 weeks, in length. Students should be able to complete the entire
main campus program in approximately 24 months by taking one class each week, per quarter
(the Traditional Track),
or in as little as one academic year by taking 2 classes each week, per quarter
(the Pacesetter Path). Courses on the Plano campus meet once a week and
every other Saturday. Students should be able to complete the Plano program in 10 months.
For
current course dates, click here.
Five sessions are offered each year. Students may enter the program in Plano in January, or in Dallas in April or September.
January Entry
Intensive
Path: Intensive, 6-week courses meet twice weekly
over ten months.
Location: Plano. For more information about the Plano intensive program, click here.
| Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
Fall |
| 101, 103 |
102, 104 |
105, 106 |
107
Exam Review (Oct)
CFP® Exam (Nov) |
Click here for course descriptions.
April Entry
Pacesetter Path: Two courses per quarter meet weekly
over 12 months.
Location: Dallas
| Spring |
Summer |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring/Summer |
| 101, 103 |
102, 104 |
105 |
106, 107 |
Exam Review (June)
CFP® Exam (July) |
Click here for course descriptions.
Traditional Path: One course per quarter meets weekly
over 12 months.
Location: Dallas
| Spring |
Summer |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
Fall |
Winter |
| 101 |
102 |
103 |
104 |
105 |
106 |
107 |
Exam Review (Feb)
CFP® Exam (Mar) |
Click here for course descriptions.
September Entry
Pacesetter Path: Two courses per quarter meet weekly
over 12 months.
Location: Dallas
| Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
Fall |
| 101, 103 |
102, 104 |
105 |
106, 107 |
Exam Review (Oct)
CFP® Exam (Nov) |
Click here for course descriptions.
Traditional Path: One course per quarter meets weekly
over 12 months.
Location: Dallas
| Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
| 101 |
102 |
103 |
104 |
105 |
106 |
107 |
Exam Review (Oct)
CFP® Exam (Nov) |
Click here for course descriptions.
Winter Term 2013 (January XX – March XX)
| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
| Insurance (102A), Estate(106) |
Insurance (102B) |
Retirement (104A), Capstone(107)* |
Retirement (104B) |
Term dates
| Monday, January 9 |
First week of class |
| Monday, January 16 |
University Holiday – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (no classes held) |
| Saturday, January 21 |
Make up for January 16 (Monday classes) |
| Monday, February 6 |
Last day to transfer
to an upcoming course in lieu of withdrawing. $150 transfer fee will be assessed. |
| Monday–Thursday, February 6 - February 9 |
Mid-Term Exams |
| Monday–Thursday, March 19 - March 22 |
Final Exams |
| Tuesday, March 26 |
Grades can be viewed online by students |
| March 26 - March 30 |
Spring Break for CPFP students |
Spring Term 2013 (April XX - June XX)
| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
| Fundamentals (101A),Tax (105) |
Fundamentals (101B) |
Investments (103A),Capstone (107)* |
Investments (103B) |
Term dates
| Tuesday, february 28 |
Information Session I |
| Tuesday, march 13 |
Information
Session II |
| Monday, April 2 |
First week of class |
| Monday, April 30 |
Last day to
transfer to an upcoming course in lieu of withdrawing. $150 transfer fee will be
assessed. |
| Monday, May 28 |
University Holiday -- Memorial Day |
| Saturday, June 2 |
Make up for May 30(Monday Classes) 9a - 12:30p |
| Monday–Thursday, April 30 - May 3 |
Mid-Term Exams |
| Monday–Thursday, June 11 - June 14 |
Final Exams |
| monday, June 18 |
Grades can be viewed online by students |
| June 18 - June 22 |
Summer Break for CPFP students |
Summer Term 2013 (June XX - September XX)
| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
| Insurance (102A), Estate(106) |
Insurance (102B) |
Retirement (104A), Capstone(107)* |
Retirement (104B) |
Term dates
| Tuesday, June 25 |
First week of class |
| wednesday, July 4 |
University Holiday – Independence Day |
| Saturday, July 7 |
Make up for July 4 (Wednesday classes) 9a - 12:30p |
| Monday--Thursday, July 23 - July 26 |
Mid-Term Exams |
| Monday, September 3 |
University Holiday - Labor Day |
| saturday, August 25 |
Make up for Labor Day (Monday classes) 9a - 12:30p |
| Monday–Thursday, September 3 - September 6 |
Final Exams |
| thursday, September 14 |
Grades can be viewed online by students |
Fall Term 2013 (September XX - November XX)
| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
| Fundamentals (101A), Tax (105) |
Fundamentals (101B) |
Investments (103A), Capstone (107)* |
Investments (103B) |
Term dates
| Monday,
September 17 |
First week of class |
| Wednesday and
Thursday November 21 - 23 |
University Holiday – Thanksgiving Holiday (no classes held) |
| Saturday, November
17 |
Make up for November 23 and 24 (Wed and Thurs classes) |
| Monday–Thursday, October 22
-October 25 |
Mid-Term Exams |
| Monday–Thursday,
Nov 26 - nov 29 |
Final Exams |
| Monday, Dec 4 |
Grades can be viewed online by students |
* Capstone (107) course may not be offered as scheduled due to demand for that term.
Get Started!
- Choose a starting date. Students may join the SMU Program in April or September on the main campus in Dallas, or in January at SMU-in-Plano.
- Choose a track. Students may elect to take one course per quarter, on the Traditional Path, or take 2 courses per quarter on the Pacesetter Path (at a discounted rate). Students in the SMU CPFP in Plano program move through the program one course at at time, at an accelerated pace; each of the seven courses in the program are taught in 6-week modules. For an overview of the course paths, click here.
- Enroll in an Information Session. Offered throughout the year, these 1-hour sessions are packed with information about the SMU Program and the CFP® certification process. Register now.
- Meet program instructors, view prerequisites and course fees.
- Complete the program application. Click here to complete the SMU program application.
- Register for class. After the application has been approved, students may enroll online, by phone, or by fax. Traditional Path and Plano students begin the program with course 101; Pacesetter Path students begin with courses 101 and 103.