A record-setting 3,214 candidates took the CFP Board’s July 2025 certification exam, marking the highest turnout for a July sitting, according to results announced this week.
The exam, administered over a weeklong window from July 10 to 17, saw a pass rate of 64%.
The surge in participation follows what the CFP Board described as the largest March exam in its history, signaling continued momentum for the credential among financial professionals.
There were 3,854 CFP candidates who took the test in March, which saw a 65% pass rate.
According to the exam results announced Thursday, the majority of candidates were younger: 73% were under 40 years old, and 42% were under 30 – both slight increases from the March cycle.
The recent July batch of test-takers included 2,496 first-timers, who managed a 68% pass rate. There were also 718 repeaters, among whom only 56% passed.
Historical data provided by CFP Board shows 2,999 hopefuls sat for the test in July 2024, including 1,939 who ultimately made the cut.
The 10 states with the highest number of exam candidates, accounting for more than half of all participants, were:
A post-exam survey conducted by CFP Board found that 38% of candidates pursued certification to demonstrate expertise in their roles, while 32% cited the desire to distinguish themselves as fiduciaries.
Research from Cerulli suggests fiduciary status pays off for financial advisors to the affluent, with 70% of affluent investors surveyed saying they were satisfied with their relationship and not looking for alternatives. In contrast, only 41% of investors who believed their advisor might put firm interests first reported similar satisfaction levels.
Employer support played a role for many, with 41% of exam-takers reporting some level of financial assistance from their firms during the certification process.
Kevin Keller, CEO of the CFP Board, said in a statement that CFP professionals are “setting the standard for the future of financial advice.” He added that the increase in candidates this year “shows the powerful momentum behind CFP certification, and more professionals want to be part of it.”
The CFP exam is offered three times annually, with the next window scheduled for November 3 to 12.
More than 104,000 individuals in the US currently hold the CFP certification, according to CFP Board.
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