Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree:
The J.D. is a professional law degree required for practicing as an attorney in the U.S. Typically earned through a three-year full-time program, it provides foundational legal education and prepares students for the bar exam.
Completion of a bachelor’s degree and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or, in some cases, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The J.D. curriculum includes core courses such as Contracts, Torts, and Constitutional Law, along with electives.
Graduation Requirements: Completion of approximately 85-90 credit hours, including required coursework and elective classes. Some programs may also require a capstone project or research paper.
Post-Graduation Requirements: Pass the bar exam in the intended practice jurisdiction and undergo a character and fitness evaluation.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA):
Chartered Financial Analysts are licensed by the CFA Institute to use the CFA mark. A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charter is a designation given to those who have completed the CFA® Program and completed acceptable work experience requirements.
The CFA Program is a three-part exam that tests the fundamentals of investment tools, valuing assets, portfolio management, and wealth planning. The CFA Program is typically completed by those with backgrounds in finance, accounting, economics, or business. CFA charterholders earn the right to use the CFA designation after program completion, application, and acceptance by CFA Institute. CFA charterholders are qualified to work in senior and executive positions in investment management, risk management, asset management, and more.
CFA certification requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or have equivalent education or work experience
- Successful completion of all three exam levels of the CFA Program
- Have 48 months of acceptable professional work experience in the investment decision-making process
- Fulfill society requirements, which vary by society. Unless you are upgrading from affiliate membership, all societies require two sponsor statements as part of each application; these are submitted online by your sponsors
- Agree to adhere to and sign the Member’s Agreement, a Professional Conduct Statement, and any additional documentation requested by CFA Institute
Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®):
Accredited by American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Qualification and Educational Requirements: Three years of financial services experience; and satisfactory record of ethical conduct, as determined by Investments & Wealth Institute Admissions Committee. Educational component offered by one of the approved Registered Education Providers, in-class program at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, or online through Yale School of Management. Qualification examination and certification examination (online, proctored).
Continuing education requirements: 40 hours every two years.
Accredited Wealth Management Advisor® (AWMA®)
Offered by the College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company.
Qualification and Educational Requirements: Completion of the AWMA® professional education program, which focuses on wealth management strategies for high-net-worth clients, including estate planning, tax planning, retirement planning, investment planning, and risk management. Candidates must successfully complete the required coursework and examinations to earn the designation.
Continuing Education Requirements: 16 hours every two years.
Minimum qualifications for the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®):
The AIF Designation is currently offered and recognized by the issuing organization. To receive the AIF Designation, the individual must meet a point-based threshold based on a combination of education, relevant industry experience and/or professional development. The candidate must complete the web-based program or the Capstone program and pass the proctored closed book final exam.
Continuing Education Requirements: the individual must annually attest to the Code of Ethics and Conduct Standards and complete a minimum of six hours of continuing education.
Minimum Qualifications for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional I am certified for financial planning services in the United States by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP Board”). Therefore, I may refer to myself as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional or a CFP® professional, and I may use these and CFP Board’s other certification marks (the “CFP Board Certification Marks”). The CFP® certification is voluntary. No federal or state law or regulation requires financial planners to hold the CFP® certification. You may find more information about the CFP® certification at www.cfp.net. CFP® professionals have met CFP Board’s high standards for education, examination, experience, and ethics. To become a CFP® professional, an individual must fulfill the following requirements:
- Education – Earn a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university and complete CFP Board-approved coursework at a college or university through a CFP Board Registered Program. The coursework covers the financial planning subject areas CFP Board has determined are necessary for the competent and professional delivery of financial planning services, as well as a comprehensive financial plan development capstone course. A candidate may satisfy some of the coursework requirement through other qualifying credentials.
- Examination – Pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Examination. The examination is designed to assess an individual’s ability to integrate and apply a broad base of financial planning knowledge in the context of real-life financial planning situations.
- Experience – Complete 6,000 hours of professional experience related to the personal financial planning process, or 4,000 hours of apprenticeship experience that meets additional requirements
- Ethics – Satisfy the Fitness Standards for Candidates for CFP® Certification and Former CFP® Professionals Seeking Reinstatement and agree to be bound by CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct (“Code and Standards”), which sets forth the ethical and practice standards for CFP® professionals.
Individuals who become certified must complete the following ongoing education and ethics requirements to remain certified and maintain the right to continue to use the CFP Board Certification Marks:
- Ethics – Commit to complying with CFP Board’s Code and Standards. This includes a commitment to CFP Board, as part of the certification, to act as a fiduciary, and therefore, act in the best interests of the client, at all times when providing financial advice and financial planning. CFP Board may sanction a CFP® professional who does not abide by this commitment, but CFP Board does not guarantee a CFP® professional’s services. A client who seeks a similar commitment should obtain a written engagement that includes a fiduciary obligation to the client.
- Continuing Education – Complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain competence, demonstrate specified levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities, and keep up with developments in financial planning. Two of the hours must address the Code and Standards.
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