Financial professionals seeking to obtain the Certified Financial Fiduciary® designation must meet the following criteria. 

Prior to being awarded the Certified Financial Fiduciary designation, applicants must:

1. Meet one of the following prerequisites:
   1. Possess a professional financial certification/designation or
   2. Professional financial license (securities, insurance, accounting, etc.), or
   3. A combination of education and experience deemed satisfactory by the NACFF® Advisory Council.
2. Successfully complete the NACFF one-day in-person training, complete the NACFF online training course, or a training program for financial fiduciary practice approved as equivalent. For a list of approved training providers, click here.
3. Agree to uphold the NACFF® code of conduct, and comply with all certification requirements, including the use of the NACFF certification marks.
4. Complete the certification application and have the application approved to proceed to the exam.
5. Agree to the exam terms, including confidentiality of the exam content.
6. Pass the certification exam.
7. Pass a full background check and be in good standing with all state and federal license requirements.

Upon receipt of an application for certification, NACFF staff shall promptly review the application for completeness and payment of fees. Individuals submitting an incomplete application, or the wrong fees, will immediately be notified of such.

Complete applications shall be processed in accordance with NACFF policies and procedures. Approved applicants will be provided information on how to complete the application steps, including taking the certification exam and compliance with ethical policies.

Certification shall not be granted before all requirements have been successfully completed by the applicant.

Download NACFF Candidate Handbook