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

1.      Meet one of the following prerequisites:

a.       Possess a professional financial certification/designation or

b.       Professional financial license (securities, insurance, accounting, etc.), or

c.       A combination of education and experience deemed satisfactory by the NACFF Advisory Council.

2.       Pass a full background check and be in good standing with all state and federal license requirements:

a.       NACFF will review FINRA’s BrokerCheck Report and reports from applicable licensing entities. Negative information may result in denial of an application.

b.       Applicants have the right to appeal such denials.

3.       Successfully complete the NACFF online training course, OR a training program for financial fiduciary practice approved as equivalent (If offered), OR a live one-day training class (if offered).

4.       Agree to uphold the Certified Financial Fiduciary® Code of Conduct.

5.       Agree to comply with all certification requirements, including:

a.       Rules for use of the certification marks;

b.       Satisfying the continuing education requirements that may change from time to time

c.       To make claims regarding certification only with respect to the scope for which certification has been granted;

d.       Not to use the certification in such a manner as to bring the certification body into disrepute, and not to make any statement regarding the certification which the certification body considers misleading or unauthorized;

e.       To discontinue the use of all claims to certification that contain any reference to the certification body or certification upon suspension or withdrawal of certification, and to return any certificates issued by the certification body;

f.       Not to use the certificate in a misleading manner.

6.       Complete the certification application and have the application approved to proceed to the exam.

7.       Agree to the exam terms, including confidentiality of the exam content.

8.       Pass the certification exam.

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

Candidates that fail the certification exam on the first attempt will be allowed one additional attempt at no cost. If a candidate fails both attempts, NACFF may require the candidate to take additional education and pay a re-testing fee at NACFF’s sole discretion.