CFP® Certification Financial Planning Education Program (CFP)
CFP® Certification Financial Planning Education Program
Prepare for your CFP® certification close to home in less than a year! The CFP® Certification Financial Planning Education Program at Elizabethtown College is offered through a collaborative partnership between Etown's School of Business, School of Graduate and Professional Studies, and industry leader, Dalton Education.
Registered with and approved by the CFP Board®, the curriculum in these six post-baccalaureate courses satisfy the coursework required to take the CFP® exam, including the completion of a comprehensive financial plan (capstone course).
Ideal for individuals who would like to advance their career in wealth management and financial planning, Etown's program is designed to deliver comprehensive financial planning instruction with an emphasis on high quality services according to clients’ needs, financial goals, and risk profile.
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Program Formats:


Credits Required: 18
Tuition:
- $400/Credit
- 15% Alumni Scholarship
- 15% Affinity Partner Scholarship
Tuition and fees are reviewed and subject to change annually.
Program Features:
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A CFP Board® registered and approved education program. Successful completion of the curriculum allows participants to sit for the CFP® exam.
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Dedicated faculty deliver course series via a hybrid model at convenient locations designed for demanding schedules of working professionals.
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Devoted faculty and staff focusing on your success in passing the CFP® exam and career advances.
CFP® Certification Education Program Requirements
Application Requirements
Admissions Requirements
- Official transcripts conferring a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (A GPA waiver can be granted based on professional work experience and other factors).
- Three years of relevant work experience is preferred but not required.
Application Deadlines: This program has rolling admissions. See the SGPS academic calendar for registration deadlines.
Application Process
Please feel free to contact or meet with our admissions team at any point during the application process. Our admissions counselors are not only a great resource to guide you through the process and answer questions, they are skilled at helping our applicants find the best program and options to help them reach their goals!
How to Apply: Complete the graduate application process via the online portal which includes:
- Submitting a $25 nonrefundable application fee (Waived for Elizabethtown College graduates)
- Requesting official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended
- Uploading your current resume
- Uploading a personal statement demonstrating your commitment to professional advancement and contribution to financial planning and advisory
- Submitting Two Letters of Recommendation
- OPTIONAL: Upload proof of certification in CPA, CMA, CIA, CFA or other credentials related to financial services
Career Outlook
Career Opportunities:
- Director of Financial Planning
- Senior Financial Advisor
- Wealth Manager
- Financial Planning Manager
- Senior Financial Advisor
- Senior Financial Planner/Wealth Manager
- Senior Financial Analyst
Job Postings in the Region:
with a projected job increase of nearly 13% through 2023
Source: Burning Glass Technologies ©
Top Employers Hiring:
- Verizon Communications Incorporated
- Citi
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Johnson & Johnson
- The Bank of New York Mellon
- Aetna Incorporated
- Comcast
Source: Burning Glass Technologies ©


Meet Your
Program Director

Dr. Emma Neuhauser
Our experienced Admissions staff is here to help. Fill out a brief contact form and one of our counselors will reach out to guide you on your way.
Program Faculty
- Brian M. Balduzzi, Esq., Tax LL.M., MBA, CFP®
- M.B.A., Minor in Real Estate, S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
- Tax LL.M., Boston University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts
- J.D., Boston University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts
- B.A. in English, Secondary Education, Minor in Theatre.SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, New York
- Private Client Services Attorney, Faegre Drinker
- Erick A. Blank | CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®,
- Business Administration Major, Concentration in Finance, Minor in Economics, Elizabethtown College
- Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual: http://erickblank.nm.com/
- Brooke Petersen, CFP®, ChFC®
- B.S., Economics, Villanova University’s School of Business
- Investment Consultant, Conrad Siegel
- Jared Miller, CPA
- MS, Taxation, Villanova University
- BS, Economics with an Accounting and Finance concentration, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania
- Lecture in Accounting, Elizabethtown College
- Emma Neuhauser, PhD
- PhD, Finance, State University of New York at Buffalo
- MSc, Computer Science, National University of Singapore
- BEng, Computer Science, Tianjin Institute of Technology, China
- Associate Professor of Finance, Elizabethtown College