Short answer: about two in three candidates pass the CFP® exam. In July 2026, 66% passed (2,388 of 3,621), and in March 2026, 67% passed (2,927 of 4,391, a record number of candidates). Over the last eight windows the pass rate has ranged from 62% to 68%.
CFP® exam pass rates by window
| Window | Sat | Passed | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | 3,621 | 2,388 | 66% |
| Mar 2026 | 4,391 | 2,927 | 67% |
| Nov 2025 | 3,970 | 2,528 | 64% |
| Jul 2025 | 3,214 | 2,045 | 64% |
| Mar 2025 | 3,854 | 2,502 | 65% |
| Nov 2024 | 3,755 | 2,336 | 62% |
| Jul 2024 | 2,999 | 1,939 | 65% |
| Mar 2024 | 3,683 | 2,488 | 68% |
Results are reported only as pass or fail; CFP Board does not publish the passing score as a percentage.
First-time takers pass more often
First-time candidates outperform repeaters window after window. In July 2026, 69% of first-time takers passed (1,910 of 2,768) against 57% of repeaters (490 of 853); in March 2026 the split was 69% and 60%. Your first attempt, well prepared, is your best chance.
Why about a third of candidates fail
- Length: six hours of testing in two 3-hour sections.
- Breadth: eight domains, from professional conduct and tax to estate planning and the psychology of financial planning.
- Case studies: long scenarios whose questions combine several domains at once.
- Application, not recall: CFP Board designs the exam to test how you apply knowledge to realistic situations, not whether you remember definitions.
How to be in the two-thirds who pass
Study every domain in proportion to its weight, practice case studies until reading one is routine, and sit full-length timed exams before test day. Our guide to how to pass the CFP® exam covers the format and a study plan, and the free CFP® practice test shows where you stand today.
Passing Rate LLC is an independent provider of exam-preparation materials and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.