Financial Planning

The Executive Certificate in Financial Planning is a graduate-level program that fulfills the education requirement for the CFP® Certification Examination.* Whether you're a seasoned professional or forging a new path in the financial services industry, this program is designed for you.

It's the only in-person, postgraduate program in the region that will equip you with the essential skills, training, and knowledge needed to prepare for the CFP® Exam. Complete your studies in approximately nine months while balancing a full-time job or other courses.

*Duquesne University does not certify individuals. The CFP® mark is granted solely by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to individuals who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met ethics, experience, and examination requirements.

The Executive Certificate in Financial Planning program is approved by the following: GI Bill or VA education benefits. Contact us for more information about this opportunity. 

Program Details

  • The Executive Certificate in Financial Planning is a non-credit program.
  • The program starts in September and ends in May.
  • Classes are on a weekend schedule.
  • The majority of classes are in-person with occasional live synchronous classes. 

Applications for August 2026 will open soon!

View the Course Schedule

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Apply to the CFP Program

Degree

Certificate

School

Palumbo-Donahue School of Business

Program Contact

Jen Milcarek

Program Director, Investment Strategy Institute & CFP® Certification Education Programs

Photo of Jen Milcarek.

Admission Requirements

Individuals who have completed an undergraduate program of study and who demonstrate the ability to succeed in a rigorous, accelerated program of are considered for acceptance. This program adheres to all Duquesne University guidelines for non-discrimination.

Application Process

  1. Submit your application
  2. Set up your Duquesne applicant account
  3. Submit a current resume via your applicant account or send it directly to milcarekjFREEDUQUESNE.
  4. Submit an official transcript from your undergraduate institution via your applicant account or send it directly to milcarekjFREEDUQUESNE. Most universities have a digital delivery system for official transcripts. Visit your university's registrar page for details.
  5. Applications will be reviewed after all required documents are received. If accepted, your place in the next cohort is secure when a deposit is received.

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Apply to the Executive Certificate in Financial Planning program.

2026-2027 Schedule & Curriculum

  • Friday, August 28 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, August 29 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)
  • Friday, September 11 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, September 12 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)

Assessments, Quizzes, Case Study, and Final Exam due: 9/19/2026

  • Friday, September 25 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, September 26 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)
  • Friday, October 9 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, October 10 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)

Assessments, Quizzes, Case Study, and Final Exam due: 10/17/2026

  • Friday, October 23 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, October 24 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)
  • Friday, November 6 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, November 7 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)
  • Friday, November 20 | 5 AM–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, November 21 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)

Assessments, Quizzes, Case study, and Final Exam due: 11/28/2026
  • Friday, December 4 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, December 5 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)
  • Friday, December 11 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, December 12 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)
  • Friday, January 8 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, January 9 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)

Assessments, Quizzes, Case Study, and Final Exam due: 1/16/2027

  • Friday, January 22 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, January 23 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)
  • Friday, February 5 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, February 6 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)
  • Friday, February 19 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, February 20 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)

Assessments, Quizzes, Case Study, and Final Exam due: 2/27/2027
  • Friday, March 12 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, March 13 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)
  • Friday, March 19 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, March 20 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)
  • Friday, April 2 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, April 3 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)

Assessments, Quizzes, Case Study, and Final Exam due: 4/10/2027

  • Friday, April 16 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, April 17 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)
  • Friday, April 30 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, May 1 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)
  • Friday, May 14 | 5–9 PM (4 hours)
  • Saturday, May 16 | 9 AM–5 PM (8 hours)

Assessments, Quizzes, Case Study, and Final Exam due: TBD

The Capstone Case course is 45 hours in total, consisting of 36 hours of class time and 9 hours for case projects, including outside meetings with the Instructor and student teams.
Each section has mandatory, online assessments which consist of: 
  • (8) Quizzes
  • (1) Case Study
  • (1) Practice Exam
  • (1) Final Exam

Assessments are due one week after the end of the material at 11:59 p.m. (e.g. If class ends on September 30, all assessments are due October 7) There are required assessments for each Kaplan section: 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, and 517.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tuition for our program is $5,495 plus books and materials. (Books are not included in the tuition and are purchased by the student directly from Kaplan Financial. Books are approximately $750-$850. Duquesne University does not sell the books.)

  • A $1,000 non-refundable tuition deposit is due upon admission. The additional tuition balance must be paid in full by the established deadline. Payment must be paid in full before the first class and by established deadlines unless you enroll in the University-approved payment plan.
  • The University-approved payment plan option requires 50% of tuition to be paid by the established deadline and carries a sign-up fee and an interest charge on the subsequent two monthly payments.
  • Before applying, you should assess your financial ability to pay. 
  • Related expenses not covered in tuition may include: campus or nearby parking costs, food and beverages, transportation, a financial calculator, and a device with internet access for required online assessments.
University or Federal Financial Aid is not available for this program.

The program is approved by the GI Bill or VA Education Benefits. Veterans need to provide DD-214 to the University’s VA Certifying Officer. Please email Jennifer Milcarek at milcarekj@duq.edu for more information.
This program is non-credit and part-time, so you will not qualify for loan deferrals while enrolled.
We do not offer third-party or corporate billing. If an employer is willing to cost-share or cover part or all of the tuition, you will need to make arrangements to pay in full by the deadline with your employer. Tuition invoices will be made directly to the student only.

All cancellations must be in writing and sent via email to milcarekj@duq.edu. Cancellations must be received three weeks before the first day of class to avoid additional charges. The tuition deposit is non-refundable.

  1. If the University cancels a cohort before the start of classes, a full refund will be issued.
  2. If a student withdraws from a cohort after the cancellation deadline for his/her reasons but classes continue in any mode, no refund will be issued.
  3. If the university changes course delivery to a live synchronous mode (students receive live instruction but delivered remotely), then no refund will be issued. Options to continue in self-study or asynchronous modalities via Kaplan are available.
  4. If the university changes course delivery mode and student does not continue in live synchronous instruction or one of the other Kaplan options, no refund will be issued. Student may return to complete modules in the next in-person cohort offered at Duquesne University.
  5. Portions of the scheduled in-person modules such as tests, finals, and possible university calendar conflicts are already planned to be completed online to maximize classroom material coverage. These situations do not constitute a change in delivery mode and are not subject to other refund policies.
Petitions for deferment must be submitted in writing and sent via email to milcarekj@duq.edu and must be received 3 weeks before the first day of class. Applicants may defer an offer of admission and deposit toward enrollment for one year. Application materials are valid for one calendar year from the start of the program for which the applicant has been accepted.
This program is a registered and approved program by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM, and CFP (with flame logo)®, which it awards to individuals who complete initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Please refer to the following resources:

Estimates and anecdotal evidence suggest approximately 7-10 hours per week, in addition to class time. Another suggestion is that for each hour spent in class, you should spend two hours studying.