The Executive Certificate in Financial Planning is a graduate certificate program
offered to fulfill the education requirement to sit for the CFP® Exam*. The only in-person,
postgraduate program in the region, it is designed for individuals new to the financial
services industry and seasoned professionals.
The certificate is particularly appealing to those currently employed in or interested
in entering the financial services industry. It provides the skills, training, and
knowledge to succeed in the financial services industry, as well as meeting the education
required to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination.
This schedule allows you to complete your studies in approximately nine months while maintaining a full-time job or taking other courses in degree programs.
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. Please contact us for more information about this
opportunity.
Program Features
Live One-Hour Informational webinars will be presented by the Program Director to
show you how to level up your career.
Graduate Executive Education certificate from Duquesne University Graduate School
of Business
A CFP® Board registered and approved education program
Live, in-person instruction
Successful completion of the curriculum allows participants to sit for the CFP® Certification
Examination
Acceptance is considered for individuals who have completed an undergraduate program
of study and who demonstrate the ability to succeed in a rigorous, accelerated program
of study. This program follows all university guidelines for non-discrimination.
Submit a current resume - via applicant account or send directly to milcarekjFREEDUQUESNE.
Submit an official transcript from your undergraduate institution - via applicant
account or send directly to milcarekj@duq.edu. Most schools have a digital delivery
system for official transcripts. Go to your institution's registrar page for those
specifics.
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.
An overview of specific areas of financial planning - income tax planning, investment
planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and intro to concepts of time value
of money, education/retirement funding, and insurance planning. A financial calculator,
such as an HP 12C, is required for this course.
An introduction to investment strategies, portfolio allocation theory and application,
debt and equity securities, portfolio management strategies, determining a client's
risk tolerance and goals, and managing an investment portfolio that incorporates a
client's level of risk.
A study of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, other tax-advantaged plans,
employee benefits, and an overview of the Social Security, disability and health care
programs.
A focus on the federal income tax system to include gross income inclusions, exclusions,
deductions, exemptions, credits, income taxation of individuals, sole proprietorships,
partnerships, LLC's, corporations (including S corporations), taxation avoidance,
and minimization alternatives.
An intro to estate planning and taxation, tax implications of gifts and bequests for
tax avoidance and minimization techniques.
Classes are held in person every other weekend on campus - Friday eve from 5:00 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. and Saturdays
from 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Every effort is made to ensure that classes meet every
other weekend, but holidays and local events may sometimes alter the schedule. (If
local health conditions require a shift to remote or online learning, we adhere to
the existing course calendar. Please refer to our cancellation policy for more information.)
We offer two start dates each year - April and September. Rolling admissions for the
next available start date are open. Course assessments include quizzes, final exams,
and a group case presentation. A passing grade on the final exam is 70%.
Frequently Asked Questions
We offer two separate cohorts start dates each year - April and September. Each cohort
will run for nine (9) months ending in May and December respectively.
The program is delivered in person on the Duquesne University campus conducted Friday evenings 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays
8.45 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Quizzes and exams are completed online. The cohort calendar
is established to run every other weekend in this format with exceptions due to University
or National holidays and to meet CFP Board verification deadlines.
There is a significant amount of time and effort required to participate in this program.
There is no formula to provide an exact amount of time but estimates and anecdotal
evidence suggests approximately 7-10 hours per week hours per week in addition to
the class time. Another suggested formula is for every hour in the classroom, you
should spend two outside – one in preparation and one in review.
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. Duquesne University does not sell the books).
Payment must be paid in full before the first class and by established deadlines unless
you enroll in the University approved payment plan.This payment plan option carries a sign-up fee and an interest charge for the subsequent
two monthly payments.
There is no University or Federal Financial Aid available for this program.
This program is considered non-credit and part-time and will not qualify for loan
deferrals while enrolled.
There is no third party or corporate billing. If an employer is willing to cost share
or cover a portion or all of the tuition, the student will need to make arrangements
for payment in full by the deadline with his/her employer. Tuition invoices will be
made directly to the student only.
Students should evaluate their own financial means for payment before applying.
Related expenses not covered in tuition might include: campus or nearby parking costs, food and beverages, transportation expenses, financial
calculator, internet access device for required online assessments (quizzes, case
studies, final exams).
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 successfully complete initial and ongoing certification
requirements
GI Bill or VA education benefits; Veterans will need to provide his/her DD-214 to
the University’s VA Certifying Officer. Please email Jennifer Milcarek at milcarekj@duq.edu for more information.
