Family Financial Planning

Financial planners are increasingly in demand as Americans seek advisers to help manage their income, assets, and debts. The Family Financial Planning 18-credit certificate equips you for a career serving individuals, families, and small businesses. Upon completion, you will be qualified to sit for the Certified Financial Planner® Certification Examination. Set your own direction while enhancing your personal finance knowledge.

SDSU's Family Financial Planning certificate program is the first and only CFP® Board-Registered program in the state. Only graduates of CFP® Board-Registered programs are eligible to take the certification examination.

• Have strong communication skills (written, oral and interpersonal)
• Enjoy working with numbers
• Are an analytical thinker
• Are inquisitive by nature
• Like to solve problems

• A minimum GPA of 3.0 to receive unconditional admission. 
• A professional academic transcript evaluation for degrees earned outside the United States (This requirement cannot be waived unless your highest degree was earned or will be earned in the U.S. prior to enrollment at SDSU).
  • If you are completing your bachelor's degree at the time of application, you may submit an incomplete evaluation. If you are accepted, a complete transcript and/or evaluation with completed degree will be required by the end of your first semester of coursework.
• Official U.S. transcripts where a degree is earned (or will be earned), and official U.S. transcripts where graduate level coursework has been taken.
• A minimum TOEFL score of 71, TOEFL Essentials score of 7.5, IELTS score of 6 or Duolingo score of 100.
  • SDSU accepts MyBest TOFEL scores. 
  • Some programs have higher minimum requirements. Find program specific requirements by selecting your program of interest in the Graduate Catalog.

• Financial analyst
• Financial consultant
• Financial planner
• Estate planner
• Retirement planner
• Insurance specialist
• Real estate agent