Financial planning

A holder of a diploma issued by the Institut québécois de planification financière authorized under a certificate issued by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) to act in the financial planning sector uses the title of "financial planner" or the abbreviation "F.Pl". It is the same for any member of a professional order who has entered into an agreement with the AMF if they meet the requirements of their order (see "Exceptions").

How to obtain a representative's certificate:

Step 1: Satisfy the minimum qualifications

The Regulation respecting the issuance and renewal of representatives' certificates (D-9.2, r. 7) sets out the minimum qualifications required for each sector or sector class.

For financial planning:

Step 2: Submit an application for certification

Send a duly completed certificate application to the AMF.  

Requirements for obtaining a financial planner's certificate

The candidate must have successfully passed the exam leading to the issuance of an IQPF diploma a maximum of 6 yearsThe date used to calculate the 6-year period is the date the exam was passed and not the date the diploma was issued, if those two dates differ before submitting his or her certificate application.

A candidate having successfully passed the IQPF exam more than 6 years ago nonetheless has the opportunity to demonstrate that he or she has applied the competencies acquired through obtaining this diploma. And so, over and above being the holder of an IQPF diploma, the candidate has to:

  • Have held an AMF certificate in the financial planning sector for two yearsThe two-year period need not be continuous. The total period during which an AMF certificate was held must total 2 or more years after having added all periods during which the candidate was licensed over the past six years. in the past six years and have met his or her continuing education obligations; or
  • Submit evidence that he or she has completed 40 continuing education credits as prescribed in the Regulation respecting the compulsory professional development of financial planners (D-9.2, r. 14.1) in the past six yearsThe continuing education credits need not have been accumulated in a 24-month period. The candidate must nonetheless have cumulated 40 credits in the proportions prescribed in the Regulation respecting the compulsory professional development of financial planners.; or
  • Have been authorized to use the title of financial planner for at least two years in the past six years, according to an agreement between his or her professional orderMay include the Ordre des administrateurs agréés du Québec (Adm.A.) or, until September 30, 2022, the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec (CPA), comprising former CA, CGA and CMA.  and the AMF.

Otherwise, the candidate has to successfully pass the IQPF exam once more.

Exceptions: members of a professional order who have entered into an agreement with the AMF

The Ordre des administrateurs agréés du Québec (Adm.A.) has entered into an agreement with the AMF to allow its members to use the title of financial planner.

Adm.A. members who hold a diploma in financial planning issued by the Institut québécois de planification financière (IQPF) are, for such time as they meet the requirements and comply with the rules determined by their order, authorized to use the title of financial planner.

The Ordre des administrateurs agréés du Québec regulates and supervises its members who use the title of financial planner or purport to offer financial planning services. These do not need to hold a certificate issued by the AMF in the sector of financial planning in order to use the title of financial planner or purport to offer financial planning services.

However, this agreement does not apply to an Adm.A. member:

  • who is registered as a representative in accordance with Title III of the Derivatives Act (chapter I-14.01) or Title V of the Securities Act (chapter V-1.1); or
  • who holds a certificate issued by the AMF under the Act respecting the distribution of financial products and services in a sector other than financial planning; or
  • who is an executive officer or employee of a firm registered in a sector other than financial planning, where the member acts in the field of financial planning for the firm.