NAPA Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor

The Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC) credential is available as an 
alternative to the CPFA^® credential. The coursework and exam are the same 
for both credentials. NAPA members may use the QPFC credential if their 
broker/dealer does not allow the CPFA^® credential.

NAPA CPFA^®/QPFC Exam
$440

NAPA CPFA^®/QPFC Modules
$550

NAPA’s Broker-Dealer and RIA Firm Partners are eligible for volume discounts on proctored exams.

NAPA Credentialed Maintenance Fees/NAPA Membership Dues
$81 with NAPA Firm Partner *
$690 with no NAPA Firm Partner affiliation **

* Please Note: If you currently hold other designations in other American Retirement Association organizations and add a CPFA® to your current designations, your dues will be different than above. Contact Customer Care with questions.

** Membership dues include your credential maintenance fee.

You can obtain the NAPA CPFA®/QPFC by successfully passing the NAPA CPFA® Exam, consisting of 70 multiple-choice questions. The exam is proctored and delivered online through YouTestMe.

You’ll have 2.5 hours to complete the exam. It can take up to three (3) business days to receive your results.  

You can sign-up for the NAPA CPFA^®/QPFC by purchasing the education modules or going straight to purchasing the exam. If you have been invited to a CPFA™ virtual classroom, please reference your confirmation email or reach out to Customer Care.

It depends on your skill and knowledge, but the Prep Course should only take you about 10 hours. If you are enrolled in a Virtual Classroom, the timing will depend on the time from sign-up until the Live Bootcamp.

No specific experience level is required, but if you are new to retirement plan sales, you might find it helpful to begin with NAPA’s 401(k) Practice Builder Certificate Program.

To study for the examination, candidates may purchase the online Prep Course. The Prep Course contains:

• Course Reading Material
• Case studies based on real life situations
• Test your knowledge and Assessment questions, which mimic the questions found on the exam
• Additional resources for continuous learning

Pending a purchase of the exam you will be registered within 3 business days.

If you are in a Virtual Classroom, you have already been enrolled in the exam and will have 60 days from the date of the live event to take your exam. Questions about exam registration can be directed to the NAPA Customer Care Team.  

An exam retake may be purchased for a cost of $420.

Yes. NAPA CPFA®/QPFC credential holders, through NAPA Firm Partners, must pay an annual $81 fee (subject to change) to maintain their credential. Included in the fee are five complimentary NAPA webcasts (which includes one on ethics); you’ll earn CE credits for each webcast.

Non-Firm Partner CPFA/QPFCs will pay the full membership fee of $690 (subject to change). View list of NAPA Firm Partners.

In general, you will need to complete 10 CE hours per calendar year, starting the calendar year following when you earned the designation. For full details and information on CE, please visit our Education Policies Page, read through the Candidate Handbook, and the NAPA CE Policy 

Once you’ve passed the exam, you will submit your credential application here.

Names appear on the NAPA Credential Check page in the beginning of the month following when your designation was approved. Example: Your application to earn the CPFA^®/QPFC is approved on November 10, 2024. Your name will appear on the NAPA Credential Check website sometime in the first two weeks of December.

You can request a copy of the Broker-Dealer Kit here.

Yes. It is always important to check with your broker-dealer to ensure you can advertise any credential prior to its use.

• 10 – ASPPA CE
• 10 – ERPA
• 10 – NAPA Relevant Topics
• 10 – NTSA
• 5 – CFP^®

Congratulations on passing your NAPA Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA®) exam and earning your NAPA CPFA®/QPFC Credential! Learn more about next steps by visiting our NAPA CPFA®/QPFC Credential Holders page.