{"type":"ethics_ce_requirements","title":"Ethics CE requirements for financial advisors","lead":"As of Oct 5, 2026, required ethics CE is 2 hours per 2-year cycle for CFP, CIMA, CPWA and RMA; 1 hour per 2-year cycle for ChFC, CLU, RICP and 7 more; and at least 3 credits per year for IAR in states that have adopted IAR CE; CFA Institute recommends 2 credits per year in Standards, Ethics and Regulations for CFA; FINRA and MQP have no separate ethics requirement.","as_of":"2026-10-05","facts":{"ethics_ce_by_designation":[{"applies_to":["CFP"],"status":"required","ethics_requirement":"2 hours of ethics CE per 2-year cycle.","ethics_amount":"2 hours per 2-year cycle","later_change":null,"what_counts":"Ethics must be a CFP Board-approved Code and Standards program.","qualifier":null,"confirmed":true,"verified_at":"2026-10-05","source_url":"https://www.cfp.net/for-cfp-pros/continuing-education/continuing-education-requirements","requirements_page":"/ce/requirements/cfp/"},{"applies_to":["CIMA","CPWA","RMA"],"status":"required","ethics_requirement":"2 hours of ethics CE per 2-year cycle.","ethics_amount":"2 hours per 2-year cycle","later_change":null,"what_counts":"One set of hours counts for every active CIMA, CPWA and RMA certification.","qualifier":null,"confirmed":true,"verified_at":"2026-10-05","source_url":"https://investmentsandwealth.org/rma-renewal-requirements","requirements_page":"/ce/requirements/iwi/"},{"applies_to":["CFA"],"status":"recommended","ethics_requirement":"Recommended, not required: 2 credits per year in Standards, Ethics and Regulations.","ethics_amount":"2 credits per year in Standards, Ethics and Regulations","later_change":null,"what_counts":"As the body words it: \"at least 20 PL credits (including two credits in the areas of Standards, Ethics, and Regulations) throughout the membership year\"","qualifier":null,"confirmed":true,"verified_at":"2026-10-05","source_url":"https://www.cfainstitute.org/membership/professional-development/pl","requirements_page":"/ce/requirements/cfa/"},{"applies_to":["ChFC","CLU","RICP","CAP","CASL","ChSNC","CLF","FSCP","TPCP","WMCP"],"status":"required","ethics_requirement":"1 hour of ethics CE per 2-year cycle.","ethics_amount":"1 hour per 2-year cycle","later_change":null,"what_counts":"Non-client-facing designees complete at least 1 hour of ethics CE every two years instead. Credits approved for state CE, CFP, CPE, CLE and IAR CE count if earned within your period. 50 minutes of attendance is one credit hour, and programs under 50 minutes do not count.","qualifier":null,"confirmed":true,"verified_at":"2026-10-05","source_url":"https://www.theamericancollege.edu/sites/default/files/recertification-program-guidelines.pdf","requirements_page":"/ce/requirements/american-college/"},{"applies_to":["IAR"],"status":"required","ethics_requirement":"At least 3 credits of ethics CE per year, within 6 credits of Ethics and Professional Responsibility.","ethics_amount":"at least 3 credits per year","later_change":null,"what_counts":"As the body words it: \"six (6) Credits of IAR Regulatory and Ethics Content offered by an Authorized Provider, with at least three (3) hours covering the topic of ethics\"","qualifier":"in states that have adopted IAR CE","confirmed":true,"verified_at":"2026-10-05","source_url":"https://www.nasaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NASAA-IAR-CE-Model-Rule.pdf","requirements_page":"/ce/requirements/iar/"},{"applies_to":["FINRA"],"status":"none","ethics_requirement":"No separate ethics requirement. FINRA requires the annual Regulatory Element for each registration category held, with content assigned by FINRA, due December 31 and not measured in hours.","ethics_amount":null,"later_change":null,"what_counts":"Not applicable. The content is assigned, not chosen.","qualifier":null,"confirmed":true,"verified_at":"2026-10-05","source_url":"https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/rulebooks/finra-rules/1240","requirements_page":"/ce/requirements/finra/"},{"applies_to":["MQP"],"status":"none","ethics_requirement":"No separate ethics requirement. FINRA requires the continuing education FINRA assigns each year for each terminated registration you keep, a Regulatory Element and a Practical Element, due December 31 and not measured in hours.","ethics_amount":null,"later_change":null,"what_counts":"Not applicable. The content is assigned, not chosen.","qualifier":null,"confirmed":true,"verified_at":"2026-10-05","source_url":"https://www.finra.org/registration-exams-ce/qualification-exams/mqp","requirements_page":"/ce/requirements/finra/"}],"not_confirmed_designations":["CIMC","DAFCP"],"upcoming_industry_webinars_stating_ethics_credit":[]},"sources":[{"url":"https://www.cfp.net/for-cfp-pros/continuing-education/continuing-education-requirements","checked":"2026-10-05","quote":"required to complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE) each reporting period"},{"url":"https://investmentsandwealth.org/rma-renewal-requirements","checked":"2026-10-05","quote":"40 CE hours within each two-year renewal period"},{"url":"https://www.cfainstitute.org/membership/professional-development/pl","checked":"2026-10-05","quote":"at least 20 PL credits (including two credits in the areas of Standards, Ethics, and Regulations) throughout the membership year"},{"url":"https://www.theamericancollege.edu/sites/default/files/recertification-program-guidelines.pdf","checked":"2026-10-05","quote":"client-facing designees will be required to complete 30 hours of CE every two years"},{"url":"https://www.nasaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NASAA-IAR-CE-Model-Rule.pdf","checked":"2026-10-05","quote":"six (6) Credits of IAR Regulatory and Ethics Content offered by an Authorized Provider, with at least three (3) hours covering the topic of ethics"},{"url":"https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/rulebooks/finra-rules/1240","checked":"2026-10-05","quote":"shall complete the Regulatory Element for the registration category annually by December 31"},{"url":"https://www.finra.org/registration-exams-ce/qualification-exams/mqp","checked":"2026-10-05","quote":"a maximum of five years in which to reregister with a member firm without having to requalify by exam"}],"related":[{"title":"CE calculator","url":"https://advisoriq.com/ce/"},{"title":"CE tracker","url":"https://advisoriq.com/ce/tracker/"},{"title":"CE requirements, with sources","url":"https://advisoriq.com/ce/requirements/"},{"title":"When is my CE due?","url":"https://advisoriq.com/ce/due/"},{"title":"CE webinars from around the industry","url":"https://advisoriq.com/webinars/industry/"},{"title":"CFP requirements","url":"https://advisoriq.com/ce/requirements/cfp/"},{"title":"CIMA, CPWA, RMA and CIMC requirements","url":"https://advisoriq.com/ce/requirements/iwi/"},{"title":"CFA requirements","url":"https://advisoriq.com/ce/requirements/cfa/"},{"title":"American College (ChFC, CLU, RICP) requirements","url":"https://advisoriq.com/ce/requirements/american-college/"},{"title":"IAR CE by state requirements","url":"https://advisoriq.com/ce/requirements/iar/"},{"title":"FINRA CE requirements","url":"https://advisoriq.com/ce/requirements/finra/"}],"notes":["Requirements shown are summaries. Your designation body and state regulator have the final word."],"url":"https://advisoriq.com/ce/ethics/","citation":"AdvisorIQ, as of 2026-10-05. https://advisoriq.com/ce/ethics/","license":"https://advisoriq.com/license/","publisher":"AdvisorIQ, independent education for financial advisors","disclaimer":"Summaries of rules set by designation bodies and regulators, which have the final word."}