Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB) recently announced that it has entered into a licensing and affiliation agreement with the Financial Planning Standards Council of China (FPSCC) to become the exclusive administrator of the CFP certification program in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

“Financial Planning Standards Board is pleased to have found a partner of the calibre of FPSCC in China to help us establish a financial planning profession centred on the principles and standards of the CFP certification marks,” said FPSB Chairperson Elaine Bedel.

“By introducing the internationally-recognized CFP certification standards to China, FPSCC will improve the competency and skills of China’s financial services practitioners and improve the public’s confidence in the quality and advice of China’s financial planning practitioners.” said Liu Hongru, FPSCC’s chairman.

Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC), the Canadian affiliate and licensor of the CFP credential in Canada, and the largest affiliate of FPSB, welcomes its newest member to the growing roster of countries offering CFP certification.

“Bringing CFP certification to China will benefit this vast population with a body of professionals who will be trained and competent in the professional delivery of financial planning services,” said FPSC president and CEO Donald Johnston.

To assist FPSCC introduce CFP certification to China, FPSB and FPSCC relied on an International Advisory Panel made up of certification and standards experts from Canada, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and the United States. Cary List, FPSC’s COO and executive vp, spent two weeks in Beijing in December 2005 working with Liu and FPSCC staff on all aspects of CFP certification.

“The determination and commitment of the FPSCC team that we experienced firsthand was quite remarkable,” said List. “With the work we have seen to date, we have no doubt that the CFP credential will thrive in China.”