Canada’s Financial Planners Standards Council has joined with 16 other planning organizations, to launch the Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd., a standards-setting body that will guide the development and promotion of international standards for financial planners.

The FPSC and the 16 non-profit associations that together manage the Certified Financial Planner certification process for CFP professionals in 17 countries have joined as members of FPSB. The new international organization is purchasing the CFP certification and service marks outside the U.S. and its territories from Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. of Denver.

There are currently more than 90,000 CFP professionals internationally.

“FPSB and CFP Board recognize their shared interest and responsibility in advancing the standards of the CFP certification program in their respective territories and have agreed to cooperate in this effort,” the FPSC said in a release.

“As CFP certification gains ground internationally, the commitment of the FPSB affiliates and the CFP Board to work together to preserve the integrity of this global brand is increasingly important. FPSB will strive to work with and attract the best and brightest from all regions to help us develop a financial planning profession respected everywhere,” FPSC President Don Johnston said in the release.

Canada’s FPSC will continue to play an influential role internationally. The 16,000 CFP professionals in Canada represent the largest proportion of CFP professionals among the FPSB affiliates and the largest portion on a domestic per capita basis in the world.