Really, When Will the July 2008 CFP® Exam Results Be Mailed?
Update #3: 09/18/2008 2:16PM PDT: Reports are coming in that exam results letters have arrived in the mail. Check the comments below!
Update #2: 09/16/2008 2:42PM PDT: Carol Lee Roberts posted again to the Financial-Planning.com discussion boards. Among other things, she wrote, “There will be an update posted on the Board website today and I will also post the content here.” Click here to read her latest remarks.
The CFP Board website has the following statement:
NOTICE: Results from the July 2008 CFP® Certification Examination were mailed on September 16, 2008 to the preferred mailing address of each exam taker. Results will be posted to the secure online CFP Board accounts of exam takers on or about September 22, 2008. Exam results will NOT be released over the phone, by fax or by e-mail. CFP Board wishes all exam takers the best as they receive their results.
Update #1: 09/15/2008 2:21PM PDT: Carol Lee Roberts, Managing Director of Examinations and Education at the CFP Board, has addressed concerns over the delay of exam results on the Financial-Planning.com discussion boards. Click here to read Carol’s response.
Carol’s comments refer to an email sent to registered candidates on August 15. I didn’t receive the email. The last message I received was the August 14th email about the Exam Candidate Questionnaire notification that was sent in error. Other commenters at FPPad also did not receive the August 15 email. What about you?
Finally, I have some solid new news related to the release of the July 2008 CFP® Exam results!
The odd thing is (perhaps not so odd considering the past) that my exam review provider, Ken Zahn, has been more proactive on the communication front than the CFP Board.
My last post on the matter indicated that results were expected to be mailed by the end of last week. Again, Ken Zahn received the following information and posted it for review students this morning:
Letters will be mailed Monday 9/15 and available online on or about 9/22.
So if the letters are mailed today, Monday the 15th, I suppose I should expect mine to arrive by Saturday or even as late as the 22nd, since I’m all the way across the country from Washington, DC.
Thanks, Ken, for keeping your review students in the loop during this anxious period. Without your feedback, we’d all be in worse spirits than some of us are right now (see all the comments on my last exam results post!).
Get FPPad updates via RSS or 
get updates by Email
September 15th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Did anyone else notice that the notification from Ken Zahn indicated that the CFP board said that “all test takers receive an email notification of this fact” (that results were being mailed). I have had no communication from the CFP board other than the phone calls I made to them.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:54 am
[...] Update 09/15/08 8:53AM PDT: If you landed here on a search, click here to read the latest post about exam results! [...]
September 15th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I called the CFP board today and they said the results were delayed and they now do not know when the results will be sent out. Depending on who you talk to at the CFP board, explanations vary from “there was a glitch” to “technical difficulties” to “we have not been given any information, any information you have been given is incorrect.” So frustrating! It’s been almost 9 weeks!
September 15th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I never received the email supposedly sent out on 8/15 that Carol references. Like you, I did, however, receive the erroneous exam candidate questionnaire notification.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I did not receive the August 15th email either (but did receive the erroneous email)
September 15th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
It seems no one received the email Carol mentioned. Maybe she’s not aware that an email never did get sent. Even with her long explanation of the process, one would think they could figure out a way to speed the process. For the exam fee, I would expect better service…I know my clients do!
September 16th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Has there been any update from the CFP Board? One would think that in the ninth week there would be an update on the CFP Board website login. Whatever the problem is, it is not being handled professionally. Yesterday was the CFA Level 1 exam deadline and we are now about nine weeks away from the next CFP exam for the 55% of candidates who failed in July. This is much more than an inconvenience for hundreds of candidates. We need results and we need them NOW.
September 18th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Did anyone receive their results? You would think that some people would have by now. I doubt they actually mailed them out on the 16th.
September 18th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I just got my results in the mail and i PASSED!
September 18th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
@Rob Congratulations! I hope you’re not joking about receiving the results, because you’re making me extra anxious. If you’re not joking, congratulations on passing!
September 18th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Congrats, Rob. Are you on the east coast?
September 18th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I received my result today in Sacramento, CA. I passed!
September 18th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
@Sean C: I believe Rob received his letter in North Carolina.
September 18th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I see a strong correlation between reading this blog and passing the July exam…
Still awaiting the letter in Orange County.
David
September 18th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Passed… Located Charlotte, NC
September 18th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I’m in Sugar Land, Tx and it seems that much of the First Class mail is not getting through to us. I still don’t even have power where I live. It seems I may just have to wait until Monday or Tuesday when they post the results on the website. Congratulations to all that have passed!
September 18th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
For those that have passed, congrats! Was the envelope rather thick (as there are instructions for the next steps in the certification included) and you could tell you passed (like being accepted to a University) or did you feel it was a complete toss up until you opened it?
September 18th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I received my results today in Rochester, NY and passed.
The envelope contained the transcript request form and the work experience form, along with instructions on how to proceed.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I did not pass. Have to retake. ugh
September 18th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
The envelopes are 8 1/2 by 11 (or close) not #10 business size and include
Pass – a letter and the transcript request form and the work experience form.
Fail – a letter with the numbers of deficient topics and the topic list.
September 18th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Results arrived in Kansas today… the news was good. The envelope was thin enough that it made me worry
) As noted above, there was a request for transcript form. I think my family is happier than me…they couldn’t stand the thought of living with me through another test cycle! Good luck to everyone.
September 18th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Someone I took the CFP program with received an email from his review course instructor that stated that Carol Lee Roberts said the reason for the delay was the names and ID numbers were all mixed up. They wanted to clear up all the mix ups before sending out the ones they new were not wrong. This makes me wonder if the Pass / Fails were also mixed up with the wrong people’s names and IDs. What a mess. Did not get my score yet. First problem I encountered was that one week before the exam, no admission ticket had ever been sent to me, second problem was getting one, third problem was that mine was missing an ID number which baffled the proctors at first. Then, the proctors started w/o me (early), then the proctors tried to shorten Saturday’s lunch to 30 minutes, they also announced remaining time wrong (off by 15 minutes, and I had to correct them) and the list goes on. I decided not to send in my letter of complaint because if I passed it would all be irrelevant anyway. Now, with all the wrong info. (never got any august 15th email, got the erroneous email followed two days later by an apology). The very fact that so many review course providers were told the results were mailed on days that they weren’t and then were told it was because there were ID number and name mix ups is discouraging. This means that the CFP Board must have finally thought they straightened out the wrong reports two days ago. If the results were mixed up three days ago, but not two days ago, this worries me. Also, according to the review course providers who spoke to Carol about the ID and name mix ups in the score reports, that is WHY the results could not be posted by email. They were not accurate. But, I agree that once the Board thought the results were correct (two days ago), they should have immediately posted them online. But, with so many other tech glitches (never getting an admission ticket, getting an admission ticket with a missing ID number, getting erroneous emails, being told by the review instructors that emails were sent that never were, etc.), I think the CFB Board does not have the IT people on staff to successfully orchestrate a mass email.
September 18th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
P.S. – I wish I did not know that the 8 by 11 envelope would have three sheets of paper for a PASS and one sheet for a FAIL. That means, I will know w/o even reading it if I passed or failed. Email would have been so much more efficient, if only the Board has the qualified staff to pull it off. This system is archaic.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:48 am
I am in Charlotte NC.
September 19th, 2008 at 6:25 am
I was like to address some inaccurate information in the postings above.
I have NOT spoken to a single reivew course provider and never indicated that results were mixed up. That is simply false. In addition, I have not provided Review Course providers with any information on the exam score release until after I posted the information on CFP.net and Financial-Planning.com
The delay in posting was to receive all scores and did not involve confused or mixed up scores. This miscommunication is why I ask candidates to contact CFP Board for information rather than relying on third parties and why going forward I will be much more proactive in communicating to candidates.
I also take issue with the comment about the IT staff at CFP Board. The IT staff has done an exemplary job of moving a system across country while maintaining the integrity of all the data. They responded quickly and professionally to an attack on our website earlier this year, once again securing all data. They did everything that was asked of them during this exam score release and were not involved in any mass emails.
The pass and fail letters have a similar number of pages as I tried to indicate above.
September 19th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Carol,
As I am sure you are aware that this has been a very trying and frustrating time for everyone involved. I am sure you are unfairly taking the brunt of the frustration. Maybe something good can come from all of this and the CFP board will take some of our suggestions for the next round of candidates.
Thanks
September 19th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Lewis,
Thank you and although I am taking the brunt of the frustrations – that is my job. And I am getting some very good sugestions for the future.
CL
September 19th, 2008 at 7:52 am
I got my results yesterday. I passed. In Frankin Tennessee. Good luck.
September 19th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Carol,
Hang in there. Remind everyone that the CFA Level 2 takes 90 days for the exam scores and they offer it once a year. People these results were within 2 Calendar months and the exam is offered 3 times a year and Carol has explained that this isn’t simply feeding a scantron machine, so my suggestion is to suck it up and have a great Oktoberfest weekend regardless of if you have your results or not. Have a great life.
Jon
September 19th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Still nothing in Illinois
September 19th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Congratulations to everyone who passed. I am still waiting. I do not know how Carol can claim that the ID numbers and names on score reports were not mixed up. I have the email from the review course provider explaining the mix up, as she explained it to the review course provider. I never said the email said the scores were mixed up…I was just assuming that if the names and ID numbers were mixed up, of course some of the scores would have been wrong too.
“I have NOT spoken to a single reivew course provider and never indicated that results were mixed up.” — The email says the ID numbers and names were mixed up and that the review course provider spoke to Carol. It did not mention scores.
“The delay in posting was to receive all scores and did not involve confused or mixed up scores.” — Again, the email said that the delay was to receive all scores together after the mix up was cleared up (with names and ID numbers). It said nothing about mixed up scores. This was just my worry that if ID numbers and names were mixed up, scores would be too.
Regarding the IT Staff – It’s good that the CFP Board has faith in them. There were many glitches beyond the ones that happened to everybody with my registration. Carol, perhaps I’ll call you next week and share the contents of the email with you and my technical issues with registering for and taking the test. There is no point in debating it in a forum. I do not know why a review course provider would disseminate a relaying of a FALSE conversation with you. Again, please note that while you keep asserting it is false that scores were mixed up, I never said this (just ID numbers and names).
September 19th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I received THE letter today in Orange County, CA. I passed!
September 20th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Elizabeth, can you foward that email to me? I would greatly appreciate it. acpaulson@hotmail.com
September 20th, 2008 at 9:51 am
I have been following this thread for my husband. Live in Cincy, got the results and he passed!!!!!
September 20th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Adam,
Hi. I was offering to call Carol about the email, not disseminate it. It actually came to me via my CFP classmate from his brokerage firm’s email account. Hence, we are not supposed to forward emails that say not to, as brokerage firm’s emails always say not to. Plus, as Carol does not want anyone relying on third party information anyway, I do not want to contribute to the confusion. If the review course provider is to be trusted and the communications with Carol are accurate, then it just supports her assertion that the Board wanted to ensure that ALL scores were accurate before mailing out ANY. It makes sense that the Board would not post any online until they were all finalized. If I did not pass, I would request a fee-waived expedited hand scoring, as the process has been frustrating and full of technical glitches. But, at the same time, I’d rather have my score a week late and correct than to receive it early and wrong. At least the Board offers hand scorings. Best of luck!
September 20th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Congratulations to all of you. I didn’t pass so I will be repeating the exam in November. It is a humbling experience for me as it is the first exam in my life that I haven’t passed.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:52 am
I just passed and I used Kaplan’s review books, but I was wondering if anyone else is trying to sell their books or if anyone thinks it would be useful to keep for reference?
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 am
Passed in Illinois (per the website) – but still NOTHING in the mail….
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:57 am
I was thinking about having a party and burning them
)! Seriously, I think the next testing cycle uses the 2008 numbers, so it might not be too marketable.
September 24th, 2008 at 6:47 am
My books are good through the March Exam. I have seen some go on ebay for $200, I think I am going to give it a shot.
September 26th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Got my results last Thursday and I passed. Failed the March exam and got a regular letter envelope. Passed and got a 10X13 envelope. Sent in all my stuff same day I got the results and already received notice I can use the designation. Don’t drag your feet folks.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I live in Canada, and am too awaiting Nov 2008 results. Hopefully ours wonlt be as dramatic as all of yours. YES! The waiting is killing me. No sleep for days
December 17th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Congrats to all. I was set to take the nov exam, and pulled out to take it in March. I was advised by a peer to memorize the kaplan flash cards, as he felt that info made up 60-70% of the test. Anyone agree or disagree? Your thoughts are appreciated, your anguish is understood.
Becca In Baker City Oregon
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:13 am
[...] response to several communication issues regarding the progress of the July 2008 exam results, CFP Board is releasing updates on its website [...]
December 30th, 2008 at 10:40 am
[...] 1,524 pageviews: Really, When Will the July 2008 CFP® Exam Results Be Mailed? [...]
December 30th, 2008 at 10:43 am
[...] experience preparing for the certification exam, attending Ken Zahn’s live review course, and communicating with the CFP Board regarding exam [...]
February 20th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Here’s a fun one – I have a very minor complain on my U4 that is a year old – lets just say there was no loss to the client and his claim was denied.
The CFP Board decides to open an investigation then asks for details about the complaint – which I have no trouble sharing – until they get to the part where they asked me for copies of account opening documents and client profiles including net worth, income, etc.
Of course I have to decline this – so they put the investigation into neutral and say that they may take up to a year to do anything.
Their own website says minor complains seldom result in a delay – well; this is a pretty minor complaint. Where is my certification? I took the test in friggin JULY!
The irony is; they are investigating my ethics and asking me to do illegal and unethical things to assist them!!!
I spoke with my company compliance people and they tell me that this is not an uncommon situation.
If anyone were to ask me today if I had any advice for them regarding the CFP my advice would be – don’t bother. I don’t see where I’ll ever get a return on my investment of time money and effort into the CFP which will be remotely close to worth it.