• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or one of the following designations or licenses:  CIMA^®, CIMC^®, CFA^®, CFP^®, ChFC^®, or CPA license
• Acceptable regulatory history as evidenced by FINRA’s form U-4 or other regulatory requirements
• Five full years of professional client-centered experience in financial services or a related industry 

1. Submit an application detailing a minimum of five (5) years of relevant client-centered experience. The total cost for the program, including room and board, materials, and instruction, is $7,475 (member), $7,870 (new member rate—$395 for membership and $7,475 for application), or $7,975 (nonmember). Click here to view all upcoming dates for the CPWA program.
2. Complete the pre-study educational component. Students are provided with reading materials, assignments and online quizzes during the pre-study program.
3. Attend the entire 5-day in-class portion of the program at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. 
4. Pass the comprehensive examination.
5. Sign a License Agreement, authorizing the use of the mark—CPWA^®.
6. Maintain the designation through continuing education and adherence to the IMCA Code of Professional Responsibility.

Designation Renewal Requirements

There are three requirements to renew the CPWA designation. Designees must: complete and report a minimum of 40 hours of CE credit, including two ethics hours; pay a designation renewal fee for the next two-year designation renewal period ($100 for IMCA members, $500 for nonmembers, or $495 for those who wish to join IMCA or renew their membership); and sign and submit continued adherence to IMCA’s Code of Professional Responsibility and Rules and Guidelines for Use of the Marks, as well as disclose any federal/state regulatory actions or complaints. CPWA designees may monitor and track their CE by logging in to the "My IMCA" portion of the website and clicking on the "CPWA Details" link. For more detailed information about CPWA designation renewal requirements, click here. If planned appropriately, CPWA designees who also hold the CIMA certification should be able to maintain both credentials without having to incur significant additional expense.