An online training program to help college students, new advisors and career changers enter the financial planning field is now open for applications through May 23.
The eight-week virtual program, called The Externship, now in its sixth year, is led by Hannah Moore, a certified financial planner and creator of Amplified Planning.
The standard cost is $397, and firms looking to enhance their internship programs can also participate in an internship/externship hybrid program to supplement summer intern learning. There are also scholarship opportunities, and those who register before April 15 gain access to special “early bird perks.”
“We often hear about a shortage of financial advisors, but the real challenge is providing the proper training to set them up for success, which ultimately leads to much higher retention,” Moore said in a statement. “The Externship removes barriers to entry, provides meaningful hands-on experience, and creates structured pathways into the profession.”
With over 2,000 people already on the waitlist, More added, this summer’s program is expected to be the largest yet. The training program has more than 4,500 alumni.
If they complete the full program, trainees receive 500 standard pathway experience hours from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards and 180 hours from the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education. The program covers the core foundations of financial planning while also offering a behind-the-scenes look at how professionals have built their careers.
Externs will learn from more than 50 industry professionals while seeing client meetings, hearing from experts on key topics and using common financial planning software. They will also engage in “interactive learning experiences that mirror the realities of the profession.”
The Externship offers a clear pathway for aspiring professionals, Moore said, including career changers, who made up over 40% of last year’s Externship participants.
In addition to CFP Board’s support, The Externship for 2025 also received backing from such financial planning organizations as Charles Schwab, eMoney, XY Planning Network, Kaplan, Orion/Redtail, Asset-Map, EncorEstate Plans, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Morningstar, AFCPE, the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors and the Financial Planning Association.
Pictured: Hannah Moore
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