FINRA Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP)® Program

1. What is the preferred order for completing the program?

It is recommended to complete Week I before taking Week II because the second week’s curriculum builds on the first week, but there is no requirement to take the program in this order.

2. Does the program need to be completed within a specified timeframe?

Coursework must be completed within two consecutive calendar years, but you can complete the program in the same calendar year if you want. Extensions beyond two years may be granted – requests should be submitted via email.

3. Are there any prerequisites for the CRCP program?

There are no prerequisites, but pre-coursework must be completed.

4. How much does the program cost?

The cost for FINRA member firms and government or regulators is $6,500 and the cost for non-members is $7,500. Fees include tuition, materials, and room and board at Georgetown’s University Campus. Please visit the Week I and Week II web pages to view more information and to register.

5. How do I enroll in the CRCP program?

Visit finra.org/crcp to register online. Payment is due at the time of registration. The program is filled on a first-come, first-served basis with a maximum class size of 65 people.

6. How do I access the pre-course materials?

Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business staff sends a materials web page link to Week I and II participants about 6-8 weeks in advance of each weeklong course.

7. How much time is needed to complete the pre-course reading?

It takes approximately 20-30 hours to complete the pre-reading for each weeklong course.

8. Will I need to take a test?

Yes, there is an assessment at the end of each weeklong course that participants need to pass to complete the course.

9. What happens if I fail the assessment? Do I have to take the course over?

It is not necessary to repeat the course, but you will need to retake and pass the assessment. All participants must pass Week I and Week II assessments before receiving a completion certificate.

10. Is there a Continuing Education (CE) requirement after completing the program?

Yes, CRCP graduates are required to complete 12 hours of CE every three years as of their certificate anniversary award date. You can choose your CRCP CE credits from FINRA-developed conferences and compliance meetings, e-learning, online workshops, webinars and webcasts. Learn more about the CE requirement and qualifying credits.

Note to Graduates from 2003 or earlier: CRCP designees who received their designation in 2003 or earlier are waived from the CRCP CE requirement. However, these designees are encouraged to complete voluntary continuing education.

11. What is the CRCP Small Firm Scholarship?

FINRA offers a small firm scholarship program for firms with 150 or fewer registered representatives. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to five industry professionals from small firms and it covers the full tuition and room and board for the entire program. See Small Firm Scholarship tab below for more information.

12. Additional questions?

Visit our web page at finra.org/crcp or email us.

Note: The application period for 2025 is closed. Please check back here for 2026 dates. If you have questions regarding the scholarship program, please contact FINRA at (800) 321-6273 or send us an email.

The FINRA Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP)^® Small Firm Scholarship Program was developed to facilitate participation from small firms—those with 150 or fewer registered representatives into the CRCP^® program. Each year, FINRA awards scholarships to five industry professionals from small firms.

To be eligible for the CRCP Small Firm Scholarship, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• hold a FINRA registration with a FINRA member firm that has 150 or fewer registered representatives;
• have support from their supervisor to apply for the scholarship and the ability to commit to the program's time requirements, which include mandatory, in-person weeklong sessions in July and November; and
• perform job functions that include compliance and/or regulatory responsibilities.

Scholarships are awarded jointly to the individual and the firm and cannot be transferred between firms. Should a recipient leave their firm—whether before, during, or after program completion—the scholarship is forfeited by both parties. However, recipients who transition to another qualifying small firm may reapply during the subsequent scholarship selection period.

Scholarship recipients are expected to complete the program within two consecutive years, starting the year after they received the scholarship. Supervisors cannot formally nominate employees; however, they should encourage eligible compliance professionals at their firms to submit applications.

CRCP Small Firm Scholarship Program

Covered Costs

The scholarship covers full tuition, meals and lodging for the entire program. Travel to and from Georgetown and all other incidental expenses are the responsibility of the recipient. For more details, see the program cost page.

Selection Process

A dedicated subcommittee of the FINRA Small Firm Advisory Committee will select scholarship recipients through a blind selection process. The subcommittee does not have access to identifying information, such as the applicant's name or the name of the applicant's firm. The subcommittee considers the applicant's experience in the financial services industry, as well as his or her compliance responsibilities in the firm’s overall structure, as described in the applicant's written statement.

All applicants are notified when their applications have been received by FINRA, along with more information regarding the selection timeline. If an applicant is not selected as a scholarship recipient, then the applicant is eligible to apply again during the next scholarship period. For additional information, please review the FAQ page.

Application Period

The CRCP Small Firm Scholarship application period is now closed for 2025.

CRCP graduates are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education (CE) every three years as of their certificate anniversary award date. You can choose your CRCP CE credits from these FINRA-developed conferences and events, e-learning, podcasts and webinars.

CRCP graduates who do not remain current with the CRCP CE requirement may no longer use the designation of CRCP.

Visit our Upcoming Events page for upcoming events and our On-Demand Education page to view available on-demand recordings.

The following FINRA programs are eligible for FINRA CRCP CE credit:

*These courses must be in the FINRA e-learning catalog. While third-party vendors may provide different credit values for FINRA e-learning courses, for CRCP CE purposes, e-learning courses provide .5 credits.

For additional questions, please refer to the CRCP CE frequently asked questions or contact us at (800) 321-6273 or email us.

Who is eligible to use the CRCP designation?

Only individuals who have successfully completed the FINRA Institute Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP)^® program and who are in good standing may use the CRCP^® designation. To be in good standing, a CRCP graduate is required to complete 12 hours of continuing education (CE) every three years.

CRCP designees who do not remain current with the CRCP CE requirement may no longer use the CRCP designation.

How may CRCP^® designees in good standing use the CRCP designation and certification marks? 

CRCP designees are expected to adhere to the following guidelines to ensure proper usage of the CRCP designation and certification marks. 

Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP)^®

If you have additional questions about the using the CRCP designation or the registered certification marks, please email us.