About the RICP Program & Course Exams
Key Takeaways
- The RICP requires two required courses, RICP 353 (Retirement Income Process, Strategies and Solutions) and RICP 354 (Sources of Retirement Income), plus one elective: RICP 355 (Managing the Retirement Income Plan) or HS 326 (Planning for Retirement Needs).
- CFP professionals, ChFC designees, and people who completed HS 326 within the past five years satisfy the elective and need only the two required courses.
- Each course's final grade must be at least 70%, combining required coursework (30%) and a 100-question final exam (70%); there are no final exam retakes, so a learner who fails re-enrolls in the course.
- The College lists single courses at $1,025, a three-course package at $2,795, and a two-course package at $1,925; each course can be finished in as few as four weeks, with up to 10 weeks allowed.
- To use the RICP mark, a designee needs three years of experience in financial planning or a related profession, must agree to The American College Code of Ethics, and must meet annual recertification requirements.
About the RICP Program & Course Exams
Quick Answer: The Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) is a specialized designation from The American College of Financial Services. There is no single cumulative exam. You complete two required courses (RICP 353 and RICP 354) and one elective (RICP 355 or HS 326). Each course grade combines quizzes and mini-cases (30%) with a 100-question final exam (70%), and you need 70% or higher to pass. CFP professionals and ChFC designees need only the two required courses.
Program facts below come from The American College's RICP program page and its program enhancement FAQ, checked for this 2026 guide. Tuition and policies can change, so confirm current details with the College before enrolling.
Program Structure
The College updated the RICP in 2025. Since April 1, 2025, the program has used a "2 + 1" structure:
| Course | Status | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| RICP 353: Retirement Income Process, Strategies and Solutions | Required | Planning process, client goals, retirement risks, and choosing income strategies and risk-management tools |
| RICP 354: Sources of Retirement Income | Required | Social Security claiming, retirement age, annuities, employer and executive benefits, federal and military benefits, life insurance, business owners, and building the income portfolio |
| RICP 355: Managing the Retirement Income Plan | Elective | Tax-efficient distributions, Medicare and health budgeting, long-term care, housing and home equity, ethics, and ongoing portfolio management |
| HS 326: Planning for Retirement Needs | Elective alternative | Qualified plans, IRAs, SEP/SIMPLE/403(b)/457 plans, and nonqualified plans |
Two-course path: CFP professionals, ChFC designees, and anyone who completed HS 326 within the past five years have already satisfied the elective and finish with RICP 353 and RICP 354. The College recommends taking the courses in order: 353, then 354, then the elective.
How Courses Are Graded
| Feature | Current Policy |
|---|---|
| Final course grade needed to pass | 70% or higher |
| Grade components | Required coursework (quizzes and multiple-choice mini case studies) 30%; final exam 70% |
| Final exam | 100 questions, one per course |
| Eligibility for the final | At least 70% on all learning activities in each unit |
| Retakes | No final-exam retakes or reschedules in the redesigned program; a learner who does not pass re-enrolls (at a discounted re-enrollment rate) |
| Materials | Fully online and self-contained; no textbook purchase |
Time and Cost
- Pace: Each course runs up to 10 weeks and can be completed in as few as 4 weeks on the accelerated path. Courses start the first Monday of each month, and the College estimates about 8 to 10 hours of study a week. The entire program must be completed within five years of enrollment.
- Tuition (as listed by the College in 2026): $1,025 per course, $2,795 for the three-course package, and $1,925 for the two-course package.
- CE credit: Approved CFP CE hours are 22.5 for RICP 353, 20.5 for RICP 354, and 14.5 for RICP 355.
Designation Requirements
- Education: Complete the required courses and elective (or qualify for the two-course path).
- Experience: Three years of experience in financial planning or a related profession to use the designation. A high school diploma or equivalent is needed to begin.
- Ethics: Agree to comply with The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures.
- Ongoing: Participate in the annual Professional Recertification Program (for client-facing designees, 30 CE hours every two years including one hour of ethics, plus annual recommitment to the Code and an annual fee).
How This Guide Maps to the Courses
| Course Learning Outcome (Summarized) | Where to Study It |
|---|---|
| Steps in the retirement income planning process; client goals; realistic goals | Chapter 1 |
| Retirement risks and risk-management tools | Chapter 2 |
| Choosing an income strategy; latest withdrawal research | Chapters 3 and 10 |
| Social Security claiming and taxation; retirement age | Chapters 1, 4, and 5 |
| Role of annuities | Chapter 9 |
| Executive, federal, and military benefits; pensions | Chapter 8 |
| Life insurance and small business owners; estate and legacy issues | Chapter 14 |
| Building and managing retirement income portfolios | Chapters 10 and 11 |
| Tax-efficient distribution options | Chapters 6, 7, and 12 |
| Health expense budgeting and Medicare | Chapters 2 and 5 |
| Long-term care, housing, and home equity | Chapter 13 |
| Ethical issues for retirement income planners | Chapter 15 |
Study Tips
- Learn the numbers that change each year. This guide uses 2026 figures (Social Security earnings test and bend points, Medicare premiums and IRMAA, QCD and QLAC limits). Course materials may use the figures in effect when they were written.
- Think in cases. Final exams test application: which claiming strategy, which account to draw from, which product fits which client.
- Connect strategies to client preferences. Much of RICP 353 is about matching a strategy to the client's goals and income style, not about finding one "right" answer.
A candidate who does not hold the CFP certification or ChFC designation and has never taken HS 326 wants to earn the RICP under the current program. Which course combination is required?
How is the final grade determined in a redesigned RICP course, and what happens if a learner does not pass?
Which requirement must be met to use the RICP designation, in addition to completing the courses?