Which Calculator Can You Use on the CFP Exam? (2026)

You bring your own. The CFP exam doesn't give you a calculator, and the CFP Board is specific about what counts: a battery-powered, non-programmable, dedicated financial calculator. Get a model on its list, learn it, and clear its memory on exam day.

I passed the CFP myself, and the calculator rules trip up more candidates than you'd expect.

What the CFP Board allows

Your calculator has to be battery-powered (or solar), so nothing that needs a wall outlet, and non-programmable, so nothing that can store or run a program. It also has to be a dedicated financial calculator, meaning a purpose-built financial model rather than a phone, tablet, smartwatch or app. Anything with an alphabetic (QWERTY) keyboard or that can store text is banned, which rules out graphing calculators with typing keyboards and any device that doubles as something else.

The policy lists roughly a dozen acceptable models across three brands. Instead of memorizing the list, check your model against those rules and confirm it against the current policy.

The models candidates use

Three come up again and again. The HP 10bII+ is a favorite with CFP candidates: algebraic entry, strong time value of money and statistics functions, and it's inexpensive. The HP 12C is the RPN classic, fast once you've mastered it, but only worth choosing if you already use RPN. The Texas Instruments BA II Plus is the most universal pick, and if you also plan to sit the CFA, FRM, CAIA or CMA exams, this one model carries across all of them.

Any of the three handles what the CFP exam asks for: time value of money, uneven cash flows and basic statistics. Pick the one you'll know cold, pick it early, and practice on it. I built FreeFellow's CFP question bank with full solutions, and it's free, so you can rehearse the time value of money and cash flow keystrokes on real problems.

Exam-day rules people forget

Your calculator is inspected and its memory is cleared before the exam, and you clear it again between the two sessions.
If your calculator has formulas or notes printed on it, a pull-out reference card or other supplemental material, remove it or cover it with solid-color tape before you enter the room.
Bring fresh batteries, or use a solar-plus-battery model, so it can't die mid-exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the CFP exam give you a calculator or do you bring your own?

You bring your own. The CFP Board requires each candidate to supply one or more battery-powered, non-programmable, dedicated financial calculators. The test center doesn't provide one, so buy and learn a model before exam day.

Which calculators are allowed on the CFP exam?

The CFP Board publishes a list of acceptable models across three brands, and the ones candidates use most are the HP 10bII+, the HP 12C and the Texas Instruments BA II Plus. The rule behind the list is that the calculator must be a dedicated financial calculator that's battery-powered and not programmable.

What calculators are banned on the CFP exam?

Anything programmable, anything with an alphabetic (QWERTY) keyboard and anything that can store text. Phones, tablets, smartwatches and calculator apps aren't allowed either. When in doubt, check your exact model against the CFP Board's calculator policy.

Do I need to clear my calculator's memory for the CFP exam?

Yes. Your calculator is inspected and its memory is cleared before the exam, and you clear it again before each session. If your calculator has printed formulas, notes or a pull-out reference card, you have to cover them with solid-color tape beforehand.

Is the HP 10bII+ or the BA II Plus better for the CFP exam?

Both are fully acceptable, and both handle the time value of money, cash flow and statistics work the CFP exam requires. The HP 10bII+ is popular with CFP candidates in particular, while the BA II Plus is the more universal choice if you also plan to sit the CFA, FRM or CMA exams. Pick one and learn it thoroughly.

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