Education and training provider Kaplan Professional says a record number of financial advisers graduated from postgraduate financial planning qualifications last year and in 2020.

More than 1800 advisers finished the Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning, Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning and Master of Financial Planning courses offered by Kaplan.

Kaplan says that means more than 3000 advisers have completed its postgraduate financial planning qualifications since 2017, and the number is set to rise with thousands more still in the process of doing their postgraduate qualifications.

The youngest graduate from the 2020-2021 cohort is 22 and the oldest a 78-year-old, Kaplan says.

Kaplan CEO Brian Knight says the number of advisers who pressed on with their courses, despite tough challenges during two years of pandemic disruptions, is a positive for the industry.

“They have achieved their postgraduate financial planning qualifications under challenging circumstances and have been able to successfully overcome any obstacles that may have come their way,” Mr Knight said.

“This is a story that the industry should be celebrating,” he said.

He says the advisers have put in dedication, sacrifice and immense hard work for not only themselves and their loved ones, but for the betterment of their clients and profession.

Mr Knight says Kaplan Professional would be launching an Alumni Advantage Program in the coming weeks.

“Feedback from advisers is that they are anticipating continuing their education journeys to achieve a Masters degree or even complete single subjects in specialist areas of interest to them and their professional practice such as aged care,” Mr Knight said.