Information on qualifications
Commit yourself to the financial services profession
Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) qualifications
ifs School of Finance (ifs) qualifications
Institute of Financial Planning (IFP) qualifications
Transferring your CFP license to the UK
Transferring your CFP license overseas
Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) qualifications
Qualifications offered by the CII demonstrate a holder’s commitment to their chosen profession and provide an objective measurement of their knowledge and understanding of the business in which they work.
The Certificate in Financial Planning reflects the many recent changes in the financial planning profession. Its course content reflects the commercial realities of the market and the requirements of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC) with regard to ‘appropriate’ qualifications for financial advisers.
Importantly it also addresses the subject of investment and risk, an area highlighted in recent years as a weakness on the part of many existing financial advisers.
By completing the Certificate you will gain a solid grounding in the financial services market in general and financial planning advice in particular.
The qualification will develop your of regulatory issues, the mechanics and purpose of the main investment products on offer and the process of giving advice to clients.
Successful completion will allow you to demonstrate your sound knowledge and understanding of the market, regulatory issues, the mechanics and purpose of the main investment products on offer and the process of providing advice to clients. It will also confirm your ability to function effectively within it as a qualified provider of financial advice.
Certificate in Financial Planning
To complete the Certificate you are required to pass five units, these are:
| Units | Study Hours |
Exam Format |
Length of Exam |
| CF1 - UK financial services, regulation and ethics | 60 |
100 multiple choice questions |
2 hours |
| CF2 - Investment and risk | 70 |
100 multiple choice questions |
2 hours |
| CF3 - Financial protection | 40 |
50 multiple choice questions |
1 hour |
| CF4 - Retirement planning | 40 |
50 multiple choice questions |
1 hour |
| CF5 Integrated financial planning | 70 |
2 written case studies |
2 hours |
Certificate in Financial Planning and Lifetime Mortgage Activities
The Certificate is extremely flexible, offering a number of additional study routes:
| Units | Study Hours |
Exam Format |
Length of Exam |
| CF1 to CF5 - as stated above | |||
| CF6 - Mortgage advice | 70 |
100 multiple choice questions and 5 scenario based questions |
3 hours |
| CF7 - Lifetime mortgage activities | 60 |
50 multiple choice questions and 5 scenario based questions |
2 hours |
Certificate in Financial Planning and Long Term Care
| Units | Study Hours |
Exam Format |
Length of Exam |
| CF1 to CF5 - as stated above | |||
| CF8 - Long term care insurance | 60 |
50 multiple choice questions and 5 scenario based questions |
2 hours |
Certificate in Mortgage Advice
| Units | Study Hours |
Exam Format |
Length of Exam |
| CF1 - as stated above | |||
| CF6 - Mortgage advice | 70 |
100 multiple choice questions and 5 scenario based questions |
3 hours |
Diploma in Financial Planning
| Units | Credits and level |
| J01 - Personal tax | 20 per unit - diploma |
| J02 - Trusts | |
| J03 - The tax and legal aspects of business | |
| J04 - Pension funding options | |
| J05 - Pension income options | |
| J06 Investment principles, markets and environment | |
| J07 - Supervision in a regulated environment |
Advanced Diploma
| Units | Length of exam |
| AF1 - Personal tax and trust planning | 3 hours |
| AF2 - Business financial planning | 3 hours |
| AF3 - Pension planning | 3 hours |
| AF4 - Investment planning | 3 hours |
| AF5 - Financial planning process (compulsory) | 3 hours |
Chartered Financial Planner
Upon completion of the Advanced Diploma, candidates are eligible to apply for 'Chartered Financial Planner' status, the premier title for the professional financial adviser.
For full details on all of the above, credits and other CII units that provide credits towards the Diploma in Financial Planning and the Advanced Diploma contact Customer Service on +44 (0)20 8989 8464 or go on line to www.cii.co.uk
