Recruitment News

Financial Services Professional Qualifications

When searching for positions within the industry, be they IFA jobs, paraplanning jobs or BDM opportunities, advanced papers are becoming more and more essential, especially with RDR approaching.

Below is a simple guide to completing advanced financial services qualifications:

 To complete the CII Diploma you need to accumulate a minimum of 140 credits, of which at least 80 must come from the new exams, such as the J0 papers. J0 exams generally provide 20 credits each (30 for J08). The other 60 credits can come from older exams e.g. the FPC provides 50 credits, completed AFPC papers such as G10 or G60 30 credits, whilst the old AFPC half-credits e.g. K10 or K20, provide 20 credits.

 The DipPFS title comes from achievement of this level 4 qualification.

 The CII Advanced Diploma incorporates the AF papers (30 credits each) and requires you to obtain a total of 290 credits. At least 120 of these must come from the AF papers.

 Upon completion of the CII Advanced Diploma you will also be eligible for ‘Chartered Financial Planner’ status (subject to having five years’ experience, not necessarily post-qualification).

 Certified status is achievable but requires the attainment of fewer credits than for Chartered status. There is much debate over the relative merits of both designations.

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