Recognition of prior learning FAQs

A. The CII recognises academic and professional qualifications awarded by recognised professional and educational bodies in line with the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).

Further details of the QCF are available to view on the following website: www.qcda.gov.uk. Educational awarding bodies may be located in any part of the world however to qualify they must be ‘regulated’ qualifications.

The qualification must be ‘certified learning’, meaning that it is assessed by formal examination where the rewarding body has been recognised by a national examinations regulator.

A. No. Recognition of prior learning is available solely on the basis of recognised academic and/or professional qualifications that fully meet the essential criteria. However, you may be able to register this learning as Continuing Professional Development. Please consult www.cpd.cii.co.uk for further information.

A. To be considered for recognition of prior learning, the qualification must fulfil all the following criteria:

Recognition of prior learning for academic qualifications

1. Your academic qualification, for example, university degree, must have been completed within the last 10 years.
2. Your non-CII exam or qualification must match the learning outcomes of a current CII exam unit.
3. The assessment method of your non-CII exam or qualification must be of a similar standard, scope and rigour to the CII exam unit.
4. The qualification must be at the appropriate level in a UK national framework, for example, QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework), NQF, SCQF,CQFW or FHEQ.
5. The awarding body must be recognised by UK NARIC if located outside the UK.
6. Applications are only accepted for fully completed and awarded qualifications

Recognition of prior learning for professional body qualifications

1. Your non-CII qualification must match the learning outcomes of the CII exam unit.
2. The assessment method of your non-CII exam or qualification must be of a similar standard, scope and rigour to the CII exam unit.
3. Your qualification must be at the appropriate level in a UK national framework, for example, QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework), NQF, SCQF, CQFW or FHEQ.
4. The awarding body must be recognised by UK NARIC if located outside the UK.
5. The awarding body must be recognised by the market regulator if outside the UK.
6. Applications can be accepted on a unit by unit basis where they are based on common sets of standards, for example, the FSSC ‘appropriate examinations’ standards.

Important note: The award will be determined in accordance with the criteria in place at the time of the application. The applicant is responsible for submitting all necessary documents in a timely manner.

 

A. PDF documents containing syllabus information for all CII units can be found on the CII website under the appropriate heading (Insurance or Financial Services) and qualification level. This will enable you to identify the match to learning outcomes and assessment . You can compare assessments by viewing specimen papers or exam guides from the CII website.

General Insurance
Certificate
Diploma
Advanced Diploma

Financial Planning
Certificate
Diploma
Advanced Diploma

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A. Yes. The CII will recognise prior learning completed with academic and professional qualifications that have achieved the appropriate level in the UK Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) as per UK NARIC’s (www.naric.org.uk) advice. The award is dependent on review against the same standards for learning outcomes and assessment.

A. No. ‘A levels’ are positioned at UK Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) level 3 whilst all CII units with similar learning content (i.e. Business, Marketing, etc.) are at Diploma or Advanced Diploma levels, QCF levels 4 and 6 respectively.

A. Yes. In many cases we can offer credits on a unit-by-unit basis for professional qualifications although, if we cannot, and you are required to complete further units, we will advise you. Applications based on academic qualifications must be for fully completed qualifications only.

A. We can only make awards of CII units based on a single qualification. Where you have completed more than one unit for the same qualification we can recognise units individually. We can recognise relevant, equivalent technical learning through ‘non unit specific credits’.

A. You should complete the recognition of prior learning application form and enclose certified copies of your completion certificate and final course results transcript. The results transcript should outline the modules completed, examination dates and grades attained. Forward all documents to CII Customer Service at the address on the application form. We are unable to process your application if we do not receive all these documents.

The CII will then carry out an initial review of your application to establish whether the information is sufficient for a decision to be made or if additional information is required. (For example, if we have not recently reviewed the qualification we will request syllabus information on relevant modules and details of the assessment.) We will contact you if we require further information. Please do not send payment until we have confirmed your credit entitlement and the total fee payable as this may slow down the review.

A. The application has been designed to ensure we have sufficient information to complete the review. Many emails do not provide enough information for us to make a definitive response or provide full details of next steps. It is important that you sign up to the rules of the scheme when applying. The application form provides evidence of this. Please help us to respond promptly to you and other applicants by making a formal application rather than sending an email.

A. If the qualification has recently been reviewed, you will usually receive a response in around fifteen working days from receipt of your application. When we are experiencing high volumes of applications, this may take longer – if this is the case we will inform you of our current response times. Once you have claimed your credits and made the appropriate payment, the credits will be added to your record.

The complexity of some applications may also alter the time for completion. For example, if we require additional information from you this will impact on the timeframe. If we require subsequent ratification from the Qualifications, Examinations and Assessments Committee, the outcome of the review may be delayed until after the next committee meeting (the committee meets 3 times per year). In this case, we will update you on progress within six to eight working weeks

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A. The confirmation letter issued by the CII outlining your eligibility to an award should include instructions on how to claim your award. For more details please contact CII Customer Service on 020 8989 8464 (+44 20 8989 8464 from outside the United Kingdom) or by email on customer.serv@cii.co.uk.

A. No. However, the award is normally valid for a period of 6 months from the date of the confirmation letter. Candidates that have not registered their awards before that time may find that their award is reduced or no longer valid and may not be entitled to submit a new application for recognition of prior learning.

A. We recommend that you compare the learning outcomes of your qualification with those of the CII unit(s) which you hope to be awarded. It is only where there is a full match that you may be awarded the unit. We can only make awards once a rigorous review of the learning outcomes and assessment has taken place. We aim to complete reviews as soon as possible whilst ensuring they are rigorous and fair. You may wish to consider registering for other units until the review is complete. If you are awarded a unit that you also have an exam entry for, we will not be able to refund your exam fee but you will be able to decide whether to claim the credits for either RPL or successful exam completion.

A. You will need to submit evidence of your qualification(s) in the form of an original certificate or a photocopy which has been certified as a true copy of the original. This can be done by a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Personal Finance Society or a local/affiliated Institute Official whose CII PIN should also be given (where applicable), or a public notary.

The person certifying the information must include their CII PIN, or job title if they are a public notary. Please note that e-mailed or faxed evidence is not acceptable. Please do not send any payment at this time. If you are granted any prior learning you will be advised of the fee/s payable.

A. A results transcript is an official document from your awarding body that identifies the individual units that you have completed. We need to see this because it provides evidence of how much of the qualification you completed by exam or exemption, your individual unit titles, marks attained and dates. It enables us to identify which version of a qualification you completed. Some CII awards are conditional upon completion of specific units or pathways. Please assist us to process your application promptly by providing your results transcript at the same time as your application form and completion certificate. We accept originals or certified copies.

View an example of what a results transcript might look like.

A. CII accepts originals and recommends that if you send your original you do so by a means of delivery that allows you to track your envelope. CII will return your originals via a tracked mail service. Many applicants find it easier to send a certified copy as it avoids the risk of originals getting lost. CII does not refund applicants’ delivery charges nor accept liability for losses. We therefore recommend that, where possible, you send certified copies of your original certificates and transcripts.

A. Current members undertake to adhere to the CII Code of Ethics whereas the CII has no active declaration from non-members or lapsed members that this will be the case. Also, the CII has contact details for its members, which means that any follow-up query is less likely to result in a delay in reviewing your entitlement to an award. Other professionals are not bound by the same stringent rules as public notaries.

A. For the majority of applications CII requires evidence of qualification completion. Where we have not recently reviewed a qualification we are required to review against strict criteria that need to be fully satisfied. The CII will verify the relevance, technical level and breadth of the learning together with the assessment methodology against all units sought. Unless we are able to evidence that all criteria have been met no award can be made.

CII maintains a database of qualifications that are regularly reviewed. In the majority of cases the information required is limited to that requested on the application form. However, where a qualification has not been recently reviewed, the CII does require full syllabus and assessment information in order to ensure the awards are fair to all candidates.

A. You will need to make this request at the time of your application as we archive applications and subsequently destroy them to meet UK data protection requirements. We recommend you keep copies of all correspondence relating to your applications.

A. The maximum award on the basis of any single awarding body is 210 credits. However, the usual level of awards is 25 to 60 credits. Only when exceptional similarities and specialisation at the appropriate technical levels are identified will the CII award the maximum number of credits.

Please note that the overall maximum award for prior learning is 260 credits (i.e. from a combination of awarding bodies) and to complete a CII qualification it is necessary to pass a CII unit at the qualification level sought, i.e. to complete the Advanced Diploma, a minimum of one Advanced Diploma unit must be passed directly with the CII (compulsory unit requirements may be met by recognition of prior learning or by direct examination).

A. Recognition of prior learning is awarded in accordance with the standards in place at the time of the application. The advice given is based on the standards at that time and the information you provided. The CII takes into account the fact that academic and professional qualifications naturally evolve and their parity with the CII qualifications may change as a consequence. This is monitored through regular quality assurance reviews. For those reasons, it is advisable that applicants submit their application shortly after the initial contact.

A. Recognition of prior learning is awarded in accordance with the standards in place at the time of the application. The CII conducts regular quality assurance reviews on all qualifications that attract awards. As a consequence, any award may be modified or discontinued.

A. No. In addition to the credits attained via recognition of prior learning, candidates must complete at least one CII unit via examination at the level of the sought qualification in order to achieve the CII qualification.

A. At times the CII may decide to recognise learning that does not relate entirely to a particular CII unit. ‘Non-unit specific credits’ will count towards the required number of credits to complete the CII qualification, but will not prevent the candidate from sitting any specific CII units. Non unit specific credits are awarded for relevant learning and cannot be traded for specific examination units.

A. Upon claiming the award the candidate awarded a CII unit will have the credits allocated to their CII Learning Statement with the unit marked as ‘completed’. The candidate will not be eligible for duplicate credits as a result of subsequently sitting this unit as an examination.

A. It is not possible to complete CII qualifications solely on the basis of recognition of prior learning. Recognition of prior learning is awarded based on examinations. If you are applying for credits based on a professional designation or membership level we will require details of your exam successes before confirming any entitlement to an award. Candidates are required to complete at least one unit at the appropriate level of the qualification sought via CII examination.

A. No. You can only use a non-CII qualification towards either the Advanced Diploma or the CII Fellowship. Please consult the rules for Fellowship as time restrictions apply.

A. The fee is set by the CII Pricing Committee and is aimed at covering the costs of administering the scheme. The initial cost of evaluating a new application significantly exceeds the amount charged to any individual applicant. It would not be fair to charge the first applicant the full costs and to charge future applicants a significantly less amount, or nothing at all.

A. If a candidate wishes to appeal against the CII decision he/she must submit a formal correspondence addressed to CII Accreditation Services clearly stating the rationale of the appeal.

There are two main grounds for an appeal:

• evidence to support that there has been a misinterpretation of the information provided to CII
• extenuating circumstances that have not been previously presented to the CII for a valid reason.

For the sake of the integrity of the CII accreditation process, it is not possible to accept appeals that do not provide articulate reasoning that prompt a revisit of the application.

Circumstances not accepted as grounds for an appeal are:

• claims of being unaware of, or not understanding the accreditation standards and requirements;
• an appeal against a decision made by the CII Qualifications, Examinations and Assessments Committee.

CII Accreditation Services may be contacted by email on accreditation@cii.co.uk or by post at 20 Aldermanbury, London EC2V 7HY.

 

A. We have identified the most common enquiries and addressed them within these FAQs. If you don’t find the answer please email customer.serv@cii.co.uk, including your full name, CII PIN, date of birth, the date you made your application, your full qualification title (eg degree or professional body qualification) and awarding body.

We will acknowledge your enquiry and provide an estimate of the timeframe to respond. Alternatively, you may wish to speak with one of our team of advisors on 020 8989 8464 (+44 20 8989 8464 from outside the UK).

A. At its sole discretion the Chartered Insurance Institute reserves the right to make, amend and or withdraw credit awards at any time, on due notice as it sees fit and without monetary compensation. Under no circumstances will the Chartered Insurance Institute accept any liability for consequential indirect or special losses or special damages of any kind arising out of or in any way connected with the awarding or withdrawal of credit awards.