Entry requirements

There are no entry requirements in order to study for the Diploma. However, we would recommend that Diploma candidates hold the following qualifications or their equivalent:

• Certificate in Insurance or 5 GCSEs grade C or equivalent.

Aside from the requirements set out below you are free to select units from across all the CII's insurance qualifications/study programmes: Award for the Foundation Insurance test, Certificate in Insurance, Diploma in Insurance and Advanced Diploma in Insurance.

This approach provides you with maximum flexibility, enabling you to choose units from those currently available across our qualifications. The advantage here is that someone still developing their study skills or subject to a particularly demanding work schedule can initiate or continue their studies by taking a larger number of lower level units.

Completion requirements

To achieve the Diploma you must accumulate 120 credits, with at least 90 at Diploma level or above.

We would recommend that all Diploma entrants also sit unit (IF1) Insurance, legal and regulatory as this covers the workings of the market, including the legal and regulatory framework and the essentials of insurance practice.

The following tables show the compulsory units required to complete the Diploma

What does this qualification involve?

There is no prescribed order in which units must be taken, but it is strongly recommended that you sit the required compulsory units first since these provide foundation knowledge upon which the others build.

This flexible approach allows you to develop a course programme that suits your particular needs and requirements. You can tailor learning to your current role and/or develop areas which are new to you or where you need to gain in-depth knowledge.

Note: The notes below on 'Flexible learning options' detail the ability to use credits from CII financial planning units for insurance qualifications. Particularly relevant may be the Diploma in Financial Planning unit (J07) Supervision in a regulated environment which can be used towards completion of the Diploma. This covers key aspects of supervision, leadership and coaching, and provides 20 Diploma level credits on completion.

 Diploma in Insurance units credits

The mechanics of studying for Diploma units:

Note: The recommended minimum study hours are shown in the table above (this will vary according to your experience and ability). The nominal pass marks are also shown. However, the actual pass marks may vary slightly from one session to another to ensure that the pass standard remains constant.

You may sit as many exams as desired at a single sitting, although it is strongly recommended that no more than two Diploma or Advanced Diploma units per session are taken.

Flexible learning options

The overall CII insurance qualifications framework is extremely flexible, allowing you to select units from qualifications other than the one for which you are studying.

Therefore, if you are working towards the Diploma in Insurance you are able to select units from the entire insurance qualifications framework. If you sit or have sat CII financial planning exams (for example, the Financial Planning Certificate, Certificate in Financial Planning, Diploma in Financial Planning, Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning, Advanced Financial Planning Certificate, or comparable exams from other professional and educational bodies), you will also receive credits that can count towards completion of the insurance qualifications.

When studying for the Diploma you are allowed to claim up to 60 credits, for financial planning units. Please note: this rule is currently under review - any changes will be publicised in 2013.

Your past qualifications can count

If you hold a degree or a professional qualification in a relevant subject, for example accounting, business or law, you could receive credits that count towards completion of a CII qualification through our recognition of prior learning scheme.

Important note: To be awarded a CII qualification, you must obtain, by CII examination, dissertation or coursework assessment, a pass in a unit from the qualification that you are looking to complete, and meet the qualification completion requirements. These rules apply irrespective of how many credits your existing qualifications might provide through recognition of prior learning.

Obtain your learning statement online

A CII personalised learning statement provides a record of the exams and resultant credits you hold which can be used towards completing CII qualifications. Importantly, your statement sets out what you personally need to do to complete a qualification you are, or may be considering working towards, such as the Diploma in Insurance.

Due to the extent of syllabus overlap, certain combinations of units will result in only one award of credits.

Where two comparable units are held, the higher of the two credit figures will be added to your CII Learning Account. However, should you wish, you may still choose to sit an 'overlapping' unit in order to enhance your knowledge. Units affected are shown below.

There are a number of other limitations to gaining credits for London market qualifications. View full details on recognition in the CII framework for London market qualifications, including the Lloyd's LLMIT

The following charts show the compulsory units required to complete the Diploma:

Notes:

1. A maximum of 60 credits obtained from financial planning qualifications (CII or comparable awarded by another educational body) can count towards the Diploma. Please note: this rule is under review - any changes will be publicised in 2013.
2. In place of unit P92, Diploma candidates can also satisfy the business unit requirements by holding unit 530 or (the now withdrawn unit) P04.
3. Continuing Professional Development and Code of Ethics requirements apply. 

By sitting certain combinations of units, you can acquire other qualifications on the way to completing the Diploma.

Award in London Market Insurance

A specialist qualification for those working in or with the London market, the Award in London Market Insurance comprises two units (LM1) London market insurance essentials and (LM2) London market insurance principles and practices.

Together the two units provide a broad understanding of insurance process and practice across the London market as well as detailed understanding of technical topics.

Certificate in London Market Insurance Specialisation

This advanced level qualification has been developed for London market specialists, in partnership with the Lloyd's Market association (LMA). Candidates can achieve this qualification by completing one Advanced Diploma lavel unit (991) London market insurance specialisation. The unit is completed through successful completion of a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic relevant to the London insurance market.

Note: Entry onto the London market dissertation is limited to approximately 20 candidates per year. This is because of the amount of work involved in assessing and accepting proposals and in marking and moderating completed dissertations, all of which are undertaken by experienced London market practitioners.

Certificate in Contract Wording

Contract certainty is a major issue facing the insurance industry, especially within Lloyd's and the London market.  The regulator requires the provision of clear, comprehensive and fully-agreed policy wordings before inception to all policyholders.

To help individuals and organisations meet this requirement, the CII has developed the Certificate in Contract Wording. It is designed to enhance knowledge of the practical application of wordings and the issues associated with them.

To acquire the Certificate, you must study and pass two units from the Diploma in Insurance: (P05) Insurance law (or already hold one of the withdrawn legal units P03 or 520) and (P21) Commercial insurance contract wording.

Candidates meeting the completion requirements will automatically be awarded the Certificate in Contract Wording.

Certificates and Diplomas in Life and Disability Underwriting and Claims

The CII and the Assurance Medical and Underwriting Society (AMS) jointly developed the following qualifications, which are awarded by AMUS:

Certificate in Life and Disability Underwriting and Certificate in Life and Disability Claims - awarded to those that complete the Certificate in Insurance including either the unit (P61) Life, critical illness and disability underwriting, or (P62) Life, critical illness and disability claims respectively. The AMUS also require a written work reference from your company's chief underwriter.

Diploma in Life and Disability Underwriting and Diploma in Life and Disability Claims - awarded to those completing the Diplom ain Insurance including units (P05) Insurance law, (P63) Long term insurance business and either (P61) Life, critical illness and disability underwriting, or (P62) Life, critical illness and disability claims respectively. The AMUS also require a written work reference from your company's chief underwriter and evidence of continuing professional development (CPD).

Application for these qualifications is made directly through AMUS. For information, contact +44 (0)20 7636 6308, email amus@btconnect.com, or write to them at Lettsom House, 11 Chandos Street, London W1G 9EB.

CII/IATA Diploma learning route

The CII and IATA (the international trade body which represents some 240 airlines) have developed a dedicated learning route for staff working in the air transport sector whose responsibilities include any aspect of insurance.

By completing the Diploma in Insurance via a specified route, plus the IATA air transport 'Procurement and contracts management' module, successful candidates will be awarded the CII Diploma in Insurance along with recognition from IATA.

Important deadlines for the Diploma in Insurance qualification

* Please contact Customer Service if you do not receive these. When you receive your admission permit you MUST check whether any change has been made in the date or times of the exam for which you have entered and that the exam shown on your permit is the one you intend to sit. If there is any discrepancy you should contact Customer Service immediately.

** To access your results online you will need to be logged in to the website using your CII Permanent Identitiy Number (PIN) and password.

When you pass exams through the CII, the credits automatically appear on your learning account, including for exams that you may have already passed under discontinued CII qualification routes.

You may also be able to receive credits for relevant qualifications you have passed through other awarding bodies - to do this you should submit an application for recognition of prior learning.

By claiming credits for qualifications you've attained outside the CII framework, you'll avoid duplicating learning already undertaken, in turn reducing the amount of study and obtaining your CII qualification more quickly.

If you wish to claim credits to recognise non CII qualifications held please read the full guidance on the rules and requirements and download an application form.

Important note: To be awarded a CII qualification, you must obtain, by CII examination, dissertation or coursework assessment, a pass in a unit from the qualification that you are looking to complete, and meet the qualification completion requirements. These rules apply irrespective of how many credits your existing qualifications might provide through recognition of prior learning.

Find out more about applying for recognition of prior learning »

There are three significant changes happening in 2013/14 that have an effect on CII exam candidates.

Two of these changes are regulatory issues which will have a significant impact on CII customers, the way you conduct your business and therefore the content of our syllabuses, study material and exams for certain exam units:

• changes to the regulator of the UK financial services industry (now the FCA); and
• the new Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012

In addition to these external factors, the insurance qualifications framework is also being put into the Ofqual qualifications and credit framework (QCF). This will result in further updates to the syllabuses, study material and exams for certain units.

What do these changes mean for CII customers?

Some CII units examine on aspects of the regulator (formerly FSA) and/or issues affected by the Consumer Insurance Act. To ensure that we're examining on current issues and regulation, syllabuses and study material for these units are being updated to reflect the upcoming changes.

Similarly, to gain approval for Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Insurance exams to be in the QCF, certain Ofqual requirements have to be met - this will result in subtle changes to the wording of syllabuses, amendments to the learning material and changes to the wording of exam questions for units as they move into the QCF.

Further background on these changes can be found lower down.

Please note - details on how changes will affect Certificate in Insurance units can be found in the Certificate in Insurance section.

When will these updates be made?

Are there units that will be impacted more than others by the updates brought about by changes to the regulatory regime and The Consumer Insurance Act?

Yes, the following units have more content that will be affected:

How significant will the updates be?
Changes to the regulatory regime and the Consumer Insurance Act will result in some changes to the legislative position that is being examined:

In the case of the regulatory regime, this will largely consist of updating references to the FSA, and its roles and responsibilities, to the new regulatory bodies.

In the case of the Consumer Insurance Act, updates will be made to ensure that, where relevant, the provisions of the new Act are covered. The relevance will vary considerably across different units (with the units most affected listed above).

Updates resulting from units being included in the QCF will not mean significant changes to the core content and principles being covered in the study material or examined in the exam.

What happens if the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 does not come into effect in April 2013?
We will communicate to candidates what we plan to do if the dates slip considerably. The general rule for Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Insurance units is that exams are based on the English legislative position six months before the date of the exams.

Background - Financial Services Authority 

What's changed?
Fundamental changes to the regulatory regime have been introduced this year as the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been disbanded.

A new regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), is now responsible for policing the behaviour and conduct of all firms, with a focus on ensuring consumers are protected and markets work well. It is also responsible for the solvency and stability of smaller firms such as IFAs.

The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) is now responsible for the solvency and financial stability of the larger institutions (banks, insurance companies, etc.) whose failure could trigger a financial crisis.

Within the Bank of England also sits the Financial Policy Committee (FPC), responsible for scanning for emerging risks to the financial system.

When did this happen?
The new regime came into place on 01 April 2013.

Background - Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012

What does the Act propose?
The Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 will replace the current duty on consumers to volunteer information before taking out insurance, with a duty on consumers to take reasonable care to answer insurers' questions fully and accurately. 

The Bill distinguishes between mistakes which are 'reasonable'; 'careless'; or 'deliberate' or 'reckless'. For deliberate or reckless misrepresentations, the insurer may refuse the claim.

When will the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 come into effect?
The final date is yet to be confirmed, however it is expected to come into effect in April 2013.

Background - CII insurance qualifications appearing on the qualifications and credit framework (QCF)

What is the QCF?
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is the regulator of qualifications, exams and assessments in England. Their qualifications and credit framework (QCF) allows candidates and employers to assess and compare different qualifications according to their size and level of difficulty. 

What is the CII doing?
Since the QCF was created, we have been working to have all our qualifications recognised in the framework by 2015.

The majority of the exams and qualifications in the financial services qualifications framework are already recognised in the QCF.

In the insurance qualifications framework, the following qualifications are also already in the QCF:
Award for the Foundation Insurance Test (at level 2)
Award in London Market Insurance (at level 3)
Certificate in Insurance (at level 3)
The Certificate in London Market Insurance Specialisation (at level 7)

New qualifications and units are being put into the QCF as and when they are developed and the Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Insurance are going through the process of being put into the QCF during 2013-2015.

Go back to read about how changes will affect CII customers