Application process and fees

Step 1 - Check your eligibility

For an indication, enter your qualification details into the exemptions search.

Read the case studies that illustrate how prior learning can contribute towards CII qualifications.

 

Step 2 - Prepare certified documentation

Documents you must upload into the application form

1. Qualification completion certificate (e.g. graduation certificate)
2. Results transcript confirming your unit / module passes and dates you passed them
3. Name change evidence, e.g. marriage certificate or deed poll (if applicable)
4. Regulator letter - if your documentation is certified by a solicitor or public notary and they don't appear on their regulator's on-line searchable register, a letter from their regulator confirming their solicitor or public notary status.

Do not send us original documents unless we specifically request them. Instead, enclose copies which must be certified as true representations of the originals.

Who can certify your documents?

• CII or Personal Finance Society members - ensure your colleague's membership is still current via the member search
• Solicitors or notaries
• Awarding organisation representatives
• Digital verification (QR codes or secure links).

 

Certification options

Option A: Certified by a current CII or Personal Finance Society member

The documents must have been certified recently and for the purpose of the RPL application.

Ask the certifier to follow the certifier guidance for CII / PFS members.

A(i) Paper certification

1. Copy the original documents
2. Show the originals to the certifier
3. Ask the certifier to write on each page of the copies: "I have inspected the original document and confirm this is a true representation", followed by their name (block capitals), their signature and their CII PIN number
4. Scan the certified copies, ensuring the certifier's details are clearly legible.

Here is an example where the certifier prints their details and signs the scanned copies.

Don't risk an unsuccessful application:

• Ensure the certifier's details are legible and that the certifier signs the scanned copies
• If the certifier uses a stamp (instead of printing the text), the certifier must sign and add their CII PIN number

A(ii) Email certification

Show the certifier the original documents, then ask the certifier to send you an email containing the same wording as in A(i)c above.

Don't risk an unsuccessful application:

Upload the email and the scanned documentation within your application form.

Option B: Certified by a solicitor or notary

The documents must have been certified recently and for the purpose of the RPL application.

1. Copy the original documents
2. Show the originals to the certifier
3. Ask the certifier to write on each page of the copies: "I have inspected the original document and confirm this is a true representation", followed by their name (block capitals) and signature. Solicitors and notaries should add their employer name, work address, email address, telephone number and details of the searchable register (web address) confirming their solicitor or notary status. If there is no searchable register, ask them for a letter from their regulating body confirming their status as a solicitor or notary. You will need to upload this within your application form
4. Scan the certified copies, ensuring the certifier's details are clearly legible.

Option C: Certified by an awarding organisation representative

The documents must have been certified recently and for the purpose of the RPL application.

1. Ask the representative to email you a copy of your completion certificate and results transcript. Alternatively, scan the original documents and ask the representative to email you confirmation that they are true representation of their qualification records. Pdf is the preferred file format. Other acceptable file formats are jpeg and png. We do not accept HEIC files
2. The email trail must confirm the name of the qualification within the body of the message
3. The representative's contact details must appear within their email signature.

Don't risk an unsuccessful application:

• The representative must be the person who has certified the copy as a true representation of the original. This must not be the Registrar or Responsible Officer who has signed the original (unless they are also the signatory to the email).
• We do not accept the covering letter that accompanied the original documentation because this does not confirm that the representative has viewed the documentation that you intend to submit.
• A Letter of Good Standing does not contain the qualification information we require
• Upload the email and its attachment(s) within the application form.

• If your awarding organisation requires your express consent before disclosing your personal details and qualification history to CII, we can provide wording for you to send them. Email priorlearning@cii.co.uk to request this, including your CII PIN number and details of the awarding organisation, qualification name and the date you completed it.
• If your awarding organisation or e-verification provider requires CII to pay an additional fee to confirm the authenticity of your documentation, select an alternative option (2A or 2B above).

Option D: Digital verification

Some awarding organisations provide certificates and results transcripts containing digital links to verification software, for example, a band along the top containing a signature panel, or QR codes.

• Clicking these links or scanning these QR codes delivers a message that confirms the authenticity of the document. CII accepts these pdf documents within the application form.

Don't risk and unsuccessful application:

• If your document is a printed copy or scanned image (e.g. jpeg or png file) and the link is disabled, CII will not be able to access the links to verify authenticity.

Others provide links to an external verification website. It's only when you click on the links that you see the documents or receive a message confirming authenticity. If your awarding organisation requires you to enter CII contact details into its portal, these are: RPL team, priorlearning@cii.co.uk and +44 20 8989 8464.

Don't risk an unsuccessful application:

• Check these links work before making your application. If this generates an email to CII containing links to the external verification website, CII will forward this email to you, so you can upload it into your online application. Don't make your application until you receive this email.
• If the links don't confirm authenticity, or require CII to pay a fee, select Options 2A, 2B or 2C instead.

 

Refer to the RPL Documentation FAQs for further details.

 

Step 3 - Submit your online application

• Log in to "MYCII". Create a CII account if you don't already have a PIN number.
• Check Your Eligibility (Step 1, above), then select Apply
• Enter certifier details, upload your documentation and complete the declaration.

Don't risk an unsuccessful application.

• Use English alphabet file names
• Avoid consecutive spaces, wildcards (e.g. * ? #) or special characters in file names.
• Keep total file size under 20MB
• Use pdf (preferred), jpg or png files. We don't accept HEIC files.

 

Step 4 - CII verifies your supporting evidence

Providing your documentation is complete and correctly certified:

• If CII has recently determined an award for your qualification, CII will confirm your eligibility (normally within 15 working days). If your application is successful, our email will confirm the fee payable.
• Otherwise, we will ask you to provide this additional qualification material (e.g. syllabus, specimen exams).

 

Step 5 - Claim (purchase) your prior learning offer

If your application is successful, claim your award by paying the fee. The payment options are:

1. Telephone CII Customer Service to pay by card. This is the quickest option.
2. Email CII Customer Service to request bank transfer details. It typically takes 2-3 weeks for CII to receive your bank's payment, locate and complete the reconciliation.
3. Your employer's corporate account.

Your CII qualification record will be updated within 24-48 hours. You will be able to view this on your updated learning statement.

 

Pricing

There is no fee payable to apply. The fee, which only applies for successful applications, is to claim each exemption (or set of non unit-specific credits). It is a percentage of the exempted qualification unit Enrolment price.

The price band is based on the type of your non-CII qualification:

Band one (standard): 50% of exempted units' Enrolment price

• for business, law and maths degrees
• and other qualifications whose learning outcomes and modules have a different structure to CII qualifications.
• These qualifications partially meet the learning outcomes across multiple CII units.

Band two: 20% of exempted units' Enrolment price

• for CII affiliated institutes' qualifications and other license to practice-related qualifications
• and other qualifications whose learning outcomes and modules have the same structure as CII qualifications
• Examples include (UK) FCA Appropriate Qualifications that are constructed around the same set of regulatory standards as the CII Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.

Find out more including examples.

The Exemptions Search provides an indication of the potential prior learning award. We will confirm the definitive award offer and fee payable when we communicate the outcome of your application.

CII qualification units at different levels have different prices, and the currency depends on your country of residence. The unit Enrolment prices are displayed on the unit pages at www.cii.co.uk/qualifications.

Where the prior learning offer includes sets of non unit-specific credits, the fee for each set is based on the closest qualification unit. For example, each set of 25 Diploma-level non unit-specific credits has the same fee as an exemption from (M05) Insurance law.