Application process and fees

Follow these steps

 

Step 1 - Check your eligibility

Check whether we have recently reviewed your qualification by entering your qualification details into the exemptions search. Read the case studies that illustrate how prior learning can contribute towards CII qualifications.

 

Step 2 - Get your supporting documentation certified

Which documents must I upload into the application form?

1. Qualification completion certificate (eg graduation certificate)
2. Results transcript confirming your exam passes and dates you passed them
3. Official document confirming your change of name, eg marriage certificate or deed poll (where appropriate)
4. 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 regulating body confirming their solicitor or public notary status.

Please don't send us original documents unless we specifically request them.

Instead, we accept scanned copies of the originals. These scanned copies must be certified as true representations of the originals.

Who can certify my documents?

• Current CII or Personal Finance Society members - ensure your colleagues' membership is still current via the member search
• Solicitors or notaries - ensure you send us the searchable link to their credentials, or if there is no searchable register, please enclose a letter from their regulating body confirming their status as a solicitor or notary
• Representatives of the awarding organisation.

How do I include my documentation within my application?

Choose from the following options:

A: Certified by a current CII/PFS member

1. Make a copy of 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 PIN number.
4. Scan the certified copies, ensuring the certifier's details are clearly legible. PDF is the preferred file format. Other acceptable file formats are jpeg and png. Please don't send us HEIC files
5. Ensure the filename is in the English alphabet, doesn't contain spaces, wildcards (eg * ? #) or special characters. The total file size must not exceed 20MB
6. Enter the CII/PFS member's details into the application form as the person who has certified the copy
7. Upload the certified scanned documents within the application form.

 - Please ask the certifier to follow the certifier guidance for CII / PFS members.

 - What does correctly certified documentation look like? Here is an example.

*Alternatively, for step 3, the certifier may send you an email containing the same wording. Please upload the email and the scanned documentation within your application form.

If you are experiencing difficulty getting your documentation certified because you rarely meet CII or Personal Finance Society members, please refer to the certifying supporting documentation page.

It is your responsibility to ensure that these details are legible and that your application is complete.

B: Certified by a solicitor or notary

1. Make a copy of 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, please 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. PDF is the preferred file format. Other acceptable file formats are jpeg and png. Please don't send HEIC files
5. Ensure the filename is in the English alphabet, doesn't contain spaces, wildcards (eg * ? #) or special characters. The total file size must not exceed 20MB
6. Enter the solicitor or notary's details into the application form as the person who has certified the copy
7. Upload the certified scanned documents within the application form.

C: Certified by a representative of the awarding organisation - must include covering email from the awarding organisation

1. Ask a representative of the awarding organisation to email you a copy of your completion certificate and results transcript (alternatively, you may email scanned copies of these documents to the awarding organisation representative, with a request for them to confirm authenticity)
2. The email trail must confirm the name of the qualification within the body of the message and the representative's contact details must appear within the email signature
3. Ensure each attachment's file name is in the English alphabet, doesn't contain spaces, wildcards (eg * ? #) or special characters. The total file size must not exceed 20MB
4. Enter the awarding organisation representative's details into the application form as the person who has certified the copy. This must not be the Registrar or Responsible Officer who has signed the original (unless they are also the signatory to the email)
5. Upload both the email and its attachment(s) within the application form.

It is your responsibility to ensure that these details are legible and that your application is complete.

Some awarding organisations require your consent or CII to pay an additional fee.

If your awarding organisation requires your express consent before disclosing your personal details and qualification history to CII, please email us at priorlearning@cii.co.uk and we will provide you with appropriate wording to send to them. Please include your CII PIN number and details of the awarding organisation, qualification 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, please select an alternative option (2A or 2B above).

D: Digital qualification certificates and results transcripts

1. 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. Please upload the pdf documents within the CII application form. Don't provide a printed or scanned copy (eg jpeg or png file) because CII will need to access the embedded links to verify authenticity.
2. Other awarding organisations provide links to an external website. It's only when you click on the links that you see the documents or receive a message confirming authenticity. Please check these links work before making your application. If they don't confirm authenticity, you would need to ask a CII/PFS member, solicitor, notary or representative of the awarding organisation to certify your documents, as outlined above (2A, 2B or 2C).

Please refer to the RPL Documentation FAQs for further details.

 

Step 3 - Make your application on-line

• Log in to "MYCII" with your PIN number. Create a CII account if you don't already have one.
• Complete the Check Your Eligibility search (Step 1, above) then select Apply
• Enter details of the certifier, upload your documentation and complete the declarations
• Select the exemptions (or sets of non unit-specific credits) that contribute to your desired qualification(s). If there are conditional modules, only select these if your results transcript confirms you have passed these.

 

Step 4 - CII verifies your supporting evidence and confirms next steps

• If we have recently determined a prior learning award for your qualification – we will confirm your eligibility decision by email (normally within 15 working days). If your application is successful, our email will confirm the fee payable.
• If we have not recently determined a prior learning award for your qualification - we will identify whether we require additional qualification material (e.g. syllabus, specimen exams). If so, we will email you to request this material.

 

Step 5 - Claim your prior learning award offer (purchase)

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

1. Telephone the CII contact centre to pay by card
2. Bank transfer
3. Corporate account.

Once you have paid the fee, your CII learning record will be updated within 24-48 hours. You can view this on your updated learning statement.

 

Pricing

There is no fee payable to make an application. The fees are based on each exemption / set of non unit-specific credits claimed.

The fee is based on the type of non-CII qualification that you have completed:

• RPL Path 1: Prior learning awards for business, law and maths degrees will be charged at 50% of the standard Enrolment* price of the CII unit(s). The same applies for 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.
• RPL Path 2: Prior learning awards for CII affiliated institutes' qualifications and other license to practice-related qualifications will be charged at 20% of the standard Enrolment* price of the CII unit(s). 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 and other qualifications whose learning outcomes and modules have the same structure as CII qualifications.

 *The Enrolment price is the base price for purchasing CII qualification units.

Find out more including examples.

 

Preparing your application

Before you apply, please read the scheme rules.

Follow these tips to ensure your application is successful: