Achieving CII qualifications with prior learning based on mortgage advice qualifications
The following examples illustrate different routes to CII qualifications and membership designations based on different routes to mortgage advice qualifications.
Other routes are available and these examples don't guarantee that all applications will receive the same prior learning award.
Recognising level 3 mortgage advice qualifications
Mandeep and Niall are experienced mortgage advisers and plan to become independent financial advisers.
They have both passed the London Institute of Banking and Finance (Walbrook Institute) Level 3 Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP) qualification.
Documentation certified via LIBF portal and PFS member
Mandeep enters the CII email address (priorlearning@cii.co.uk) into the LIBF portal so it shares a link to her qualification completion certificate with CII.
CII uses this link to connect within the LIBF portal and forwards the email to Mandeep.
Mandeep then uploads this email exchange within her prior learning application form.
Mandeep also asks a PFS member to certify her academic summary because the LIBF portal doesn't share this document. The PFS member certifies this by email, as outlined in Step 2A(ii) of the application process.
Mandeep adds the PFS member's name and PIN within her application form.
She encloses 3 documents within her application form:
- Email containing LIBF portal link to her qualification completion certificate
- LIBF Academic summary
- Certification email from PFS member
Documentation certified by QR code and PFS member
Niall submits his LIBF academic summary and completion certificate as attachments within the CII application form.
His completion certificate contains a QR code, so he doesn't need to have it certified separately by a Personal Finance Society member colleague or solicitor. CII can verify the authenticity using the QR code.
However, his academic summary doesn't contain a QR code or link to digital verification, so Niall asks his colleague, a Personal Finance Society member, to certify it by email in Step 2A(ii) of the application process.
Niall adds the PFS member's name and PIN within his application form.
He encloses 3 documents within his application form:
- LIBF Qualification completion certificate containing QR code
- LIBF Academic summary
- Certification email from PFS member
Different qualification versions of CeMAP have different prior learning awards and routes to CII qualifications
There have been several versions of the LIBF Level 3 Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP):
- The regulation unit in the version launched in 2025 is a level 4 unit
- The previous version(s) offered a choice of a level 3 or a level 4 regulatory unit.
Level 4 regulation unit
- Mandeep passed a level 4 regulation unit entitled Financial Services, Regulation and Ethics (FSRE), which consists of FSRE: Industry Regulation and Key Parties (FRE1) and FSRE: Skills, Principles and Ethical Behaviours (FRE2)
- This level 4 FSRE pass entitles her to an exemption from the CII level 4 (R01) Financial services, regulation and ethics unit.
- She receives an exemption from the CII (CF6) Mortgage advice unit.
Level 3 regulation unit
- Niall's regulation unit pass is the level 3 UK Financial Regulation (UKFR). This consists of Introduction to the Financial Services Environment and Products (ITFS) and UK Financial Services and Regulation (UKFS).
- This level 3 UKFR pass entitles him to an exemption from the CII level 3 (CF1) UK financial service, regulation and ethics unit.
- He also receives an exemption from the CII (CF6) Mortgage advice unit.
They join the Personal Finance Society and renew their membership annually to maintain their professional designations.
Completing the CII Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning
This CII qualification consists of six core units. To complete it:
- Mandeep's R01 exemption means she now needs to pass the remaining 5 core units (R02-R06). Her R01 and CF6 exemptions contribute 20 Diploma-level and 20 Certificate-level credits towards the CII Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning.
- Niall's CF1 exemption does not contribute towards the CII Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. Nevertheless, it does contribute 15 Certificate-level credits towards the CII Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning, and the CF6 exemption contributes a further 20 Certificate-level credits. Niall needs to pass all six core units (R01-R06).
DipPFS professional designation and regulatory Statement of Professional Standing
Once they achieve all six core units, as members, they are eligible to use the DipPFS professional designation and apply for Statements of Professional Standing.