CII to launch specialist level four qualifications

9 November 2011 8:00 am | By Natalie Holt

The Chartered Insurance Institute is launching specialist level four qualifications next year, including certificates in paraplanning and discretionary investment management.

The certificate in paraplanning will be available from January.

Candidates will need to pass the R01 financial services, regulation and ethics unit, the R02 investment principles and risk unit, the R03 personal taxation unit and the new J09 paraplanning unit, which is made up of three written coursework assignments.

Candidates for the certificate in discretionary investment management must pass the R01 unit and J10, a new exam-based unit covering issues such as portfolio theory and measuring performance.

The study text will be available from June, with exams starting on September 1.

The CII is also launching a J11 unit for advisers using wraps and platforms and an AF6 unit for individuals working in senior management and supervisory roles.

CII director of financial markets Steve Jenkins (pictured) says: “By involving existing practitioners in the creation of our qualifications candidates can be assured that the new units are relevant to their career development.”

Paladin Financial Services managing director Tim Purdon says: “I wonder what use these additional qualifications will be. Are we going to spend our time obtaining qualifications or servicing our clients?”

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