Professional recognition

Professional qualifications are an important sign of professional standing. Therefore, the Personal Finance Society encourages all members to be qualified at the level appropriate for their current role and to consider further qualification to extend and develop their knowledge and careers.

Professional qualifications are recognised by the Society through titles and designations denoting the various levels of attainment. You must be a member of the Society to use these designations and titles. Use of a designation or title of the Personal Finance Society by a person who is not a member can result in legal action to protect the Society’s trademarks.

The designations and titles granted to members of the Personal Finance Society are as follows:

Designation	Title	Current eligibility criteria
FPFS	Fellow of The Personal Finance Society	350 credits required, which must include obtaining 290 credits through completion of the Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning. The remaining 60 credits can come from any of the examinations offered within the CII financial services qualifications framework.
APFS	Associate of The Personal Finance Society	Completion of the Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning .
DipPFS	Member of The Personal Finance Society by Diploma	Completion of either the Diploma in Financial Planning or Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning .
CertPFS	Member of The Personal Finance Society by Certificate	Completion of the Certificate in Financial Planning .

Upon completion of the Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning, PFS members are eligible for Chartered Financial Planner status (subject to having five years’ experience, not necessarily post-qualification).