Qualification gap-fill

As part of the RDR, the FSA is raising the minimum level of qualification to be held by financial advisers to Level 4. For advisers that already hold certain ‘transitional qualifications’ which have been recognised by the FSA as meeting new FSSC exam standards, such as CII’s Diploma & Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning, there are no more examinations to sit. (see the full list of transitional qualifications),

However it is likely that depending on the qualifications you hold, you may need to bridge any gaps between the syllabus of existing qualification and those of the new exam standards. Qualification gap-fill must be complete by the end of 2012.

To help members satisfy the requirements of Qualification gap-fill, we are developing a comprehensive qualification gap-fill programme exclusively for members, featuring:

• gap-fill tool – This essential new tool enables you to map your existing CII qualifications against the new exam standards, identifying any gaps between the two. These gaps will be a clear indication of the areas in which you may need to undertake gap-fill learning activity.
  
  Fay Goddard recently provided a Qualification gap-fill overview to members attending a free PFS/Local Institute event. To watch a recording of this presentation, and to see a video demonstration of the tool in action click here. As well as helping you create a tailored development plan to bridge the gaps, the gap-fill tool enables you to record all of the activity that you have undertaken to ensure you have a comprehensive record of compliance with the new standards.
   
• Counting recent CPD activity – Our CPD events held in the last 18 months, such as free regional conferences or one-day technical conferences, have been automatically built into the tool so members that have attended these events may already satisfy some gap-fill requirements. The tool allows you to record other CPD activity that you have undertaken to further reduce the number of gaps.
   
• Bridging your gaps – We are in the process of developing a series of Podcasts to help address key knowledge gaps, events and other online materials that you can to use to help meet the learning requirements of gaps you have identified. A range of forthcoming PFS events will also help with bridging certain gaps. And we plan to develop a gap-fill library of online materials from third party product providers addressing specific learning gaps.