CII Qualifications
General Insurance
General insurance has in recent years gone through a period of unprecedented challenges and change. Technology has had a major impact on the structure of the market and the way business is conducted. New forms of risk continue to emerge. Competition is intense.
Gone are the ‘jobs for life’ that once characterised the sector. Individuals are moving more freely between disciplines. Activity is regulated by the FSA, which affects all aspects of market practice and, crucially, requires employees to demonstrate they are competent for the work they do, and thereafter to maintain and enhance this competence.
The CII insurance qualifications framework provides individuals, and their employer organisations, with a means of achieving the requisite levels of technical knowledge and understanding. And in doing so, helps ensure individuals have the skills they need to perform effectively and efficiently in the workplace.
Financial Services
The CII financial services qualifications framework addresses the Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulatory examination requirements and, where relevant, the appropriate examination standards of the Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC), including those recently introduced as a consequence of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR)
The framework provides the most comprehensive learning and competence programme in the market. The RDR is placing ever greater emphasis on the need for professional, skilled advice delivered by suitably qualified advisers. In particular, it stipulates that advisers must hold as a minimum a Level 4 qualification.
The FSA has stated that the CII Diploma will meet this requirement (it will also be possible to bridge any gap between this qualification and the actual RDR qualification requirements through Continuing Professional Development). Accordingly, the framework is designed to enable advisers to develop the skills and understanding required to meet regulatory requirements and to achieve commercial success.
Specific qualifications within the framework are designed for financial advisers and mortgage advisers. In both cases, options exist for those seeking to develop their knowledge beyond the basic regulatory requirement.
There are also dedicated qualifications for life and pensions administrators and options for the many other individuals in related roles throughout the financial services industry.