The CISI has launched a new fast track course for people who want to become Certified Financial Planners. 

The new 5-day Certified Financial Planner fast track courses are being launched in April at locations in Bristol and Chester. The CFP qualification, which has 175,000 holders worldwide, is an alternative to the Chartered Financial Planner designation run by the PFS.

The CISI has promised an overhaul of the CFP designation this year to try to boost numbers of CFP holders in the UK, currently numbering below 1,000. The CISI said last year it would make “ significant changes” to the pathway to its Certified Financial Planner qualification this year but it would not be “watered down.”

The CISI designation has often been seen as one of the toughest qualifications in Financial Planning.

The new courses will run every month throughout the year, says the CISI.  The Institute of Financial Planning, which merged with the CISI in 2015 and was previously the holder of the UK CFP licence, used to run four day courses in Bristol in the past.  These courses were well received and valued by the planning community, says the CISI.

The professional body says it has added to them by reviewing what has worked for CFP training around the world.  The extension to five days will give individuals more time to be supported by the tutor and post-course mentoring comes as a new benefit, for those who need “a little more time” to finish their plans, says the CISI.

Jacqueline Lockie, Chartered FCSI and head of Financial Planning at the CISI, said: “These courses used to be popular with Financial Planners and Paraplanners in the past.  We have improved them to offer more time for interaction and understanding of what the FPSB global standards require. 

“So many planners have said that completing the CFP has been a pivotal moment in their professional lives and I would like more to get the support they need to start that journey.

“We have already run two out of three courses exclusively for individuals currently in the CFP assessment process.  Feedback has been exceptionally positive with full courses, smiling faces and positive feedback.”

Details of the courses are available by contacting the CISI at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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