The London Institute of Banking & Finance has launched a new qualification for advising on protection products, the Certificate in Protection.

LIBF said that as there is no requirement for anyone advising on financial protection products to be qualified, their new qualification fills “a real gap in the advice landscape” and should provide confidence to advisers and consumers.

The Certificate in Protection is a Level 3 qualification and covers: the different financial protection needs in the event of death, illness or disability, an introduction to the range of protection products available and their suitability, the application and underwriting process, the range of protection provided by the state, insurance details for the home, landlords and self-builds.

Registration opened from Monday 7 September and the qualification starts on 5 October.

It will be accredited into CeMAP.

Mark Heaton, managing director of professional education at LIBF, said: “As the leading provider of mortgage advice qualifications, we regularly get feedback from the sector about the challenges and issues advisers face. Protection has always been a hot topic, but even more so in the current climate. There’s a real need to build consumer resilience but they often don’t understand the value of protection products and need confidence that advisers have the knowledge and skills to ensure they have appropriate protection in place.

“This certificate will help advisers meet the demands of a growing market. As an entry-level certificate, it can be the foundation of a professional career as a financial adviser and further develop the skills of mortgage advisers.”