Personal Finance units This is the framework for our personal finance qualification units.

They are grouped according to their difficulty, from level 2 through to level 6.
Depending on the qualification you want to achieve, you’ll need to study a number of
these units. Some of our qualifications require just one unit, while others require several.

Study and assessment key

RQF level: 2 RQF level: RQF level: 3 RQF level: 4 RQF level: 6
CII credit level: 3 equivalent CII credit level: CII credit level: CII credit level: Assessment methods vary depending
on the unit’s level and subject matter.
Award CII credit level: Certificate Diploma Advanced Diploma
Each unit within the framework has
Certificate
been assigned an icon to identify the
assessment method from the
options below.
(LF1) Life and Pensions Not available in the UK (CF1) UK Financial (LP3) Life and (J02) Trusts (J10) Discretionary (AF1) Personal Tax and
Foundations Services, Regulation Pensions Principles 20 credits Investment Trust Planning
0 credits The following units and Ethics 4 and Practices 4 100 study hours Management 30 credits
40 study hours are not registered 15 credits 10 credits 20 credits 150 study hours Multiple choice question (MCQ) exam
as part of the UK’s 60 study hours 50 study hours (J05) Pension 80 study hours Study is based on a specified enrolment period,
Regulated Qualifications Income Options (AF4) Investment from 01 September–31 August for UK exams,
Framework (RQF). (CF6) Mortgage Advice (R05) Financial 20 credits (J12) Securities Advice Planning and 01 May–30 April for non-UK exams. MCQ
20 credits Protection 100 study hours and Dealing 30 credits exams can be sat at UK and international online
(AWB) Award in 100 study hours 10 credits 20 credits 150 study hours exam centres, subject to availability, or via
Bancassurance 50 study hours (J07) Supervision in a 70 study hours remote invigilation.
(non-UK) (CF8) Long Term Regulated Environment (AF5) Financial
15 credits Care Insurance 20 credits (R01) Financial Planning Process
60 study hours 15 credits 100 study hours Services, Regulation 30 credits
70 study hours and Ethics 4 150 study hours
(AWF) Award in 20 credits
Written exam
(R06) Financial Study is based on a 12 month enrolment period
Financial Planning (ER1) Equity Release Planning Practice 60 study hours (AF7) Pension Transfers
(non-UK) 1 from the date of purchase. Most exams are on-
15 credits 30 credits 20 credits screen written exams and some may be available
15 credits 70 study hours 100 study hours (R02) Investment 100 study hours
60 study hours Principles and Risk by remote invigilation.

(FA1) Life Office 20 credits

(HFE) Award in Financial Administration 4 60 study hours
Planning (Hong Kong) 2
10 credits
15 credits (J09) Paraplanning (R03) Personal Taxation (AF6) Senior Coursework assignments
60 study hours
60 study hours 30 credits 10 credits Management Study is based on a 12 month enrolment period
100 study hours 50 study hours and Supervision
(FA2) Pensions from the date of purchase. Candidates must pass
(AWP) Award in 30 credits three written assignments, each typically
Administration 4 150 study hours
Investment Planning (R04) Pensions and 2,000-3,000 words.
(non-UK) 3 10 credits
60 study hours Retirement Planning
10 credits 10 credits (AF8) Retirement
60 study hours 50 study hours Income Planning
(FA5) Individual 30 credits
Notes Savings Account 150 study hours
Administration 4 (R07) Advanced
1. Unit AWF is also Mortgage Advice
10 credits
available in Arabic 70 study hours 15 credits
(AWA). 70 study hours
2. Unit HFE is also (GR1) Group Risk
available in Traditional 10 credits
Chinese (HFT). 50 study hours
3. Unit AWP is also
(LP1) Life and Pensions
available in Traditional
Customer Operations 4
Chinese (WPT).
15 credits
4. These units are listed 60 study hours
by the FCA as meeting
appropriate qualification (LP2) Financial
requirements (typically Services Products
as part of a qualification and Solutions 4
or in combination) 20 credits
for specific regulated 100 study hours
activities. Other FCA
requirements may apply
for these activities.

2022 qualifications