Overseas qualifications

Transferring your CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM certification to the UK

If you are an existing CFPCM professional based outside the UK, you can transfer your certification to the UK if you are planning to migrate.

Step 1. Transferring your existing licence

In order to begin processing your transfer, you will need to provide us with the following:

  • A copy of your current certificate
  • A note of your membership number together with the address of your certificate issuer
  • Confirmation of the date you intend to move to the UK

Send these details to us by emailing qualification@financialplanning.org.uk and we’ll then contact the relevant CFPCM certification affiliate to confirm you are a member.

Step 2. Becoming a member of the Institute of Financial Planning.

To be a CFPCM professional, you must be a member of the IFP. Once the certification affiliate has confirmed you are a member, we’ll send you our own certification registration forms as well as the IFP Code of Ethics and Practice Standards. By completing the forms, agreeing to abide by our Code of Ethics and Practice Standards, and providing payment of the annual CFPCM professional's membership fee, you will become a member of the institute of Financial Planning.

Step 3. Additional qualifications required to practice as a registered adviser

In order to be able to practice as a registered adviser in the UK and offer Financial Planning services, you must hold certain minimum UK professional qualifications. There are a range of organisations providing these qualifications such as Calibrand, IFS and CII amongst others. You can find details of these qualifications on the FSA website (www.fsa.gov.uk).

Upon successfully completing an appropriate examination, the IFP will need to see a copy of your certificate. It is only at this stage that you will be eligible to use the CFPCM certification mark in the UK.

You should be aware that from 2013, all investment advisers will be required to hold higher level qualifications so you should take advice on the most appropriate qualification route from your potential employer or a professional body.