This means that people can register for the Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP), for example, at any hour and receive instant confirmation by email. The service is available to both new and existing customers registering for regulatory qualifications.
Initial feedback has been positive:
Simon Warren, of Warren Mortgages, said: "Online registration was the best option for me as I managed to complete the whole process in a spare five minutes. It relieved me of additional administration too, as there's no need for downloading, printing, and posting. The format of the website and its forms were quick and easy to understand, as was the confirmation email which was sent within the hour."
The service may also encourage people who have been putting off paper-based applications by saving them time online. One CeMAP student commented: "The reason I chose to register online is that I have printed the application forms twice in the last year but never actually got round to filling them out and posting them."
Mark Roberts, head of faculty financial regulation, at the ifs, said: "Its great that people are using the online service to register when it suits them. It saves a lot of time messing about with paperwork and gives people instant confirmation of their registration."
