Registration for the new qualification closes on October 31st 2008 with subsequent registration periods closing in May and October 2009. The first DipFA examination will take place in April 2009 at test centres in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Peterborough, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Belfast.
Mark Roberts, Head of Financial Regulation at the ifs School of Finance said,"This unique qualification will test and develop skills, as well as technical understanding, ensuring advisers not only have the necessary knowledge but that they can put it into practice. Being set at QCA level 4, and therefore meeting one of the likely objectives of the RDR, is an added bonus."
Roberts also confirmed that additional reasons for the impressive registration rate was that DipFA will cost £500, that there is no requirement for those taking DipFA to be members of the ifs School of Finance and that dedicated advisers could complete the qualification in 6 months.
Roberts added, "We have previously stated that DipFA is realistically achievable within 12 months but this was using the traditional measure of an academic year, in fact for dedicated advisers it would be possible to complete DipFA within 6 months."
