Investment Advice Diploma Resources — Official CISI and FCA References

Official resources for the CISI Investment Advice Diploma, including the qualification page, qualification structure, exam regulations, and FCA appropriate-qualification references.

Use official sources to confirm current qualification recognition, booking rules, and pathway fit before you rely on a training-provider summary or old FCA table copy.

Start here

Official sources

Official pageWhy it matters
CISI Investment Advice Diplomaconfirms the live qualification structure, the two core units plus one technical unit, and the current FCA activity mapping shown on the CISI page
CISI Qualifications Navigatorhelps compare IAD with nearby wealth and retail routes before you commit to the diploma path
FCA appropriate qualification standardsgives the FCA standards page that sits behind appropriate-qualification expectations
FCA Appendix 4 PDFlets you check the actual tables and activity references rather than relying on a summary
CISI examination regulations PDFcurrent exam administration, remote-invigilation, identification, malpractice, complaints, and appeals rules
CISI learning materials shopcurrent official workbook and digital-learning-material route

What to confirm before you book

SourceWhat to confirm
CISI IAD pagethe current unit names, qualification shape, and technical-path options
FCA Appendix 4whether the pathway you are choosing still aligns to the activity your role requires
CISI examination regulationsidentification, remote-invigilation rules, calculator and materials rules, complaints, and appeals
learning materials shopthe official workbook and digital-material route for the units you plan to sit

Pathway-fit checks that matter most

If you need to confirm…Strongest official source
whether IAD is still the correct CISI familyQualifications Navigator
whether the route is truly advice or dealing relatedIAD qualification page
whether Securities, Derivatives, or Financial Planning & Advice is the right specialist pathIAD qualification page plus the FCA Appendix 4 table
whether a later higher-level route is the better targetQualifications Navigator before you lock the booking plan

How to use the official layer with this guide

Use the official source when you needUse this guide when you need
current unit names, live qualification wording, or the latest exam ruleschapter-based explanation and route-selection guidance
confirmation that the qualification still fits the relevant FCA activitya practical reading order and faster recall pages
current workbook and booking-process detailsstructure, traps, and study strategy

Strongest review sequence

  1. start with the CISI IAD page so the two-core-plus-one-technical structure is clear
  2. use the Qualifications Navigator if you are still unsure whether IAD is the correct CISI route
  3. check the FCA Appendix 4 table before assuming a pathway covers a particular advice or dealing activity
  4. read the examination regulations before booking rather than only after a logistics problem appears
  5. use the learning-material page only when your route is fixed and you are ready to formalize preparation

Common weak resource habits

Weak habitBetter habit
relying on an old FCA table screenshotcheck the live FCA source and the live CISI qualification page together
assuming the technical path does not affect activity coverageverify the pathway before you book
using unofficial summaries for exam rulesgo straight to the CISI examination regulations PDF
buying materials before the route is fixedsettle the qualification and technical path first
Revised on Thursday, April 23, 2026