Chartered Institute for securities and Investment- All you need to know

The Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) is a professional body that sets the standard for several aspects of the financial services discipline both in the United Kingdom and across the globe.

For intending finance professionals, it is quite normal to be curious about this well-known professional body. Questions such as ‘What is CISI all about?’ and ‘Are there any special benefits of getting qualified?’ would be answered in this article as we explore key details about professional certification. So, let us dive in.

About the CISI

 The CISI was established in 1992 by members of the London stock exchange. It is headquartered in London. 

 It was endorsed by a royal charter signed in October, 2009 by her majesty Queen Elizabeth. This made it a full fledged professional body in the UK.

 CISI offers a globally recognized certification that covers areas of finance such as; Securities, Investment and Compliance. It has a global presence spanning countries across the globe including Nigeria. In Nigeria, some of the professional bodies that have signed agreements with the CISI include;

• The Nigerian Capital Markets Institute, 
• The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, 
• The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria
• The Association of Investment advisers and portfolio managers 

Who is the CISI certification for?

CISI qualifications are designed for people who work in the wholesale securities market. It is also designed to address the needs of the international markets.

Finance professionals that need to obtain Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) approval status in the UK would also find the CISI very useful.

How long does it take to complete the CISI qualification

There are different professional qualifications offered by CISI. How long it takes to get any qualification depends on the specific program. 

In the table below, you would learn how long it takes to complete each qualification and who the Ideal candidate is.

CISI exam structure

So, what can you expect to see in terms of exam structure when writing a CISI qualification exam? 

Benefits of CISI membership 

There are several benefits  to getting a CISI membership. Let us go over some of them;

• Access to the CISI learning platform with a lot of great learning resources including videos, articles, podcasts and elearning modules.
• A Continuous professional development (CPD) scheme to help you keep track of your learning and professional growth.
• An opportunity to participate in networking events and webinars.
• Benefit from the knowledge shared by other professionals
• Use professional designations gained by passing the CISI certification exams.

Salary and job expectations

The CISI qualifications have strong international recognition and can lead to better career opportunities for finance professionals across the world, not just in the UK. But of course salaries will vary depending on the specific job role.

For people looking to start a career in finance, the CISI’s certifications are a great way to achieve this.

Is the CISI exam hard?

You can expect the exams to be rigorous. For some qualifications, preparation takes 100’s of study hours. But the pass rate varies depending on the qualification. It has ranged between 40% to 70%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let us go over some frequently asked question you might have about the CISI qualifications

Which is better, CII or CISI?

Both the CII (Chartered Insurance Institute) and the CISI (Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments) have their merits. However, the CII seems to be the favourite among professionals in the UK but the CISI enjoys more international recognition. That being said, the preference of UK employers for either CISI or CII qualifications vary depending on the role.

Is the CISI better than CFA

The CFA is more technical in nature and can enable you to gain deep knowledge of relevant financial concepts but for professionals looking to work with retail clients the CISI is preferable.