Is it mandatory to sit an exam to become FCA approved? - Forum

Hi Richard,

Thanks for your post.

To become an FCA 'approved person', you must meet the requirements of the FCA’s 'fit and proper' test (a benchmark, not an exam), among other stipulations.

As part of the test, the FCA will assess whether you satisfy the relevant FCA training and competence requirements in relation to the controlled function/s you're going to perform. Some of these require qualifications - you can check which these activities are, here. It is up to your employer to let you know whether you have the skills and qualifications necessary to perform the tasks that are expected of you, or if you need further training. The FCA won't advise you on which qualifications to take.

So, in short - whether you need to take an examination very much depends on the activities you'll be doing.

If you do need a qualification, you can browse our list of FCA courses and register your interest by filling in the 'Information Request' box. 

I hope that helps!

Best wishes,

The Findcourses.co.uk Team

Hello and happy new year from FindCourses.co.uk!

Last year we received a number of queries from people confused about which FCA qualifications are needed to progress within various finance roles. We’ve put together an FCA professional development guide to help you gain a better understanding of the process and how to work out which qualifications you need. You can find it here.

Once you’ve had a read – come back to FindCourses to find your ideal finance course!

Please let us know if you have suggestions for improvements or if any extra information is needed.

With best wishes

The FindCourses.co.uk Team