Qualifications
Hot on the heels of the Award in Life and Pensions Foundations introduced late last year, the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) recently launched its next-step qualification for the sector -- the Certificate in Financial Services, Life and Pensions.
Like the Level 2 Award, the Level 3 Certificate is designed for early career and front-line staff working in the life, pensions and long-term savings sector. The new Certificate is particularly suited to contact centre team leaders and managers, and those working in operational roles.
As reported in the previous edition of The Journal, the CII has been working closely with senior sector leaders to inform the development of its new professional qualifications and create a voluntary framework of professional standards -- the 2016 Commitment. Initial signatories of the 2016 Commitment are: Aviva Life, HCL, LV, NFU Mutual, Old Mutual Wealth, Phoenix Group, Re Assure, Scottish Widows and Standard Life.
Steve Jenkins, director of financial markets at the CII, told The Journal: "Our new qualification pathways have been developed in close consultation with the life, pensions and long-term savings sector. Our aim is to support high levels of customer service and to help firms offer a consistent and formalised approach to staff development."
The Certificate is made up of three units, covering: the sector's role and its activities; key customer needs, solutions and products; and how individuals and organisations work within a regulatory and legislative environment.
It is offered on a distance learning basis, with access to study texts and online revision support, and tested by multiple choice exams sat at centres across the country or at employers' premises.
â For more information visit: www.cii.co.uk/cert-financialservices