Investment Administration Qualification

IAQ™ FAQs

Exam specific

• Which exam board administers the IAQ™ examinations and can you book me on my exam?
  The Securities & Investment Institute (SII) administers all the IAQ™ examinations. Enrolling on one of our IAQ™ courses does not mean you are registered for your exam. To register for your exam, you need to contact the SII on +44 (0)20 7645 0680 or email clientservices@sii.org.uk

• Is the exam cost included in your course prices?
  No. The exams are an additional cost. For details of the latest costs for each of the IAQ™ modules, contact the SII direct on +44 (0)20 7645 0680 or email clientservices@sii.org.uk

• How long is each exam?
  Core modules
  The core modules are examined via computer-based testing. Each sitting is a 1 hour exam of 50 multiple-choice questions.

  Technical modules
  The IAQ™ technical modules are examined via computer-based testing. Each sitting is a 1 hour exam of 50 multiple-choice questions.

  Registering for your exam
  You must register for your exam directly with the Securities & Investment Institute. Enrolling on one of our courses does not mean you are registered for your exam with the Institute.

  The Securities & Investment Institute
  8 Eastcheap
  London
  EC3M 1AE

  Tel:	+44 (0)20 7645 0600 (switchboard) +44 (0)20 7645 0680 (examination bookings)
  Fax:	+44 (0)20 7645 0601
  Email	clientservices@sii.org.uk
  Website:	www.sii.org.uk

  For further details on examination dates and centres, please contact the Securities & Investment Institute directly. For information on the SII website about registering for an IAQ™ exam, please click here

• When and how do I get my exam results?
  Your results are available immediately following completion of the Computer Based Testing (CBT) exam.

• Where can I get a copy of the syllabus?
  The syllabi for each of the IAQ™ modules are available on the SII website

• Am I exempt from any part of the IAQ™ exams?
  You need to check with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) on +44 (0)20 7676 1000 or your Compliance Officer for details on exemptions you may be entitled to.

• What are the pass marks for the IAQ™ exams?
  The official pass mark for the IAQ™ examinations is 70%.

• What prior qualifications do I need to have before taking these exams?
  The IAQ™ examination programme is open to individuals both inside and outside the financial services industry. No prior qualifications are needed and the Securities & Investment Institute does not require you to become a student member of the Insitute before sitting the examination.

• Will my exam fee be returned if I am unable to sit the exam?
  If you are unable to sit your exam, for any reason, the Securities & Investment Institute will not refund you your exam fee.

• What comparable alternatives are there to this qualification?
  The Securities & Investment Institute (SII) Certificate examinations are alternative FSA approved qualifications on a similar level to the Investment Administration Qualification. We provide classroom-based and distance learning courses towards all papers of the SII Certificates. To find our more about the SII Certificates, click here.

• Will this designation help my employment prospects?
  Although not an essential requirement, it may look favourable to prospective employers if you have sat and passed relevant IAQ™ examinations.

• What kind of role would this qualification be most relevant for?
  The IAQ™ is designed for administration and operations staff.

• What are the major requirements to pass the IAQ™ ?
  The IAQ™ qualification is achieved by passing three IAQ™ modules: Introduction to Securities & Investment, a regulatory module and a technical module of your choice, ideally relevant to your current role.

• How long does this program take to complete?
  This all depends on the technical module you are taking but, generally speaking, it takes a minimum of 3-6 months to complete the IAQ™.

• Is there any particular order I should take the modules in?
  There is no particular order but we recommend you sit and pass your Introduction to Securities & Investment and your regulatory papers before you start studying for your technical module.

• How often can I take the exam?
  There is no limit on how many times you can take the exams.