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Investment Operations Certificate (IOC): Exam Details & Availability

Investment Operations Certificate sample questions, practice availability, and Securities Prep access for the CISI IOC in the UK and international operations roles.

The Investment Operations Certificate (IOC) is CISI’s level 3 operations qualification for financial-services administration and operations roles. If you are searching for IOC sample questions, practice tests, mock exams, or simulator access, this is the main Mastery page to confirm the qualification structure and track current Securities Prep availability.

Investment Operations Certificate (IOC) practice is not yet available in the web app.
Contact us for rollout details at Support. In the meantime, see current Securities Prep exam pages.

What this IOC page gives you

  • a clear place to confirm whether IOC is the right UK or global operations qualification for your role
  • current Securities Prep availability for web and mobile
  • a compact summary of the unit-based qualification structure
  • official source links so you can verify the current qualification details directly

Who the IOC is for

  • staff working in, or moving into, the administration and operations areas of financial services
  • candidates in settlements, asset servicing, client money and assets, platforms, operations risk, financial crime, or securities operations
  • firms that use a practical operations qualification as a benchmark for staff development

IOC qualification snapshot

ItemCurrent summary
BodyChartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)
MarketUnited Kingdom and international operations roles
Official qualification nameLevel 3 Certificate in Investment Operations
PositioningCISI’s established operations qualification and one of its most popular routes
FCA contextRecognised by the FCA for a number of overseeing roles, depending on the technical unit chosen
StructureThree units, typically an introductory unit, a regulatory unit, and a technical unit
Typical FCA-regulated routeIntroduction to Securities & Investment + UK Financial Regulation + a technical unit relevant to the role
Qualification time243 total qualification hours (CISI)
DeliveryRemote invigilation or global test centres

Best page to open next

If you need to…Best pageWhy
Compare IOC against the other UK CISI launch pages/exams/cisi/Best route when you are still deciding between operations, advice, and foundation paths.
Follow the non-official UK sequence first/securities/roadmaps/uk/Best route when you want the broader order before building a study plan.
Check the advice-led alternative/exams/cisi/iad/Best route if your target role centers on advice or dealing rather than operations.
Start with the broader foundation first/exams/cisi/international-introduction-to-investment/Best route if you want a wider first-step qualification before moving into IOC.

What IOC questions usually test

  • operations workflows and controls across the financial-services sector
  • regulation and operational discipline, especially where FCA-regulated roles are involved
  • the technical unit you select, such as asset servicing, client money and assets, global securities operations, or operational risk
  • whether you can apply practical operations knowledge rather than simply reciting product theory

How to prep right now for IOC

  1. Confirm which technical unit best matches your current or target operations role.
  2. Build the introductory and regulatory units into your base first so technical material has context.
  3. Focus on process flow, controls, exceptions, and escalation decisions rather than memorizing disconnected definitions.
  4. Keep this page bookmarked so you can move into IOC practice as soon as the Securities Prep bank is published.

Current practice availability

  • Page status: live now on Mastery Exam Prep
  • Securities Prep status: dedicated IOC practice is being added
  • Best current use: confirm the unit path, review the operations fit, and bookmark the route for launch week

Official sources

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