BCO FAQ — Common Questions (Branch Supervision, Disclosure, Suitability)

What is the official BCO exam format and structure?

CSI publishes BCO exam structure on the official Exam & Credits page:

• Exam format: Proctored (remote or in-person at a test centre)
• Exam duration: 2 hours
• Question format: Multiple Choice
• Questions per exam: 80*
• Passing grade: 60%
• Attempts allowed: 3

* CSI notes: if you enrolled before July 5, 2023, your BCO exam is 3 hours long and consists of 90 questions.

Source: https://www.csi.ca/en/learning/courses/bco/exam-credits

What are the official topic weightings?

From CSI’s official weighting table:

• The Role of a Branch Compliance Officer — 6%
• Mutual Funds Industry Regulation — 12%
• Registration Requirements — 12%
• Account Opening — 14%
• Disclosure and Suitability Requirements — 24%
• Mutual Funds Performance Evaluation — 8%
• Dealing with Complaints — 6%
• Sales Representatives Supervision and Control Systems — 18%

Source: https://www.csi.ca/en/learning/courses/bco/exam-credits

What should I prioritize first?

Prioritize the highest-weight topics that also show up as scenarios:

• Disclosure + suitability (largest weighting): proof-of-delivery, defensible suitability rationale, leverage red flags
• Supervision + control systems: branch checklists, exception handling, prohibited practices
• Account opening: KYC completeness and update triggers

Do I need the official CSI materials?

Yes. Use this hub as a study map + practice layer, but rely on CSI’s official materials for the canonical reading.

How should I practice?

Short drills per topic, then a weekly mixed set. Review every miss and write a one-sentence “first action” rule:

“Given this deficiency, the first correct step is … because …”

Where do I find official policies (fees, timing, retakes)?

Use the official CSI links in Resources. Policies can change, so we avoid hard-coding beyond the published exam structure and weightings.