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United Kingdom Roadmap: CISI

Suggested order for UK CISI qualification routes, including Investment Advice Diploma, Investment Operations Certificate, and International Introduction to Investment. Non-official study guidance.

On this page

This is a practical study roadmap, not official regulatory guidance.

Best page to open next

If you need to…Best pageWhy
Compare the three UK launch pages side by side/exams/cisi/Best route when you still need to choose between advice, operations, and foundation paths.
Start directly on the advice route/exams/cisi/iad/Best route when the target role is UK advice, dealing, or retail-investment-product focused.
Start directly on the operations route/exams/cisi/ioc/Best route when the target role is operations, servicing, control, or oversight focused.
Start directly on the broad foundation route/exams/cisi/international-introduction-to-investment/Best route when you want the broadest first step before specialising.

Typical starting points (United Kingdom)

Pick the route that matches your target role:

  1. New entrant or cross-functional foundation

  2. Investment operations path

  3. Investment advice / retail advice path

Visual roadmap (non-official)

    flowchart TD
	  A["Start<br/>UK CISI route"] --> B["Broad foundation<br/>International Introduction to Investment"]
	  A --> C["Already know your target role"]
	  B --> D["Operations path<br/>IOC"]
	  B --> E["Advice path<br/>IAD"]
	  C --> D
	  C --> E

Plain-text version:

  • If you need the broadest first-step qualification, start with International Introduction to Investment.
  • If your role is operations-led, move next into IOC.
  • If your role is advice-led or tied to UK advice/dealing standards, move next into IAD.

Notes

  • Always confirm current employer, regulator, and role-specific qualification requirements before committing to one path.
  • These UK pages are live on Mastery Exam Prep now, and dedicated Securities Prep practice for the UK path is being added next.
  • Use the exact CISI exam pages first to confirm which qualification best matches your role.

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