LIBF Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA®)

There are no entry requirements for this course. However, you need to be satisfied with your ability to study in English at RQF Level 3.

We also recommend that you are at least 18 years old, as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will not let you practice as a recognised financial adviser before then.

A 100% online course, the Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers gives you the flexibility to qualify to become a financial adviser from home or on-the-go. 

You'll study 6 modules (and 11 units in total) that will explore the fundamental skills, knowledge and expertise that you'll need to qualify as a financial adviser. These include: 

• Module 1: Financial Services Regulation and Ethics (FSRE)
• Module 2: Advanced Financial Advice - Taxation (AFAT)
• Module 3: Advanced Financial Advice – Investment (AFAI)
• Module 4: Advanced Financial Advice – Protection (AFAP)
• Module 5: Advanced Financial Advice – Retirement Planning (AFAR)
• Module 6: Advanced Financial Advice – Coursework (AFAC)

Like your course, your DipFA assessments are 100% online.

You will be assessed for each module by a mixture of multiple-choice online exams and coursework, which include: 

• Module 1 – Financial Services Regulation and Ethics (FSRE): one 2-hour exam, split into 2 units. Each unit includes 25 multiple-choice questions and 3 case studies, each with 5 related multiple-choice questions
• Modules 2 to 5 – Taxation, Investment, Protection Retirement Planning: for each module, you will complete a 1.5-hour exam (split into 2 units) consisting of 20-question multiple-choice questions and 2 case studies, each with 5 multiple-choice questions related to each case study.
• Module 6 – Coursework: the assessment for this module consists of a pre-release fact find and will require an essay response. When you register, you will choose your coursework submission date. However, please note that a new coursework session starts every 6 weeks, and you will have 4 weeks to complete the coursework assignment. 

You will have a 12-month registration period in which to sit your multiple-choice exams for modules 1 to 5.

The multiple-choice exams will be administered on behalf of LIBF by Pearson VUE, and you can choose to sit them in a test centre or at home by remote invigilation.

The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) is a respected professional body with degree-awarding powers, dedicated to supporting careers in the banking and finance sector.

Founded in 1879, LIBF offers internationally recognised qualifications and executive training, helping professionals at all levels gain the knowledge and skills to succeed.

Their qualifications are designed for learners at every stage, offering flexible learning pathways that support career progression, upskilling, and lifelong learning.

LIBF combines industry expertise, academic insight, and real-world relevance, making their courses highly valued by employers across the financial services industry.

We specialise in flexible, 100% online learning designed to fit around your life. Whether you're working full-time, caring for family, or just need more control over your studies, we give you the freedom to learn at your own pace, from anywhere in the world.

Here’s why thousands of students choose ICS Learn every year:

• 24/7 course access so you can study anytime, on any device
• Personalised tutor support from subject experts
• Flexible payment plans to spread the cost
• Trusted by students in over 100+ countries 
• Career-ready qualifications recognised by employers and universities

With ICS Learn, you’re in control of your education – and your future.

The Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA) is aimed at professionals who are looking to start a career as a financial adviser.

Exploring the key information you'll need to qualify as a financial adviser, you'll examine:

• The purpose and structure of the UK financial services industry
• The role and aims of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• Regulation regarding financial advice through to risk
• Analysing data
• Creating and managing financial plans
• Communicating financial advice

If you're looking to qualify as a financial adviser, this course is the perfect place to start. It brings content to life by breaking down learning into easy-to-manage bite-sized chunks. 

This DipFA course is the first of its kind to be digitised, allowing you to study and access support resources entirely online.

Totaling £1380, the LIBF registration fee covers everything you need to complete your course, including: 

• Your course registration fee 
• One attempt at each of your individual module exams (resit fees apply)
• Access to LIBF's learning platform, Brightspace (which includes mandatory reading and unit e-books), that supports the Digital Academy and underwrites the additional resources ICS Learn provides for the DipFA 

As an ICS Learn student, you'll always have the support you need to succeed. From the moment you enrol, you'll gain access to:

• Our all-in-one virtual learning platform, mystudyspace
• Access to all of your interactive online course materials
• Online Induction Programme, Live Induction Session and AI-led videos
• FREE online study planners 
• Personalised tutor support
• Access to our Resource Library, full of tools, tips and guidance
• Our friendly Student Services team to help you with non-academic questions

You'll also have lifetime access to our Career Hub, which offers you thousands of resources to help you impress employers, master critical business skills, and build your dream career. This includes:

• A CV and cover letter builder
• An interview simulator
• An elevator pitch builder
• Career and work psychology assessments
• In-depth industry and employer profiles
• 350+ employer films with practical advice from hiring managers
• 1000+ short courses, articles and videos on key career skills like negotiating a raise and leading a team

You can take a sneak peek at the Career Hub and sign up for free today.

Yes! You can study Module 1 of the Level 4 DipFA individually, or Modules 2 to 6 combined.

Module 1, the Financial Services Regulation and Ethics (FSRE) module, is an ideal introduction to the UK's financial services industry, regulation and ethics.

Over the module, you'll explore the key parts and relationships present in the financial system, regulatory frameworks, the concept of risk, how the FCA approaches ethics and aspects of providing advice. It's a great place to start if you want to find out more about how financial services work in the UK, and you'll receive our support for 6 months. 

Modules 2 to 6 make up the Advanced Financial Advice (AFA) modules, which include the Taxation, Investment, Protection, and Retirement Planning modules, as well as the Coursework module.

Together, they will help you to create and maintain better financial plans for customers by deepening your knowledge of the financial system and the various influences that can inform the advice you offer. 

It explores the commercial and regulatory environment, as well as legislation, products, and services that inform the financial advice process, in addition to how risk influences decisions and makes informed choices about financial products. You'll receive student support for 10 months.

If you’re looking to study Module 1 individually or Modules 2 to 6 combined, please contact our Course Advisors for more details.

To access the DipFA® course content with us, you must first register and pay your course registration, assessment and exam fees (£1,430) directly to LIBF.

Once registered, you can purchase our online support package to study the course content through mystudyspace, our flexible virtual learning environment.

If you’re funding the course yourself, our flexible 0% payment plans* allow you to spread the cost with interest-free* monthly instalments for our platform service. 

If your employer is funding all or part of your course, we can invoice them directly for your course fees – just let your course advisor know and we’ll arrange everything.

Right away! You'll have access to your course within the hour. 

You must register with LIBF first and pay your full registration fee to them before continuing your studies with ICS Learn. This ensures that you'll have the access you need to LIBF's learning platform, Brightspace, as well as your assessment information. You'll need both to successfully complete your DipFA course. 

When a student registers with LIBF, they will have immediate online only access to Module 1 (FSRE), available through www.mylibf.com.

For modules 2 to 6, however, students will have the option to order a hard copy of the study materials if they prefer. If a student registers online, they will be offered the option to include the hard copy study text, free of charge. If a student is registered through a corporate registration or via their employer, they will have the option to order the Advanced Financial Advice (AFA) study hard copy study text, free of charge, once they’ve registered.

You can also verify that your course is budget-friendly when you use our handy affordability calculator.