LIBF Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA®)

There are no entry requirements.

However, you need to be satisfied of your ability to study in English at RQF Level 3.

We 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 advisor from home or on-the-go. 

You'll study 2 units that will explore the fundamental skills, knowledge and expertise that you'll need to qualify as a financial adviser. These include: 

• Unit 1: Financial Services Regulation and Ethics (FSRE)
• Unit 2: Advanced Financial Advice (AFA)

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

You will be assessed for each unit by a mixture of multiple-choice online exams and coursework.

• Unit 1:  Financial Services Regulation and Ethics (FSRE) – one two-hour exam with 90 multiple-choice questions and two case studies, each with five linked multiple-choice questions.
• Unit 2:  Advanced Financial Advice (AFA) – one piece of online coursework after three months of study and one three-hour typed electronic exam, based on a case study.

Rated 'Excellent' from more than 10,000 independent student reviews, we're the UK's most trusted online learning centre. 

We were founded more than 130 years ago, and our mission over the last century has been to help people get the qualifications they need to build a career they're truly proud of. 

We understand how difficult it can be to fit study around full-time work, parenting duties, or managing a busy schedule. That's why we build our courses for real people, living real lives.  

The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) are a professional body with taught degree awarding powers.

Founded in 1879 as the Institute of Bankers, it provides internationally recognised executive training and professional qualifications to support the banking and finance sector around the world.

They focus on lifelong learning; equipping individuals with the knowledge, skills, and qualifications to achieve what they want throughout their career and life.

Their qualifications are relevant for a range of roles regardless of experience and allow individuals to tailor their learning, so they have the building blocks and professional skills to progress with pace.

They provide a balance of experience, insight and thought leadership for today’s financial world, delivered by industry leaders, thinkers, and members of our community.

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.

Right away! Access to your first unit will be immediate. 

You'll have access to a range of online support and resources throughout your time studying, including live and recorded webinars, end-of-unit quizzes and dedicated tutor support via our Connect & Communicate online chat function. 

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

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.

Totalling £1200, the LIBF registration fee covers everything you need to successfully complete your course, including: 

• Your course registration fee 
• One attempt at each of your 3 course assessments (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 

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 also be sent three hardcopy textbooks (FSRE, AFA 1 and AFA 2). 

Get in touch with our DipFA Advisors for more information on 0333 920 8694.

They’ll talk through your experience, education and ambitions to make sure you’re choosing the right course, then get you enrolled with an interest-free* payment plan.

If you have any disabilities which you think might affect your studies or assessments, please tell your Course Advisor before you enrol so we can advise you on whether reasonable adjustments can be made to accommodate your needs.

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

Yes! You can study all of the modules from the Level 4 DipFA individually. This gives you the opportunity to study in sections or the whole programme at once.

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.

The module will cost £670 to study and you'll receive student support for 6 months. Payment plans can help you spread the cost over a deposit and 5 monthly payments. 

The Advanced Financial Advice (AFA) module 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 we 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 making informed choices about financial products. 

The module will cost £749 to study and you'll receive student support for 10 months. You can spread payment over 6 months with a deposit and 6 monthly payments. 

If you’re looking to study the Financial Services Regulation and Ethics (FSRE) module or the Advanced Financial Advice (AFA) module individually please contact our LIBF course advisors for more details.