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Chartered Associateship (CAifs)

Chartered Associateship is a professional designation awarded to holders of the ifs Associateship or an ifs FHEQ Level 6 qualification such as the BSc (Hons) in Banking Practice and Management, who also have at least 2 years’ relevant work experience within financial services industry. Once Chartered Associate status has been gained, it must be maintained through an annual CPD programme.

Eligibility

'As Head of UK Real Estate for HSBC Bank plc, I am passionate in my belief in and drive for knowledgeable and properly skilled managers.
Internally this is being achieved through a series of cutting edge, bespoke training courses which not only kick starts their professional development but also links seamlessly with the ifs' Chartered Associateship programme. Once achieved, this becomes a first class, visible, external demonstration of both our commitment to professional excellence as well as continual and ongoing professional development. I
am delighted that in the way this has been embraced within HSBC and look forward to an increasing number of managers achieving this award.'

Andrew Armstrong, Head of UK Real Estate, HSBC Bank plc

'Given it had been some time since I passed my degree and other regulatory certificates, I began to feel that the knowledge I had learned had begun to go out of date. I think it is invaluable both to myself (for my career development) and to Barclays that I keep my knowledge as up to date as I can in the ever-changing world of financial services. Having looked at my options via the ifs website, I decided that Chartered Associateship would best suit my learning style, while allowing me to update my knowledge and learn new skills.' 

John Sprigg CAifs, AdvCeMAP, CeFA Operations Manager, Barclays Bank

    •  To be eligible for Chartered Associateship you must:
      • have successfully completed an ifs FHEQ Level 6 qualification such as the BSc (Hons) in Banking Practice and Management or hold the ifs Associateship.
      • have at least 2 years' relevant work experience within financial services
      • be professionally active in the financial services industry or a related discipline at the time of application or have been so in the 3 years previously
    • The Chartered Associate scheme runs on an annual, calendar year basis, starting 1 January.
    • On application you will be required to confirm that you meet the requirements and submit a statement for validation outlining your development objectives for the year ahead.
    • Once your statement has been validated you will receive confirmation of Chartered Associateship status.
    • Within the year you will then need to complete 15 hours of quality CPD that directly contribute to the achievement of your stated development objectives.
    • In the final 2 months of your CPD year, you must submit a record of your CPD activities plus an annual statement for validation. Your annual statement will also form the development statement for the following year.

    Once you have received confirmation that you have been awarded Chartered status you will then be able to use the title Chartered Associate of the ifs School of Finance, or the designation CAifs, and your name will be added to the Chartered Associate directory . You will also receive a dated certificate and Chartered Associate card, which will be reissued on completion of subsequent years' CPD requirements.

    If you fail to complete the CPD programme you will revert back to your previous alumni membership level. You will be unable to reapply for Chartered Associateship during the following calendar year.        

    View a sample CPD record.

    Chartered status will only be awarded once the above criteria have been met.

    Benefits

    In addition to all the benefits other alumni members receive, Chartered Associateship also includes:

    • Chartered Associate card and scroll
    • inclusion in the Chartered Associate directory
    • an invitation for you and a guest to attend the annual Graduation Ceremony in London, when a short presentation will be made in acknowledgment of your achievement

    Mid-year applications

    Applications to join the scheme can be made at any time; however, the annual CPD subscription fee and CPD requirements will remain the same for the calendar year, regardless of when the application is made.

    CPD requirements

    All your CPD activities and your Development Statement must be recorded via the ifs online CPD service, myCPD.  Please read our detailed explanation of activites that we will accept as qualifiying CPD.

    Fees

    An annual CPD subscription fee of £50.00 will also be charged, as well as your existing annual alumni membership fee.  Please note that the annual CPD subscription fee is non-refundable and non-returnable if you do not complete the scheme.

    To apply

    To join, please log in using your ifs number and password at www.myifslearning.com and go to myCPD.  Click 'apply for Chartered Associate status', the click the 'Next' button, then follow the on-screen instructions.

    More information

    Frequently asked questions

    CPD requirements