The Strategi Institute recognises that there is a lot of anxiety and confusion amongst advisers at the moment about what to do with regard to training for the National Certificate.
Our advice to you is:
- Get ready by planning your calendar for 2010 – some advisers will likely spend up to 20 days throughout the year on learning of some sort; either pre-module study, attending formal modules, or completing post-module assignments. Even those who might receive cross-credits for prior learning may still need to provide a portfolio of evidence, plus undertake the Capstone Knowledge training, and this all takes time.
- Set aside a budget for your development modules – it will be a cost for now, but an investment for the future. Strategi will work with its clients to help recoup that cost over the longer-term, by helping you to grow your business.
- Don’t panic – December 2010 is currently the cut-off date for advisers to complete any required study, and to become registered as an Authorised Financial Adviser (AFA). Given that the Code Committee are still in deliberation over what will become the Professional Code of Conduct, there is a possibility that this deadline will either be pushed out or some dispensation will be given to those who have registered for modules as at December 2010 and not yet completed them. Strategi is in close consultation with the relevant industry bodies, and will be letting you know as soon as any decisions are announced.
Strategi is in discussions with industry bodies around the recognition of prior learning and current competence and, as a result is not currently in a position to provide definitive advice on what can be cross-credited.
What we do know is that there are some fundamental aspects of the National Certificate that will likely remain unaffected by the outcomes from the Code Committee, because they are based around knowledge and principles, which will endure for the future. Therefore, registering for modules now is a positive step towards securing your future.
