CISI, Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment

What CISI, Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment does

CISI (Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment) is a UK-registered educational charity and Royal Charter professional body founded in 1992 by London Stock Exchange practitioners. It serves financial services professionals across securities, investment, wealth management, compliance, risk, and financial planning disciplines through a multi-tiered qualification portfolio spanning Foundation (Level 2) through Professional (Level 7) qualifications, including the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification held under exclusive UK license from FPSB. CISI grants Chartered designations (Chartered FCSI, Chartered MCSI), issues the Statement of Professional Standing required by UK regulators for certain advisory roles, and accredits Chartered Firms and Accredited Financial Planning Firms.

CISI's technology stack centers on the CISI Learning Platform with intelligent CPD recommendations, the MyCISI member portal, the Qualifications Navigator, and remote invigilation testing delivered through its Surpass partnership, complemented by a mobile application used by 43,000+ members across 100 countries. Revenue is generated through unit-priced exam fees (£70 to £690 per exam), workbook sales, a £68 qualification registration fee, annual membership subscriptions across ACSI/MCSI/FCSI grades, CPD events and training, publications, and corporate services including Chartered Firm accreditation. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer self-service through cisi.org, a global network of Accredited Training Partners and university partnerships, and enterprise account management for firms such as QInvest, which mandates CISI membership for all staff. Operations span seven regional offices across London, Dubai, Mumbai, Colombo, Manila, Dublin, and Nairobi, with regulatory partnerships extending reach into African, Middle Eastern, and Asia-Pacific capital markets.

Name

CISI, Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment

Legal name

Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment

Website

https://cisi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CISI is a UK-based chartered professional body and educational charity that delivers qualifications, certifications, and membership services to 54,000+ financial services professionals across 100+ countries, spanning securities, investment, wealth management, and financial planning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Financial Services Education and Certification

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE) (EDAAALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications (EDAAANAD), Accounting & Finance Certification Prep (CPA, CMA, CFA, FRM) (EDANAIAD), Professional Certification & Training Content Publishing (Exam Prep, CE/CPD) (MPAJACAL)

Keywords

• Professional qualifications
• Financial services certifications
• Securities and investment education
• Wealth management credentials
• Continuing professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Qualification and Exam Fees: Primary revenue stream from examination fees ranging from £70 to £690 per exam, qualification registration fees of £68, and workbook sales. Total qualification costs range from £129 to £1,089 depending on the qualification level. Resit fees and exemption processing fees also contribute.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees providing access to professional standing, member directory, forums, networking events, and member benefits. Membership grades include Associate (ACSI), Member (MCSI), and Chartered Fellow (FCSI) with associated fee structures.
3. CPD Events and Training: Revenue from continuing professional development events, seminars, webinars, and specialized training programs. Includes access to the Learning Platform for CPD content and earns credits through engaging with platform content.
4. Publications and Learning Materials: Sales of official CISI workbooks, revision materials, and educational publications. Workbooks are mandatory for exam preparation and are included in exam packages.
5. Corporate Services and Accreditation: Fees from organizations seeking Chartered Firm status, Accredited Financial Planning Firm designation, and corporate supporter partnerships. Organizations pay for recognition and access to professional development resources for their staff.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CISI is a professional membership body that designs, awards, and administers internationally recognized qualifications and certifications for financial services professionals, ranging from entry-level (Level 2 Fundamentals) through Professional Level 7 (Chartered Wealth Manager). It sells exam registrations, official workbooks, annual membership subscriptions across three grades (Associate ACSI, Member MCSI, Chartered Fellow FCSI), CPD events and e-learning via its Learning Platform, and firm-level accreditations (Chartered Firm, Accredited Financial Planning Firm). It also holds exclusive UK rights to award the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.

Product overview

CISI operates as a comprehensive professional body offering a multi-tiered qualification portfolio spanning pre-employment foundation Level 2 through Professional Level 7 qualifications. The core offerings include entry-level Fundamentals of Financial Services, intermediate Investment Operations and Capital Markets programs, and advanced qualifications including the Diploma in Investment Operations, Diploma in Capital Markets, Diploma in Investment Compliance, and the prestigious Chartered Wealth Manager Qualification. Professional pathways include the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification at Level 6 and specialized certificates in areas such as Ethical AI, Climate Risk, Green and Sustainable Finance, and Credit Risk Management. These are supported by the CISI Learning Platform featuring intelligent CPD recommendations, the MyCISI member portal, Revision Express exam preparation tools, and IntegrityMatters ethics assessments. The organization also runs annual events including the Financial Planning Conference, Awards Ceremony, and Financial Planning Week initiative, alongside firm accreditations for Chartered Firms and Accredited Financial Planning Firms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fundamentals of Financial Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ exams administered annually in 80 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• FINSIA (Financial Services Institute of Australasia)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025CISI welcomed 5,000 FINSIA Australasian members to its global financial services community following partnership integration. FINSIA brings 135+ year heritage including legacy from the Australasian Institute of Banking & Finance (established 1886). Combined community strengthens professional standards across the Asia-Pacific region.
• Kingdom of Saudi ArabiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2025CISI CEO celebrated importance of financial services for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Vision 2030. Partnership supports Saudi Arabia's economic diversification through professional development for financial services workforce.
• HKSI InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2025CISI and HKSI Institute collaborate to advance ethical AI skills in Hong Kong's financial services sector. Partnership addresses the need for integrity and ethics in AI adoption within the financial services industry.
• IEG CampusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 June 2025New CISI and IEG Campus partnership heralds learning and career boost for Malaysian and ASEAN business and finance students. IEG Campus distributes CISI qualifications to students across Southeast Asia.
• CMA Rwanda (Capital Markets and Securities Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2025CISI and CMA Rwanda relaunched strategic partnership to strengthen capital market standards in Rwanda. Collaboration focuses on introducing internationally recognized CPD and professional qualifications to support market development.
• Kenya Bankers Association (KBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2025Partnership to strengthen Credit Risk Management in Kenya. KBA and CISI collaborate to provide professional development opportunities for Kenyan banking professionals, enhancing market integrity and professional standards.
• QInvestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 March 2025QInvest became the first Qatari financial services firm to mandate CISI membership for all staff. This mandate demonstrates organizational commitment to professional standards and provides comprehensive professional development for employees.
• SurpasscoreTechnology or Integration · 5 March 2025CISI selected Surpass as its global partner for digital assessment, enabling standardized online exam delivery worldwide. Surpass provides the technology platform for remote invigilation testing that has been extended to all global exam candidates.
• The Law SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2025Collaboration to enhance solicitors' ethical AI skills. The CISI Certificate in Ethical AI is offered to legal professionals to help them understand and apply ethical frameworks when using AI in practice.
• CFA Society of the UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024CFA Society of the UK became a new member of the Chartered Body Alliance, bringing the total to 8 professional bodies committed to raising professional standards in UK financial services.
• Islamic Banking and Finance Institute MalaysiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2024Collaboration to enhance lifelong learning with globally recognized CPD and membership. Islamic finance professionals in Malaysia gain access to CISI's international professional development framework.
• FINSIAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2024FINSIA and CISI work together to enhance Australasian financial services sector's ethical AI skills. Collaboration includes joint development of AI ethics training and professional development resources.
• IFoA (Institute and Faculty of Actuaries)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2024CISI and IFoA unite to boost actuaries' ethical AI skills. Partnership provides IFoA members access to CISI's Certificate in Ethical AI qualification and related professional development resources.
• ACI FMA (Financial Markets Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Partnership renewal with ACI FMA to enhance efforts to improve the culture of financial markets. Collaboration on professional development and standards for ACI FMA members globally.
• Innovate FinanceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2024Partnership with Innovate Finance to provide the UK's global fintech community with integrity and ethics skills through CISI's Certificate in Ethical AI. Supports fintech professionals in adopting responsible AI practices.
• CAIA AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2024Strategic partnership providing regulator-recognized qualifications and learning opportunities for CAIA's 13,000+ members. CAIA members gain access to CISI's professional qualification pathways.
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2024ACCA and CISI join forces to enhance accountants' ethical AI skills. ACCA members gain access to CISI's Certificate in Ethical AI to develop competency in AI ethics and governance.
• EIMF (European Institute of Management and Finance)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2024CISI and EIMF set new benchmark in the investment fund sector with launch of Cyprus Fund Administration Professional Assessment Certificate. Deep collaboration on specialized qualification development.
• EvertreenminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 April 2024CISI and Evertreen partner to plant trees and build a sustainable future. Environmental partnership supports CISI's sustainability and ESG commitments, including COP commitments and green finance initiatives.
• Qatar Financial CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2024MOU with Qatar Financial Centre to build talent within the finance profession. Partnership supports professional development for QFC-licensed firms and professionals.
• CMSA Tanzania (Capital Markets and Securities Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2024CISI and Tanzania's CMSA collaborate to introduce internationally recognised CPD to the Tanzanian market. Supports capital market development and professional standards in Tanzania.
• FPSB (Financial Planning Standards Board)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 November 2023CISI holds exclusive rights to award the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) certification in the UK. FPSB partnership enables CISI to offer the globally recognized CFP designation, the UK's highest financial planning certification.
• Botswana Stock ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2023New Botswana Stock Exchange and CISI collaboration heralds boost for Botswana capital markets. Partnership supports professional development for exchange personnel and market participants.
• ASEA (African Securities Exchanges Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020Renewed ASEA-CISI partnership boosts professionalism across African capital markets. Collaboration with 27 African stock exchanges promotes common certification standards and professional development.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• CFA Institute: CFA Institute is the world's largest investment professional body, offering the CFA charter across global capital markets. It directly competes with CISI's investment and wealth management qualifications (Investment Management, Chartered Wealth Manager) for the same population of buy-side and advisory professionals.
• CAIA Association: CAIA Association offers the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation, focused on alternatives and portfolio construction. CAIA entered a strategic partnership with CISI in June 2024, treating CISI as the closest educational counterpart in the UK/EMEA wealth and investment space.
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants): ACCA is a global chartered body offering finance and accounting qualifications with members in 180+ countries. ACCA has partnered with CISI on ethical-AI training and overlaps with CISI on corporate-finance and compliance credentials for the same professional audience.
• ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales): ICAEW co-develops the ICAEW/CISI Diploma in Corporate Finance with CISI and serves overlapping UK-based finance professionals. As another Royal-Charter professional body with CPD requirements, ICAEW is the closest UK chartered-body peer to CISI's structure and operating model.
• IFoA (Institute and Faculty of Actuaries): IFoA partners with CISI on ethical-AI training and serves UK financial-services professionals in risk and actuarial roles. It is one of eight members of the Chartered Body Alliance alongside CISI, sharing the same chartered-body, CPD-driven model.
• HKSI Institute: HKSI Institute is Hong Kong's securities-industry professional body, partnering with CISI in July 2025 on ethical AI. It is the most direct regional credentialing peer in Greater China for CISI's Hong Kong-targeted investment and compliance qualifications.

Broad incumbents

• Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB): FPSB owns the global CFP certification marks and licenses CISI as the exclusive UK awarding body. While not a credentialing competitor, FPSB is the upstream brand-and-standards body whose product (CFP) CISI distributes in the UK market, making it a structural peer and counterparty.
• AICPA (American Institute of CPAs): AICPA licenses the CPA credential in the US and offers related financial-services and RPA certifications to global accounting and finance professionals. It represents the broader incumbent chartered-body model from which CISI's qualification-portfolio approach was patterned.

Regional players

• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ): CA ANZ is the leading chartered accounting body in Australasia following the FINSIA region's professional landscape shift. With FINSIA now integrated into CISI, CA ANZ remains the dominant chartered-accounting peer across the same geography, competing for adjacent finance-professional mindshare.

Emerging players

• ACI FMA (Financial Markets Association): ACI FMA is a global trade association for wholesale financial-market professionals, partnering with CISI on culture and standards training since 2024. It serves an overlapping audience (FX, money markets, treasury) and is positioning itself as a complementary, partially overlapping credentialing peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cisi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cisitv?feature=watch
• Facebookfacebook.com/thecisi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chartered-institute-for-securities-&-investment?trk=top_nav_home
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_cisi

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CISI, Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment