South African Institute Of Stockbrokers (sais)

What South African Institute Of Stockbrokers (sais) does

The South African Institute of Stockbrokers (SAIS) is the designated professional and industry body for stockbrokers and financial markets professionals in South Africa, founded in 1994 and headquartered at 51 West Street, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg. SAIS sets and maintains qualification standards for the industry, awards the CSb(SA) and CFMP(SA) designations, and acts as the formal voice of the profession with regulators including the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), where it holds reserved participation on the FSCA Competency Forum. Its core offerings comprise the Professional Stockbroker Examinations (six papers covering Finance, Legislation, Investment Advice & Portfolio Management, Rules Part 1 & 2, and Taxation), the QCTO-accredited Financial Markets Practitioner (FMP) qualification at NQF Level 7, and a mandatory Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme of 18 hours per cycle. Members span individual professionals (Candidate, Affiliate, Associate, CFMP, and Retired categories), corporate brokerage and financial services firms, and aspiring entrants into the financial markets.

Name

South African Institute Of Stockbrokers (sais)

Legal name

South African Institute of Stockbrokers

Website

https://sais.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SAIS is the designated professional and industry body for South African stockbrokers and financial markets professionals, awarding CSb(SA) and CFMP(SA) designations, administering examinations, and delivering mandatory CPD under a CISI partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Markets Professional Certification & Membership

NAICS

Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (52315)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAALAJ

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

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

SECONDARYEDAAANAD

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Certification Programs

SECONDARYEDABAJAG

Financial Compliance & Regulatory (AML/KYC, Sanctions, Market Conduct)

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Finance, Accounting & Risk Training

SECONDARYEDABAJAB

Financial Accounting & Reporting (GAAP/IFRS)

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Finance, Accounting & Risk Training

Keywords

• Professional designations
• Stockbroker examinations
• Financial markets education
• Continuous professional development
• Industry membership body

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Fees: Annual membership fees charged to individual professionals holding designations such as CSb(SA)-Affiliate, CSb(SA)-Associate, CFMP(SA), Retired Stockbroker, and Candidate Stockbroker. Fees range from R288 to R7,541 per annum (incl. VAT).
2. Corporate Membership Fees: Annual corporate membership fees providing organizations with privileged access to SAIS comment papers submitted to regulators, reserved seats on the SAIS Council, and preferential CPD programme approval rates.
3. Professional Stockbroker Examination Fees: Fees charged per examination sitting for each of the six Professional Stockbroker Examinations: Finance, Investment Advice & Portfolio Management, Legislation, Rules Part 1, Rules Part 2, and Taxation in Financial Markets. Each exam is R8,450 (incl. VAT) per 2026 fee schedule.
4. EISA Examination Fees: Fees charged for the External Integrated Summative Assessment for the Financial Markets Practitioner qualification. EISA exam fee is R8,323 per learner (incl. VAT).
5. CPD Programme Approval Fees: Fees charged to CPD providers for programme approvals, ranging from R1,063 per day for multi-day approvals to R6,251 for initial CPD Provider Application. Corporate members receive the first 10 CPD events free and discounted rates thereafter.
6. Exemption Application Fees: Fees charged for exemption applications from Professional Stockbroker Examinations. Application for exemption from Finance Exam and IAPM Exam each cost R1,968 (incl. VAT).
7. Workplace Provider Fees: Fees charged to employers for accreditation as a workplace provider for the Financial Markets Practitioner qualification, including initial application fee of R8,551 and re-accreditation fee of R5,551 (incl. VAT).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SAIS sets and maintains qualification standards for stockbrokers and other financial markets professionals in South Africa. It administers the six-module Professional Stockbroker Examinations (PSE) leading to the CSb(SA) designation, the Financial Markets Practitioner (FMP) qualification leading to the CFMP(SA) designation, and a mandatory Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme delivered in partnership with CISI.

Product overview

SAIS is a professional body for stockbrokers and financial markets professionals in South Africa, offering a platform of education, certification, and continuous professional development services. The core offerings include the Professional Stockbroker Examinations (PSE) program with six individual course modules (Finance, Legislation, IAPM, Rules Part 1 & 2, and Taxation) leading to the CSb(SA) designation, and the Financial Markets Practitioner (FMP) qualification at NQF Level 7 leading to CFMP(SA). The portfolio also includes mandatory CPD programs delivered in partnership with CISI, and individual and corporate membership tiers providing access to professional designations, thought leadership, and regulatory engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Stockbroker Examinations (PSE)

Quantifiable outcome

• Professionals earn recognized designations (CSb(SA), CFMP(SA)) upon completing examinations and meeting experience requirements
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAIS partners with CISI to deliver the CPD programme, providing members with access to an online CPD platform that includes both local and international CPD material. CPD activities completed through the portal are automatically recorded, and the platform integrates with FSCA reporting requirements.
• Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO)coreOthersQCTO is the regulatory body that has accredited the Financial Markets Practitioner (FMP) qualification and the Skills Development Providers (SDPs) who deliver the knowledge and practical skills components. SAIS operates as the Assessment Quality Partner (AQP) for the EISA component.
• FASSETminorOthersA learnership has been registered against the OC:FMP qualification through FASSET (Financial Sector Skills Coordinating Body). SAIS does not place learners into employment; employers must conclude work-based learning programme agreements.
• ASISA Academy NPCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorASISA Academy NPC is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) for the OC:FMP qualification, delivering the knowledge and practical skills components. Accreditation number: 01-QCTO/SDP100621-2050, valid 9 June 2021 – 8 June 2026. Contact: [email protected].
• Catalyst AI (Pty) LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatalyst AI is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) for the OC:FMP qualification. Accreditation number: 07-QCTO/SDP280423122548, valid 28 April 2023 – 27 April 2028. Contact: [email protected].
• Novia One Group (Pty) LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNovia One Group is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) for the OC:FMP qualification. Accreditation number: 07-QCTOSDP01191120-1861, valid 27 October 2021 – 26 October 2026. Contact: [email protected].
• The Sherq Centre of Excellence (Pty) LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Sherq Centre of Excellence is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) for the OC:FMP qualification. Accreditation number: 07-QCTO/SDP030123063535, valid 1 March 2023 – 1 February 2028. Contact: [email protected].
• Felix Risk Training Consultants CCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFelix Risk Training Consultants is a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) for the OC:FMP qualification. Accreditation number: 05-QCTO/SDP140924172541, valid 13 September 2024 – 12 September 2029. Contact: [email protected].
• Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)coreOthersSAIS maintains regular engagement with the FSCA, participating in the FSCA Competency Forum and providing feedback on draft legislation. CPD records maintained via the SAIS portal may be used for FSCA reporting if they meet the relevant criteria.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants): ACCA is a global accountancy body offering professional qualifications with examinations and CPD requirements. It operates a similar designation + examination + CPD model that competes for South African finance candidates seeking internationally portable credentials.
• CFA Institute: CFA Institute awards the CFA designation globally and serves investment professionals with examinations, ethics standards, and continuing education. It is a broader incumbent in the same professional certification space as SAIS's CSb(SA) and CFMP(SA) for South African investment professionals, and competes for the same candidate mindshare.
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA): CIMA is a global professional body awarding management accounting designations with examinations and mandatory CPD. It is a broader incumbent in professional certification and continuing education for finance professionals, comparable in operating model.
• Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (ASISA): ASISA is the industry body representing South African savings and investment providers. It is a broader industry umbrella that overlaps with SAIS's industry-advocacy role and shares several member firms, though ASISA represents asset managers/life companies rather than stockbrokers specifically.

Others

• Glueup: Glueup is the membership management platform that powers SAIS's member registration, login, and event management. It is an ecosystem enabler rather than a competitor, but the partnership is core to SAIS's digital operating model.

Emerging players

• Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA): FINRA administers securities licensing examinations (Series 7/63/65/66) in the US, functionally equivalent to SAIS's PSE programme. While jurisdictionally separate, it is the closest global analogue to SAIS's role in setting and administering stockbroker qualification standards.

Direct peers

• South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA): SAICA is South Africa's designated professional body for chartered accountants, with a comparable structure: examinations, designations, mandatory CPD, regulatory engagement, and membership tiers. It is the closest domestic analogue for how SAIS operates in the financial markets vertical.
• Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI): FPI is the professional body for financial planners in South Africa, awarding designations (CFP®) and administering CPD. It is a direct peer in the same domestic professional-body model that serves an adjacent segment of financial services professionals.
• Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI): CISI is SAIS's actual CPD partner and a globally recognized professional body awarding securities and investment designations. It is the most direct peer — both organizations serve the same professional cohort (securities/investment professionals) with designations, examinations, and mandatory CPD, and SAIS leverages CISI content for its members.

Regional players

• Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA): IoDSA is the South African professional body for directors, offering designations and governance education. It is a regional peer in the same professional-body model serving a different but adjacent financial/corporate governance cohort.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-african-institute-of-stockbrokers-sais

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about South African Institute Of Stockbrokers (sais)