Q. Who can certify a copy of my completion certificate and results transcript?
Q. What is a results transcript and why do you need to see it?
Q. Why do you discourage applicants from sending their original certificate and results transcript with their application?
Q. Why can only a current CII or Personal Finance Society member, (or solicitor, public notary or awarding organisation representative) certify that copies of my certificate and transcript are authentic? What about other professionals, e.g. teachers?
Q My qualification is from a non-UK awarding body. Do I need to provide evidence to CII that it is recognised by UK ENIC?
Q. Why am I asked for so much information?
Q. I don't have a PIN. How do I complete the RPL application form?
Q. The documentation that you have requested contains personal information that I do not wish to divulge to others. What assurance can you give me that you will not share this with others?

 Q. Who can certify a copy of my completion certificate and results transcript?

A. Unless your documentation contains digital verification, you will need to submit evidence of your qualification(s) in the form of a scanned photocopy which has been certified as a true representation of the original. This can be certified by a current member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Personal Finance Society whose full name and CII PIN should also be given, a public notary, solicitor or a representative of the awarding organisation.

CII staff may certify copies as true representations where they have seen the original documents; however, most applicants find it more straightforward to ask other CII or Personal Finance Society members (or solicitors or notaries) to do so. This approach means they can enclose the certified documentation within a single upload to the CII.

If you ask a CII/Personal Finance Society member to certify your documents please check whether they are a current member. Occasionally we receive documentation where the signatory's membership has lapsed and this leads to delays in processing. You can check an individual's membership status at www.cii.co.uk/membership/member-search. You cannot certify your own documentation.

The person certifying the information must include their CII PIN or, if they are a solicitor or public notary, their job title and contact details.

Q. What is a results transcript* and why do you need to see it?

A. A results transcript is an official document from your awarding organisation that identifies the individual qualification units or modules that you have completed. We need to see this because it provides evidence of how much of the qualification you completed through direct assessment and through any exemptions, your individual unit / module titles, marks attained and dates. It also enables us to identify which version of a qualification you completed.

Some CII prior learning awards are conditional upon specific units or pathways. We don't accept certificates of competency in place of results transcripts because they do not tell us the names of the qualification units / modules passed nor whether they were awarded as exemptions.

*This document is generally referred to as a results transcript by universities; other awarding bodies may refer to it differently, for example:

• Academic history
• Academic summary
• Completion certificate showing units completed towards qualification
• Diploma supplement
• Learning statement
• Notification of performance
• Passes and credits letter
• Record of achievement
• Results notification
• Statement of results

Here is an example of correctly completed documentation.

Q. Why do you discourage applicants from sending their original certificate and results transcript with their application?

A. For most applications we don't require the original documentation. Where we specifically request it, we strongly recommend that you send any original document by a means of delivery that allows you to track your envelope. CII will endeavour, but cannot guarantee, to return your originals via a tracked mail service. Please note that under no circumstances will CII refund applicants' delivery charges or accept liability for any losses caused by lost documentation.

Q. Why can only a current CII or Personal Finance Society member (or solicitor, public notary or awarding organisation representative) certify that copies of my certificate and transcript are authentic? What about other professionals, e.g. teachers?

A. Current members undertake to adhere to the CII Code of Ethics whereas the CII has no active declaration from non-members or lapsed members. The CII has contact details for its members, which means that any follow-up query is less likely to result in a delay in reviewing your entitlement to an award. Other professionals are not bound by the same stringent rules as solicitors and public notaries.

Q. My qualification is from a non-UK awarding body. Do I need to provide evidence to CII that it is recognised by UK ENIC?

A CII has access to the UK ENIC database so we don't require applicants to provide evidence for university degrees.

 

  Q. Why am I asked for so much information?

A. For the majority of applications CII requires evidence of qualification completion in the form of a correctly-certified graduation certificate and results transcript. Where we have not recently determined the prior learning eligibility for a qualification we are required to review against strict criteria that need to be fully satisfied. The CII will verify the match to its qualification, technical level and breadth of the learning together with the assessment methodology against all CII unit exemptions sought. Unless we are able to evidence that all criteria have been met no award can be made.

CII maintains a database of qualifications, which is regularly reviewed. In the majority of cases the information required is limited to that requested on the application form. However, where a qualification has not recently been reviewed, the CII does require full syllabus and assessment information in order to ensure the awards are fair to all candidates.

 Q. I don't have a PIN. How do I complete the RPL application form?

A. If you don't already have a PIN number please create an on-line CII profile.

Q. The documentation that you have requested contains personal information that I do not wish to divulge to others. What assurance can you give me that you will not share this with others?

A. We treat all documentation in the strictest of confidence. As a registered data controller we are bound by the obligations set out in the General Data Protection Regulation ((EU) 2016/679), the Data Protection Act 2018 or any other data protection laws applicable in the UK from time to time.

As a recognised awarding body the CII is required to keep records of our students' details so that we can accurately award credits and qualifications and provide information to candidates.

For more information on how the CII collects and uses its customers personal data, please view the CII’s Privacy Statement