The Certificate in Financial Derivatives and Certificate in Financial Derivatives - Retail have been developed to equip employees advising and/or dealing in Financial Derivatives on behalf of professional and retail clients respectively with the knowledge and expertise required for their job roles.

SII has developed the Certificate programme with representatives from leading global financial services firms, both wholesale and retail, with input from the Exchanges, LIBA, FOA and Accredited Training Providers to ensure the Certificates meet the needs of the changing industry. SII has ensured that these qualifications are globally portable, addressing the needs of the modern international derivatives market.

The Certificate in Financial Derivatives includes:

The Certificate in Derivatives comprises the following units:

• Financial Derivatives - 1 ½ hour paper consisting of 75 multiple-choice questions
• FSA Financial Regulation OR Principles of Financial Regulation  -  1 hour paper consisting of 50 multiple choice questions

The Certificate in Financial Derivatives - Retail additionally includes:
Investment & Risk - 1 ½ hour paper consisting of 60 multiple-choice questions.

Candidates advising retail clients who complete the qualification after 1 May 2008 have to pass the Investment and Risk unit.

Key Features - Financial Derivatives

•  Syllabus tailored to meet the needs of employees advising both professional and retail clients
•  A highly regarded qualification offering benchmark competence to those advising/dealing in financial derivatives
•  Globally portable - internationally focused reflecting the needs of an international market place
•  Streamlined syllabus focusing on key concepts and principles underpinning the creation, valuation, trading and management of financial instruments
•  Comprehensive coverage of underlying global financial markets and derivatives, including ET, OTC, credit and swap instruments  Enhanced coverage of structured products and applications such as hedging and risk management

MiFID Compliance

As a result of MiFID, firms may find that a number of their clients, which they treat as wholesale clients, seek reclassification as retail clients, to gain the protections that retail clients are entitled to. Employees advising retail clients must obtain the retail version of the qualification. SII has adapted all regulatory examinations to ensure they are MiFID compliant.
 

source : CISI website