Certificate in Pensions Essentials

We would expect you to be confident that the candidates have achieved the Learning Outcomes set out in the Guidance Notes. The key to the flexibility of these qualifications is such that you, as a company, can decide how and when you want to train & test your staff following attendance at the training course. An Assessment test will need to be taken, but you design the questions based on the Learning Outcomes.

Level 2 is broadly equivalent to GCSEs and represents 20 learning hours on a particular subject. Level 3 equates to A levels and represents 30 learning hours on a particular subject. Following completion of these qualifications, a suggested route for administrators could be DPC/QPA which are set at Level 4.

Level 2 gives attendees a rounded knowledge of pensions (learning on the job, accessing an individuals records, being able to do a basic calculation etc) whereas Level 3 builds on this knowledge and can follow the career progression of an administrator.

They will need to achieve the 10 mandatory units for the Award and then claim a final qualification certificate from PMI

PMI will ensure that a check on standardisation has been undertaken on the Assessment test questions and candidate answers to ensure that the qualifications meet the quality approved standards and are consistent between various companies.

The PMI wants individuals to start and complete these qualifications in a realistic period. It is the PMI's expectation that the Award should be completed within 12 months and the Certificate within 18 - 24 months of registration.

If the Learning Outcomes state that a calculation is required, then this should be in the Assessment test.

The Qualification is made up of eighteen units of which ten must be completed to achieve the qualification. Candidates must complete all ten units to gain the qualification and claim a final certificate.

Units are assessed in-house via examination/written question and answer. They are compiled, carried out and marked in-house at the end of each unit training session.

Assessment questions must be written in such a way to allow the candidate to achieve all of the learning outcomes listed in each unit. A candidate passes the unit if all learning outcomes have been satisfied.

Upon completion of the CPE qualification, individuals can apply for Professional level of membership from the PMI and have the designatory initials ProfPMI after their name.

Unit certificates should be claimed for each of the ten units the candidate completed.

Final Certificates should be claimed when all ten units have been completed. We cannot issue certificates of credit to candidates who have been registered for less than 10 weeks.

Unit Certificates

Candidates complete ten out of the eighteen units available in the certificate. Unit certificates can be claimed as each unit has been successfully achieved.

Each unit certificate will have the following details on it:

•  the PMI name and logo
•  the candidate's name as registered (please ensure this is correct at point of registration and inform us promptly of any changes)
•  the unit title, national number, credit value and level per unit
•  a unique identifier for the certificate
•  date on which PMI confirms the achievement by the candidate
•  the signature of PMI's Chief Executive

Final Certificates

Final Certficates can be claimed at any time providing centre approval is maintained and there are no standardisation issues outstanding.

Each final qualification certificate will have the following details

• the PMI name and logo
• the candidate's name as registered (please ensure this is correct at point of registration and inform us promptly of any changes)
• the accredited qualification title and level
• the national accreditation number for the qualification
• a unique identifier for the certificate
• date on which PMI confirms the achievement by the candidate
• PMI's Chief Executive signature and PMI President signature

Organisations wishing to offer this qualification must apply to the PMI for Examination Partner, unless they are already a PMI Examination Partner.

It will be necessary to apply to become an approved Examination Partner- the process involves three stages:

• An Examination Partner Recognition Form is completed and returned to PMI along with the approval fee.
• An approval visit to the Examination Partner is carried out.
• Once approval is agreed a PMI Examination Partner Certficate is issued and candidates can be registered for the approved qualification(s).

Single Site

This is an Examination Partner where all the candidates are at one location.

Multi Site

If candidates are based at more than one location, it is possible to become a multi site Examination Partner where it will consist of one Examination Partner and minimum one satellite. In this setup there must be a Examination Partner contact who will be responsible for dealing with the administration of the qualification across all locations. All correspondence and examination material will be sent to the main centre contact who will be responsible for distributing it to the different locations. Each location must have a designated local contact. The alternative is to register each location as "single site". 

Annual Examination Partner /Approved Centre fee 

Once approved, an Examination Partner/Approved Centre fee is payable. This commences in the year the of the approval and is paid in April.

It is broken down as follows:

Application for centre approval £900

Application for Examination Partner approval £700

Multi-Site Examination Partners £700 + £400 per satellite centre

Multi-Site Centre approval £900 + 250 per satellite centre

PMI has a responsibility to have in place policies and procedures to prevent malpractice and/or maladministration in the development, delivery and award of its qualifications. PMI is applying this policy to ALL of its qualifications whether they are regulated or not.

This policy is aimed at PMI’s customers, including candidates taking our qualifications and Examination Partners delivering, awarding and accommodating the assessment of PMI examinations and/or workbased assessments within or outside the UK.

As soon as an Organisation has been approved as an Examination Partner for CPE then candidate registration can commence. All candidate registrations must be completed by the Examination Partner contact

New to PMI?
The Examination Partner contact must register any new candidates.