Certificate in Financial Advice – CertFinAdvice

Gain introductory specialist knowledge and financial advice skills to prepare you for entry into the financial advice industry.

Type of qualification

Certificate

Level of study

Undergraduate study

An undergraduate qualification is usually the first one you study.

More about study levels

NZQF level 6

Our courses follow the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF) levels.

Find out more about NZQF levels

Time to complete

12 weeks of full-time study
Up to 8 years part-time
Part-time available

Where you can study

Distance and online

International students

International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Not open to international students

Study a Certificate in Financial Advice – CertFinAdvice

The Massey University Certificate in Financial Advice is delivered in conjunction with Kaplan Professional, Australia’s leading and largest provider of financial services education. It combines introductory specialist knowledge with financial advice skills to prepare you for entry into the financial advice industry.

The qualification is mapped to the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5), Version 2 and meets the standard required by the Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services in New Zealand.

In addition to the core subject, Introduction to Financial Advice, you can choose to focus on a particular knowledge area by tailoring your study to specialise in a specific area of interest, or to align with your career aspirations. You can choose from four (4) areas of focus:

  • Investment
  • Life, disability and health insurance
  • General insurance
  • Residential property lending.

You must complete a total of 60 credits in order to successfully meet the completion requirements of this qualification. 

Recognition for prior learning (RPL) is not permitted for this qualification. 

Start dates

This qualification can be started in January, April, June, August, October or December.

All the courses in this qualification are offered six times each year.

Please note, if you enrol into a course within this qualification early, you will get access to Kaplearn (the learning platform) up to 6 weeks prior to the official start date for that course. This allows you to complete your pre-reading and prepare for your assessments..

Duration

The Certificate in Financial Advice consists of two courses worth 30 credits each. The duration of each 30 credit course is 12 weeks. If you choose to study full-time you can complete the certificate in 12 weeks by studying two courses at the same time. If you choose to study part-time, will have up to 12 months from your initial enrolment date to complete the certificate but the assessment for each course will be completed within the specified 12 week period for that course.

Further study

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of ongoing competence and knowledge to deliver advice is essential for practising Financial Advisers (FAs) and Nominated Representatives (NRs) under The Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services – Standard 9.

Kaplan Professional, with the support of Massey University, has designed a purpose-built content library specifically for financial services professionals in New Zealand. Delivered via Kaplan Professional’s market-leading, purpose-built Ontrack platform, the Financial Services New Zealand library provides digital modules and content on an ongoing basis. Comprehensive individual and group reporting and tracking functionalities provides a clear and distinguishable way for Financial Advice Representatives (FAPs) and their employees to demonstrate how they’re meeting their CPD requirements under the new regime and regulatory framework.

Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

Specific requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this qualification, outside of university admission regulations. 

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

Official regulations

To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.

You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.

Structure of the Certificate in Financial Advice

If you study full-time you will take two 30-credit courses at the same time.

If you study part-time you will have 12 months in which to complete the certificate but the study and assessment for each course must be completed within the specified 12 week period.

For example, if you take the first course (125179) starting in April, you will complete it in 12 weeks. Then, if you take the second course starting in December, you will complete that course in 12 weeks. This ensures that you complete two courses for the certificate within the 12 month time limit.

It is important for you to access your Stream link in your student portal prior to the start date to finalise your enrolment.

Early access to your study material and learning resources is available from 6 weeks prior to the intake start date. You will be able to view your assessments from 4 weeks prior to the intake start date.

Your study material is hosted in KapLearn, a leading online learning management system.

Each time you need to access KapLearn, you must be logged into your Massey University student portal. You can then log into KapLearn via your Stream link. 

You are strongly encouraged to log into your KapLearn subject room at your earliest convenience.

Start dates for 2024

Start date Closing date for enrolment
5 August 28 July
12 August 4 August
7 October 29 September
9 December 1 December

Courses and specialisations

Key terms

Courses
Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.
Course code
Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
Credits
Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
Specialisations
Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.

Credit summary

60 credits

  • Compulsory course – 30 credits
  • Course from the Schedule – 30 credits

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.

Schedule for the Certificate in Financial Advice

Compulsory course (Choose 30 credits from)

Choose 30 credits from
Course code: 125179 Introduction to Financial Advice 30 credits

Providing knowledge of the financial advice industry, including regulatory requirements, and the application of professional practice.

View full course details

30 credits from

Course code: 125143 Essentials of Investment Advice 30 credits

Providing essential knowledge of the principles and practice of the provision of investment advice

Prerequisites: 125179 Corequisites: 125179

View full course details
Course code: 125155 Essentials of Insurance Advice - Life, Disability, and Health 30 credits

Providing essential knowledge of the principles and practice of the provision of insurance (life, disability and health) advice

Prerequisites: 125179 Corequisites: 125179

View full course details
Course code: 125156 Essentials of Insurance Advice - General 30 credits

Providing essential knowledge of the principles and practice of the provision of insurance (general) advice

Prerequisites: 125179 Corequisites: 125179

View full course details
Course code: 125163 Essentials of Residential Property Lending Advice 30 credits

Providing essential knowledge of the principles and practice of the provision of residential property lending advice

Prerequisites: 125179 Corequisites: 125179

View full course details

Fees and scholarships

The Certificate in Financial Advice is not eligible for Fees Free study, nor is it eligible to be funded via StudyLink.

The total fee for the Certificate in Financial Advice is $1800. This includes a one-year tailored subscription to Ontrack and the short courses within the platform.

Additional elective subjects (specialisations) can be added for $900 each.

In addition, there will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees/levies for some courses, and there may be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.

Scholarship and award opportunities

Search our scholarships and awards

Fees disclaimer

This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.

Careers and job opportunities

On successful completion of the Certificate in Financial Advice, you will meet the new requirements for providing financial advice in New Zealand set in the Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services. The competencies and capabilities in this qualification are equivalent to the relevant outcomes of the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5) [Version 2] approved by the New Zealand Qualification Authority. This qualification has been independently validated by the Skills Organisation (Skills) and the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has been notified of the outcome.

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