Investment Operations Certificate (IOC)
The Investment Operations Certificate (IOC), organised by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), is a practitioner-led programme for administration and operations staff. It equips individuals with an overview of the financial services industry and its regulation as well as providing a detailed picture of their particular industry sector. The IOC will be of significant value to individuals working in, or aspiring to work in, administration or operations areas of financial services firms.
The HKSI Institute is responsible for handling enrolment for the IOC examinations in Hong Kong. The IOC examinations are held at the Global Test Centre, located in either San Po Kong or Kwun Tong. Details of the examination centre you have booked are on your confirmation details.
There are no prerequisites for enrolling in the examinations for all units of IOC.
For the current examination syllabus, please refer to CISI website.
The IOC is awarded on the completion of:
- 1 Introductory Unit and 2 Technical Units; or
- 1 Introductory Unit, 1 Regulatory Unit* and 1 Technical Unit; or
- 3 Technical Units.
* Regulatory Unit can be exempted by Paper 1 of Licensing Examination for Securities and Futures Intermediaries or PRC Securities Regulations Examination.
Format: Multiple-choice Questions (MCQ)
Examination Question Language: English
Pass Mark: 70% for each unit
Mode: Computer-based Examination (CBE)
- International Introduction to Securities & Investment
No. of MCQ: 50
Duration: 1 hour
- UK Financial Regulation
No. of MCQs: 75
Duration: 1.5 hours
- Asset Servicing
No. of MCQs: 50
Duration: 1 hour - Collective Investment Schemes Administration
No. of MCQs: 50
Duration: 1 hour - Combating Financial Crime
No. of MCQs: 50
Duration: 1 hour - Derivatives
No. of MCQs: 100
Duration: 2 hours - Global Financial Compliance
No. of MCQs: 100
Duration: 2 hours - Global Securities Operations
No. of MCQs: 50
Duration: 1 hour - Operational Risk
No. of MCQs: 50
Duration: 1 hour - Platforms, Wealth Management and Service Providers
No. of MCQs: 50
Duration: 1 hour - Risk in Financial Services
No. of MCQs: 100
Duration: 2 hours - Technology in Investment Management
No. of MCQs: 50
Duration: 1 hour
The examination fee includes a one-off Qualification Registration Fee, the computer-based exam fee at the Global Examination Centre in Hong Kong, study materials, and a full 12-month student membership of the CISI.
CISI recognises the following examination papers against the Regulatory Unit of the IOC:
- Paper 1 of the Licensing Examination for Securities and Futures Intermediaries; or
- PRC Securities Regulation Examination
Candidate who apply for exemption by any of the above local regulatory paper need to submit the completed Exemption Form together with a copy of the relevant certificate of the local regulatory paper to the CISI office by post/fax or email ([email protected]). Exemption from the IOC exams costs £50 can be paid by cheque or credit card. For detail, please refer to the exemption form.
CISI produces comprehensive syllabus-based workbooks for all IOC units. Candidate will receive a softcopy of the workbook within 3 weeks of the Examination Confirmation Email. Each workbook contains:
- a syllabus learning map
- revision questions
- sample multiple choice questions
- clear explanations, graphics and tables
- a comprehensive glossary
- a workbook plan
- a free pocket prompt
eIOC is an online learning and revision aid, concentrating on syllabus key areas. Used in conjunction with the relevant IOC workbook, eIOC consists of interactive exercises and over 200 questions per subject. Candidate will receive links to the eLearning tools within five working days of the eLearning Order Confirmation Email. However, please note, if the exam syllabus has recently been updated, you may take up to two weeks to receive your link to the eLearning tools.
The CISI developed the CISI Online Sample Test to demonstrate how the computer-based test operate.
All technical units in the IOC have been recognised by the Financial Services Skills Council as Appropriate Examinations for many of the Financial Services Authority of the UK overseeing activities.