New education and professional standards for advisers need to be viewed as providing a consumer benefit first instead of only improving adviser reputations.

The Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) has awarded two recognition of prior learning (RPL) credits for advisers who completed the certified financial planner (CFP) program coursework prior to 2004. FASEA stated it had approved an application from the Financial Planning Association (FPA) to recognise the coursework required to attain the ‘historical’ CFP designation. […]

A relevant degree can earn practitioners education credits under the new FASEA regime, even if it is not on the official list of approved degrees to date, according to a technical expert.

FASEA has added to the list of professional designations it has recognised as providing prior learning equivalent to its new standards and has approved the bridging courses offered by a Queensland university.

A large majority of advisers who sat the first FASEA exam have been notified they have passed as increasing numbers sign up for the next two rounds of exams.

FASEA has released the dates and locations for the next two rounds of its mandatory adviser exam, including new regional locations, but will take another two weeks before it releases results from the first round of exams.

FASEA has confirmed coursework related to professional accounting designations will count towards its mandatory education standards for financial advisers.