CeMAP vs CII: Which Mortgage Qualification?
6 min read · facts checked 11 Oct 2026
Both qualifications let you advise on regulated mortgages: the FCA's TC App 4 lists CeMAP and the CII's Certificate in Mortgage Advice (often called CertMAP) for the same activity. The difference is how you get there: five shorter exams with Walbrook, or two longer ones with the CII.
Side by side
| CeMAP | CII Certificate in Mortgage Advice | |
|---|---|---|
| Awarding body | Walbrook Institute London (formerly LIBF) | Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) |
| Units | 5 units in 3 modules: FRE1, FRE2 (CeMAP 1), MRT1, MRT2 (CeMAP 2), ASEW/ASSC (CeMAP 3) | 2 units: CF1 (or R01) for regulation, plus CF6 for mortgage advice |
| Exams | 5 exams: four of 1 hour, the synoptic 2 hours | CF1: 100 MCQs in 2 hours. CF6: a 3-hour exam of 100 MCQs and 5 case studies of 5 MCQs, as the CII describes it |
| Pass mark | 70% in every unit | 70% standard pass mark |
| Study time | 250 hours total qualification time (50 per unit) | 160 hours notional study time (CF1 60, CF6 100) |
| Time limit | 18 months' registration for the full qualification | CF6 exam voucher valid 18 months from purchase |
| Cost | £735 for the full qualification, £120 per resit | Set per unit by the CII, with member and non-member prices |
| FCA status | Appropriate qualification for advising on regulated mortgage contracts (TC App 4, activity 20) | Same activity, same table |
Which should you take?
- If an employer or academy is paying, take the one they use. Both meet the same FCA requirement.
- If you are on the Mortgage Adviser apprenticeship, take CeMAP: Walbrook says it is a mandated qualification in that standard.
- If you want shorter exams and steady progress, CeMAP's five 1-hour or 2-hour units suit you. If you would rather sit two longer exams, the CII route has fewer sittings.
- If you plan to move on to other CII qualifications, CII units earn CII credits (at least 35 for this certificate).
What both test
The content overlaps heavily: UK regulation and the FCA Handbook, MCOB affordability and advice rules, mortgage law and products, arrears, and applying it all to a client. Case-study questions appear in both. Practice in one transfers well to the other, but check the format you will sit.
Takeaway
Sources (checked 11 Oct 2026)
- FCA Handbook: TC App 4 (appropriate qualification tables)
- Walbrook Institute London (LIBF): CeMAP course, fees and assessment information
- Walbrook Institute London: CeMAP qualification specification (published April 2026)
- Chartered Insurance Institute: Certificate in Mortgage Advice
- Chartered Insurance Institute: Unit CF1 UK financial services, regulation and ethics
- Chartered Insurance Institute: Unit CF6 Mortgage advice
MortgagePrep is an independent study aid for CeMAP candidates. It is not endorsed by, affiliated with or approved by Walbrook Institute London (formerly LIBF). CeMAP® is a registered trade mark of its owner and is used here only to describe the exam. All questions are original practice material, not past or live exam questions.
Frequently asked questions
Is CeMAP or CII better for mortgage advice?
Neither is better for the FCA: both are listed in TC App 4 for advising on regulated mortgage contracts. CeMAP is five shorter exams; the CII certificate is two longer ones (CF1 or R01, plus CF6).
Is CF6 the same as CeMAP?
No. CF6 is the CII's mortgage advice unit. With CF1 (or R01) it makes the CII Certificate in Mortgage Advice, which meets the same FCA requirement as CeMAP.
Is the CII Certificate in Mortgage Advice recognised by the FCA?
Yes. The FCA's TC App 4 lists it as an appropriate qualification for advising on regulated mortgage contracts (checked 11 October 2026).
Go deeper: the study notes
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