How to Become a Mortgage Adviser in the UK

6 min read · facts checked 11 Oct 2026

Advising on regulated mortgage contracts is a regulated activity. The FCA does not license individual advisers. Instead, the firm you work for must make sure you are competent and hold an appropriate qualification, under the Training and Competence sourcebook (TC).

The steps

• Pass an appropriate qualification. CeMAP is the most common; TC App 4 lists the qualifications that count for advising on regulated mortgage contracts.
• Join an FCA-authorised firm, or become an appointed representative of a network that takes responsibility for your advice.
• Advise under supervision until the firm has assessed you as competent (TC 2.1).
• Be certified by your firm under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime and follow the individual Conduct Rules.
• Keep your knowledge up to date with continuing professional development, which your firm must check.

Do you need to pass every CeMAP unit first?

The qualification requirement is met by the full qualification. Many firms recruit trainees part-way through CeMAP and support them through the remaining units, but you cannot advise on your own until you are qualified and assessed as competent.

Adding equity release or other specialisms

Equity release advice needs its own appropriate qualification on top of the mortgage one (for example Walbrook's CeRER). Protection and general insurance advice have their own rules too.