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What are the requirements to earn a CIM®?

CIM® candidates must complete the below requirements.

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Education

The CIM® requires applicants to complete one of the two approved education paths, offered exclusively through the Canadian Securities Institute.

Work Experience

To qualify for the CIM® designation, you must meet the following work experience requirements:

  • Two (2) years of relevant work experience must have been gained within the last 5 years.
  • Candidates may have gained the experience in either a retail or an institutional role or in a role that relates to, supports, or adds value to the investment management process.
  • Work experience may be applied if it is gained outside of Canada and meets the requirements. CSI may request further documentation for confirmation purposes.
  • Managing personal investments or those of family or friends does not qualify for work experience.

While the above requirements must be met by all applicants, the assessment of experience will be applied based on the candidate’s role as either (1) Investment and/or Financial Advisors and Portfolio Managers or (2) Professionals Supporting the Investment Management Process.

 

Regulatory Licensing Requirements

The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the provincial securities commissions have experience requirements to be met prior to registration in a portfolio management capacity. Candidates who hold the CIM® designation will be subject to the experience requirements of these regulators prior to registration. These experience requirements may differ from the CIM® experience requirements. For further information on the experience requirements for registration please refer to the appropriate regulator’s website.

Investment and/or Financial Advisors and Portfolio Managers

As it is unusual for a portfolio manager to be functioning in both a retail and an institutional role, the competencies specific to each role have been taken into account for the assessment of experience to earn the designation. As such:

The CIM® work experience evaluation for advisors or portfolio managers will be assessed using the 11 competencies and 36 sub-competencies (as set out in the CIM® Professional Competency Profile) that consider both retail and institutional competence requirements.

The candidate for the CIM® must have performed a minimum of 22 of the sub-competencies included within the CIM® Competency Profile within the last 5 years.

Work experience must be verified, and candidates are asked to provide the name of the verifying individual upon application for the CIM®. Individuals qualified to verify experience are current or recent employers or supervisors. Self-employed individuals are required to provide verification from a past employer or an individual who holds a CIM® or CFA designation and is familiar with their work. CSI may request further documentation for confirmation purposes.

A verifier will be sent a copy of the CIM® Work Experience Assessment Tool directly from CSI to be used to assess the candidate’s experience.

Experience Requirements for Professionals Supervising, Supporting or Teaching the Investment Management Process

Roles that relate to, support, or add value to the investment management process are eligible to meet the CIM® work experience requirements. These roles are essential to the professionalism of portfolio managers and may be recognized if the role is full-time. Examples of job titles that would typically qualify include but are not limited to:

  • Investment Analyst
  • Corporate Finance Officer
  • Equity, Fixed Income or Derivatives Trader
  • Administration Officer (Back Office Support)
  • Compliance Officer
  • Supervisor
  • Professor

Relevant investment management experience may vary according to the level of specialization of the individual. It may include:

  • Securities research and analysis experience, demonstrating ability in, and understanding of, portfolio analysis or portfolio security selection
  • Compliance, Supervision or Operational support of the investment management process
  • Providing expert analysis or evaluation in support of the investment management process
  • Client development as it relates to the investment management process; or
  • Teaching investment management. Managing personal investments or those of family or friends does not qualify for work experience.
  • Managing personal investments or those of family or friends does not qualify for work experience.

Professionals supporting the investment management process, must submit details on their role and relevant experience with the application and may not use the automated CIM® online application form. Applications must be submitted using the fax number available on the application form or by mail. Work experience must be verified, and candidates are asked to provide a letter from a verifier along with the name, email and telephone number of the verifying individual within the application for the CIM®. Individuals qualified to verify experience are current or recent employers or supervisors. CSI may contact the verifier for audit purposes. Self-employed individuals are required to provide verification from a past employer or an individual who holds a CIM® or CFA designation and is familiar with their work.

Work Experience Verification

CIM® applicants must meet a 2-year work experience requirement prior to being granted the designation. CSI retains the right to assess all CIM® applicants for compliance with the experience requirements.

  • A request for confirmation will be sent (by email or telephone) to the contact provided by the applicant on his or her application form.
  • A copy of the request will be sent to the applicant, so they know they are being assessed.
  • Contacts will be asked to provide confirmation within 30 days of the request.
  • If the confirmation is not received, CSI will notify the applicant and a copy of the notification will also be sent to the work experience contact.
  • If a response is not received within 30 days, the applicant and the contact will be contacted again.

 

Misstated or fraudulent reporting of experience will be reported to the Designation Ethics Committee as a violation of the CIM® Code of Ethics and will be considered according to the Ethical Misconduct Process.

Code of Ethics

When applying for the CIM®, you must commit to the CIM® Code of Ethics.

Trademark License and Application Fees

You are also required to agree to the terms of the CIM® Certification Mark Licence Agreement, which grants you the right to use the CIM® trademarks in your own marketing.

The initial application fee is $325 and includes your license fee for the year, your commitment to the maintenance requirements and your Fit and Proper Declaration.

If you have met the above requirements, apply now, and harness your potential with the CIM®.

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A Note from CSI

CSI holds itself to the highest standards of honesty, transparency and fairness when dealing with clients, students, designation holders and regulators.

We are committed to ensuring impartiality in carrying out our CIM® certification activities (e.g., certification examination results and other decisions related to granting designations). We actively manage conflicts of interest to ensure objectivity.

To appeal other certification decisions, please email us at designations@csi.ca.

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