CIRO publishes exam materials

As part of its shift to an exam-based proficiency model, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) is publishing the syllabi and practice exams for various registration categories — providing an opportunity for eager students to get a jump on exam prep.

With the self-regulatory organization (SRO) set to move to its new proficiency model — shifting from a course-focused approach to an exam-based model on Jan. 1, 2026 — the regulator committed to publishing materials that provide guidance to both students and educational course providers on the exams.

The guidance is intended to help education providers develop content for exam prep courses. It also gives students some insight into how to study for exams on their own.

“Each syllabus includes the relevant learning outcomes with appropriate taxonomy, parameters, and weighting for each exam,” CIRO said in a release Monday.

The practice tests represent “an equivalent form of the exam” made up of questions from “an extensive question bank,” it noted.

While the SRO published its syllabus for all nine exam types, it has only published practice exams for the retail and institutional registered rep, director and executive categories. The practice tests for the other five categories — traders, supervisors, chief compliance officers, chief financial officers and derivatives reps — will be issued in September, it said.

James Langton

James is a senior reporter for Advisor.ca and its sister publication, Investment Executive. He has been reporting on regulation, securities law, industry news and more since 1994.