Effective January 1, 2026, the proficiency rules applicable to Investment Dealer Approved Persons with CIRO have changed. This course is no longer acceptable for the purposes of CIRO approval with an Investment Dealer.
For more information, visit the CIRO Proficiency website.
Hours of study: 50 – 65 Hours
Enrolment Period: 1 Year
What is the PDO exam weighting?
| Exam Topics | Weightings |
|---|---|
| The Role of the Executive and Canada’s Regulatory Environment | 6% |
| Industry Business Models | 18% |
| The Distribution of Securities | 8% |
| Ethical Decisions and Corporate Governance | 12% |
| Senior Officer and Director Liability | 16% |
| Risk Management in the Securities Industry | 12% |
| Managing Risk in the Financial Sector | 12% |
| Financial Compliance and the Consequences of Noncompliance | 16% |
What is the PDO exam structure?
| Structure | Information |
|---|---|
| Exams | 1 |
| Exam Format | Proctored (remote or in-person at a test centre) |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours |
| Question Format | Multiple-choice |
| Questions Per Exam | 80 Questions |
| Attempts Allowed Per Exam | 3 |
| Passing Grade | 60% |
| Assignments | None |
What Continuing Education (CE) credits will you earn?
| Accreditation | Credits |
|---|---|
| DFSA Compliance | 10 |
| CSF Mutual Funds | 10 |
| CSF Compliance | 10 |
| DFSA Professional Development | 20 |
| MTI | 30 |
| PFP Compliance | 10 |
| PFP Professional development | 30 |
| CIM Compliance | 10 |
| CIWM Compliance | 10 |
| ADVOCIS Structured Learning CE | 30 |
| QAFP General CE | 30 |
| CFP General CE | 30 |
View CE credits for all CSI courses and all associations.
While CSI makes every effort to ensure that the information is up-to-date, we are unfortunately unable to fully guarantee its accuracy. The information listed in the chart may be subject to change.