Overview
Please click here to view 2011 2012 Brochure.
The Professional Certificate and Professional Diploma in Compliance are offered jointly by the Association of Compliance Officers in Ireland (ACOI), the LIA, the Insurance Institute of Ireland and the Institute of Bankers in Ireland School of Professional Finance.
The Institute of Bankers in Ireland School of Professional Finance is a Recognised College of University College Dublin (UCD). Therefore, those who successfully complete The Professional Certificate in Compliance and The Professional Diploma programmes receive their academic awards from UCD.
The Professional Diploma is a NFQ Level 7 qualification, and is designed to be the benchmark qualification for Compliance Professionals in all sectors of the financial services industry. It is aimed at people who work (or who are aspiring to work) in a management or professional capacity within the Compliance function in financial services.
The Professional Certificate, also a Level 7 qualification in its own right, is for those who would like a core understanding of the Compliance function.
To register your interest or to receive a prospectus for 2011 / 2012 Professional Compliance Programmes please email your address to info@acoi.ie or alternatively info@bankers.ie
Further Information
Some common questions about the course are answered on this page. You can read all of the text provided, or click on the links below to be brought to the relevant information:
• Why should I undertake this course?
• What are the modules?
• What is the syllabus summary?
• What are the learning supports?
• When do I register, and when are the lectures and exams?
• Professional Certificate in Compliance
• Professional Diploma in Compliance
• How do I register?
• Am I eligible to take the course?
• What is the cost?
• Are there exemptions for holders of other relevant qualifications?
• Is this qualification accredited for Continuing Professional Development (CPD)?
• Further Study
• Downloads
If you are working in Compliance or wish to work in this field, this qualification is essential. It will improve your knowledge of Compliance including:
• The Theory and Practice of Regulation
• The Role and Management of the Compliance Function
• Fiduciary and Ethical issues
• The Legal and Regulatory Environment - national and international
• Compliance Practice and Corporate Governance
It will also enhance your skills, judgement and ability to deal with practical issues in the management and practice of Compliance in the Financial Services industry.
There are four modules in the Diploma:
PDC1 - Compliance and the Regulatory Structure
PDC2 - Conduct of Business Rules
PDC3 - Legal & Regulatory Aspects of Compliance
PDC4 - Compliance Management
The Professional Certificate in Compliance is awarded on successful completion of PDC1 and PDC2. The Professional Diploma in Compliance, the benchmark qualification for Compliance Professionals, is awarded on successful completion of all four modules. Those who are awarded the Diploma level qualification and who participate fully in the LCOI CPD scheme may use the designatory letters LCOI after their names.
Each PDC subject passed gives 5 ECTS credits towards the (60 credit) University Diploma in Financial Services of the Institute of Bankers School of Professional Finance.
The study manuals cover the entire syllabus of each module. The following is a summary of the syllabi and is not a full statement of content:
PDC1
• Regulation Theory and Practice
• Role and Management of Compliance Functions
• Introduction to Ethics and Fiduciary Relationships
• Statutory Bodies and Regulators
• International Issues
PDC2
• Anti Money Laundering Requirements/ Terrorist Offences
• The Consumer Credit Act, 1995
• Consumer Protection Code
• Data Protection
• Markets in Financial Instruments Directive
PDC3
• Authorisation and Supervision
• Legal Environment
• Company Law
• Competition Law
• Contract Law
• Fiduciary Relationships
• Insider Dealing and Market Abuse
• Non- Statutory Rules
PDC4
• Compliance Practice and the Role of the Compliance Officer
• Compliance Framework and Planning
• Compliance Activities
• Ethics, Integrity and Reputation
• Corporate Governance
• What makes a good compliance Officer?
When your registration has been processed, you will have access to the following learning supports for each module:
• Online learning plan, including module outline and study plan
• Online student handbook
• Webinars, online lecture (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from home or work) which cover module content, as well as study and examination skills
• Online question banks to test your knowledge at the end of each chapter/topic for the PDC1 and PDC 2 modules
• Full online timed ‘mock’ examinations to practice and receive feedback on your performance – highlighting topics which you need to study further for the PDC 1 and PDC 2 modules
• Past examination papers for the PDC 3 and PDC 4 modules
• Online examination schedule
• Secure online access to your examination results and correspondence
• Lecturer contact through an email helpline
• Exam venues provided in Athlone, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Letterkenny, Limerick and Waterford - subject to adequate student demand.
The Professional Certificate in Compliance is awarded on successful completion of PDC1 and PDC2.
PDC1:
Webinar Support
The Webinar Support option offers students access to webinars. Webinars are online lectures available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from home or work. Webinars are pre-recorded and made available to students through their online Student Centre. Upon registration, students will have full access to all webinars for that module.
Students can register for the PDC1 up until Wednesday 21st of September. If places are still available applications will be accepted up until Friday 28th of October.
Examinations:
The PDC1 examination structure comprises of 80 Multiple Choice Questions. The exam is 90 minutes in duration and the pass mark is 50%.
Exam Date: 21st January 2012 (12.30pm-2:00pm)
PDC2:
Webinar Support
The Webinar Support option offers students access to webinars. Webinars are online lectures available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from home or work. Webinars are pre-recorded and made available to students through their online Student Centre. Upon registration, students will have full access to all webinars for that module.
Students can register for the PDC2 up until Friday 20th of January. If places are still available applications will be accepted up until Friday 2nd of March.
Examinations:
The PDC2 examination structure comprises of 80 Multiple Choice Questions. The exam is 90 minutes in duration and the pass mark is 50%.
In order to register for The Professional Diploma in Compliance, candidates must have successfully completed the Professional Certificate in Compliance (PDC1 and 2). The Professional Diploma in Compliance is awarded on successful completion of PDC1, PDC2, PDC3 and PDC4.
PDC3
Webinar Support
The Webinar Support option offers students access to webinars. Webinars are online lectures available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from home or work. Webinars are pre-recorded and made available to students through their online Student Centre. Upon registration, students will have full access to all webinars for that module.
Students can register for the PDC3 up until Wednesday 21st of September. If places are still available applications will be accepted up until Friday 28th of October.
Examinations:
The PDC3 examination structure comprises of a 3-hour written paper with a pass mark of 50%.
Exam Date: 7th January 2012 (3.00pm-6.00pm)
Students can register for the PDC3 up until Wednesday 21st of September. If places are still available applications will be accepted up until Friday 28th of October.
PDC4:
Webinar Support
The Webinar Support option offers students access to webinars. Webinars are online lectures available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from home or work. Webinars are pre-recorded and made available to students through their online Student Centre. Upon registration, students will have full access to all webinars for that module.
Students can register for the PDC4 up until Friday 20th of January. If places are still available applications will be accepted up until Friday 2nd of March.
Examinations:
The PDC4 examination structure comprises of a 3-hour written paper with a pass mark of 50%.
Exam Date:12th May 2012 (3.00pm-6.00pm)
Students can register for the PDC4 up until Friday 20th of January. If places are still available applications will be accepted up until Friday 2nd of March.
All applicants should click here for registration details.
The Professional Certificate in Compliance is open to both school-leavers and graduates. The minimum second level educational requirements are 5 passes in the Leaving Certificate, including English and Maths or 5 O-Level/GCSE passes, including English Language and Mathematics.
Applicants over 21 may apply on mature grounds. In addition, you should be an ordinary or affiliate member of the ACOI. You can apply for membership or affiliate membership (for those who are not eligible for ordinary membership) at the same time as registering for the course.
Entry to the Professional Diploma in Compliance is limited to those who have successfully completed the Professional Certificate in Compliance.
The fee is €680 per module for the Study Year 2011/12. For this you will be issued with a specially written comprehensive and user-friendly manual. Webinars and examination fees are included.
This is a broad-ranging qualification and the Board of ACOI have decided not to grant exemptions for other qualifications or extensive and high level experience in the area.
Formal CPD hours for QFAs, CPD Members and Chartered Bankers are awarded on successful completion of this qualification. For further information, please visit www.bankers.ie/CPD
LCOI Designation:
Individuals who pass the Professional Diploma in Compliance are entitled to apply for the designation ‘Licentiate of the Compliance Officers in Ireland’ and use of the designatory letters LCOI. Continued use of this designation is subject to meeting ACOI’s Continuing Professional Development requirements. LCOI is the leading professional designation for compliance professionals in all sectors of the financial services industry in the Republic of Ireland.
Each PDC subject passed gives 5 ECTS credits towards the (60 credit) University Diploma in Financial Services of the Institute of Bankers School of Professional Finance.
For further details on registration for membership of the ACOI, or for any ACOI courses, please go to the membership section by clicking here