Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency (CPI)

CPI England and Wales syllabus

CPI Past Papers

Rules and Regulations

The Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA) offers an established foundation qualification, the Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency (CPI) for those specialising in insolvency. It is ideal preparation for Joint Insolvency Examination (JIE), with its combination of multiple choice and full written exam questions and is used by many as a stepping stone to the higher qualification. The exam is a test of competence in insolvency, and the CPI is widely recognised by employers as an established mark of achievement. It covers both personal and corporate insolvency.

Gaining the CPI can lead to full membership of the IPA and to entitlement to use our designatory letters MIPA. A separate Certificate of Proficiency in Personal Insolvency (CPPI) is tailored to those specialising in the personal insolvency sector.

The CPI and CPPI are designed for individuals who are working in or have an interest in insolvency, whether or not intending to become licensed Insolvency Practitioners. The CPI and CPPI England and Wales and Scotland are held in June each year, and there is a further CPI England and Wales sitting in November each year.

Placed candidates will receive an invite to the IPA Annual Conference or Awards evening and will have an opportunity to join the IPA Rising Professionals Network Committee.

CPI exam information

The CPI exam is an online paper. The time allowed, excluding special circumstances, is three hours. Additional information and guidance concerning the format of the online exam is provided to candidates in advance of the exam. The CPI is a closed book examination.

To sit the CPI, you need to be an IPA Student member. Please ensure that you are an IPA Student member before completing the exam entry form. Students who have not paid for their membership or for the examination will be unable to sit the exam.

We recommend that all candidates who wish to sit the CPI or CPPI have a minimum of two to three years of practical insolvency experience, covering the areas to be examined. It is also recommended you train with a course provider before sitting the CPI or CPPI.

Requests for special circumstances should be submitted when applying for the examination. All related information will be treated with the strictest confidence. Special circumstances requests will not be considered by the Chief Examiner after the deadline has passed.

Please take the following into consideration if you are not registered as a Student and wish to apply for an exam before the deadline:

• We are unable to activate your Student membership until payment is made, a form of photographic ID and your referee letter has been received. Once your membership is activated you will automatically receive access to the exam forms on our website when they are available.
• IMPORTANT: If any issues are disclosed in your Student Membership form about your suitability, this will need to be considered by the IPA Regulation and Conduct Committee (R&CC). The Committee usually meets every 4-6 weeks. Once the meeting has been held and the minutes have been approved by the Chair and confirmed to the Membership team (the usual timeframe is 15 business days), we will write to you to confirm the outcome of your application.

Deferrals

Should you be unable to sit the exam, you can defer to the next sitting. You can only defer once. Deferrals must be taken at the next available examination date.

Appeals

If you have been unsuccessful in passing the CPI or CPPI and would like to appeal the mark you have been given, you have one month from the date of receiving your exam mark to appeal. The appeal process can take up to three months.

All appeals must be made in writing and paid for before your appeal will be considered.

If your mark is changed to a pass, the appeal fee will be returned. Should the mark remain the same, the IPA retains the fee.

Marks are not given out on appeals.

The Chief Examiner’s decision is final.

It is IPA policy not to return completed papers or recordings of exams.

For more information on the CPI exam, please contact the membership team.