Joint Insolvency Examination (JIE)

If you would like to become a licensed Insolvency Practitioner (IP), you are required to pass the Joint Insolvency Examination (JIE).

There are currently two online papers – personal and corporate insolvency.

You will need to pass both papers if you wish to apply for a full authorisation, enabling you to take appointments in relation to both corporates and individuals.

Alternatively, you can apply for a partial authorisation if you have passed just one of the papers which will restrict your appointments to either corporates or individuals (dependent upon the exam paper you have passed).

The first step to sitting the exams is to register with one of the insolvency Recognised Professional Bodies (RPBs), such as the IPA, if you haven’t already done so.

Working as an IP can be one of the most challenging, involving and rewarding careers. It is a varied and fascinating career to pursue – one that will eventually grant you a wealth of business experience and technical knowledge across a range of industries.

As a significant part of the insolvency licensing regime, the JIE exam is rightly a challenging signal to prospective practitioners about the high standards and great responsibility they must accept when they take their licence.

JIE information

If you are applying for the JIE through the IPA, you will need to become an IPA Student member before applying. Fees are payable to the JIE Board.

The JIE exams are held once a year in the beginning of November on two consecutive days. The standard required to achieve JIE qualification is equivalent to that which is required for final qualifying examinations set by RPBs and legal bodies.

Each paper is three and a half hours in length and consists of a mixture of written and numerical questions on practical insolvency issues. They are open book exams, and candidates need to bring with them their own copy of the most recent edition of Butterworths Insolvency Law Handbook (Butterworths). Candidates should check that they are using an edition that is appropriate to the syllabus that is being examined.

Exam questions are usually based on the relevant law and guidance in force on 30 April that year. Questions do not require you to cite case law, but demonstrating knowledge of any that is relevant will attract additional marks.

The JIE may test legislation which is not covered within Butterworths. Candidates should have a good understanding of any other relevant legislation and case law which may be applicable. 

Candidates must also be familiar with the Statements of Insolvency Practice (SIPs), the Insolvency Guidance Papers (IGPs), the Insolvency Code of Ethics and any other relevant publications to the profession. 

Am I eligible to sit the JIE?

Following the removal of the Early Entry Examinations, there are no longer any educational standards required before an application can be made to sit the JIE. However, the exams test the practical knowledge and skills which a licenced IP would gain through their day to day working life and are known to be particularly testing. 

We recommend that candidates do not attempt the examination without at least three years’ practical insolvency experience covering each of the areas to be examined.

JIE results

The JIE results are usually available at the beginning of March in the year following the exam sitting. The pass mark for each paper is determined by the JIE but is never more than 50%. Each candidate receives either a ‘bad fail’, ‘fail’, ‘marginal fail’ or ‘pass’ for each paper. No other performance feedback is provided by the JIE. 

For further information on the JIE, please visit the JIEB website.