Membership & Licence
Application for Membership & Licence to act as an Insolvency Practitioner
Application for Ordinary Membership for an applicant who can show that he/she:
- has passed the Joint Insolvency Examination (JIE) set by the Joint Insolvency Examination Board (JIEB); or
- holds a current authorisation to act as an Insolvency Practitioner (IP) from another Recognised Professional Body (RPB) or competent authority.
Please be aware that the IPA’s Articles of Association, which apply to all current and future members of the IPA, changed on 1st January 2025.
Click here for the Articles of Association in force from 1st January 2025.
Application for licence to act as an Insolvency Practitioner for an applicant who, whether or not intending to take appointments can show that he/she:
- is fit and proper individual capable to act as an Insolvency Practitioner (IP);
- meets acceptable qualifications, practical training and experience requirements; and
- has undertaken relevant continuing professional development; and, for applicants intending to take appointments, can show that he/she:
- has in place security or caution, and insurance, for the proper performance of their functions. Further details of the membership criteria are provided in the IPA Authorisation Criteria.
Notes:
- If you wish to apply for membership of the IPA but NOT a licence to act as an Insolvency Practitioner, you should use this form.
- If you would like to renew a current IPA licence, you will be sent the renewal form prior to the expiry of your current licence.
- Continuity of Licence: If you are seeking to move your licence from another RPB to the IPA, you should ensure that your application is received at the IPA at least six weeks before your current licence is due to expire, to allow time for checks and any queries to be cleared, and for consideration by the Regulation & Conduct Committee. Please note that you cannot act as an IP if your authorisation lapses and you have yet to be issued with another one.
- In the event that your application is granted, you will be required to relinquish any current licence issued by another RPB or the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, from the date that your IPA authorisation is effective.
- Upon acceptance of your application to join the IPA, your details will be published on the IPA’s searchable online member directory, and if applicable will also be published on the Insolvency Service’s “Find an Insolvency Practitioner” website.
Eligibility (Examination/Qualifications/Authorisation):
If you wish to apply for a Personal-only licence, you will need to have passed the Personal-only paper of the Joint Insolvency Examination (JIE).
If you are applying for a Corporate-only licence, you must have passed the Liquidations, and Administrations, Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs) & Receiverships papers of the JIE.
For a full insolvency licence, both papers of the JIE must be sat and passed.
We will also consider your application if you have acquired international professional or vocational qualifications and/or submit a copy of your current licence obtained abroad.
Eligibility (Insurance and Bonding)
An appointment-taking IP is required by the IPA Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) Regulations to have PII cover; and by the Insolvency Practitioners Regulations to have a general penalty (enabling) bond for £250,000, together with specific penalty bonds in relation to individual insolvencies to which he/she is appointed. Further amendments to the Professional Indemnity Insurance Regulations effective 1 January 2024 | Insolvency Practitioners Association (insolvency-practitioners.org.uk)
Please provide a copy of your current general penalty bond or a copy of a quotation document with your application, evidencing that you have applied for such a bond along with confirmation that a bond will be issued upon successful completion of the application.
On the issue of an appointment-taking licence, an enabling bond will be required to be submitted to, and is retained by, the IPA.
Experience: Qualifications
An applicant for a licence is required to have passed the Joint Insolvency Examination (JIE) set by the JIEB; or in the case of an eligible applicant from abroad, has attained an equivalent professional qualification in insolvency law and practice.
An applicant for a licence must demonstrate that they can carry out (unsupervised) the functions and duties of an Insolvency Practitioner who takes appointments under the laws of the United Kingdom (UK).
Generally, an applicant will be expected to have been engaged in the administration of insolvency appointments in the five years before applying. Advisory work at an equivalent level may be taken into account as an alternative.
An applicant should set out in his/her application form (Form) such information about the insolvency work which he/she has undertaken in the five (5) years immediately before applying (Insolvency Work).
The applicant must have undertaken:
a) 600 (six hundred) hours of “Higher Experience” work over the 5 (five) year period; and
b) 100 (one hundred) hours of insolvency administration experience in each of the 3 (three) years before applying.
An insolvency practitioner (IP) with or for whom the applicant has worked in connection with the Insolvency Work (Certifying IP), must provide a letter:
• certifying that it was of such nature to meet the requirements of “Higher Experience” in insolvency administration as defined below; and
• confirming that the applicant is capable of carrying out, unsupervised, the functions and duties of an IP who takes appointments under the laws of the United Kingdom (UK)
“Higher Experience” in insolvency administration is defined as engagement in work relating to the administration of estates in respect of which an IP has been appointed where the work involves the management and supervision of cases on behalf of the IP or regulatory work at an equivalent level or advisory work.
The Regulation and Conduct Committee may require such further information and explanations from the applicant, from (each of) the Certifying IP and/or confirming insolvency practitioner(s) as it considers appropriate as to the applicant’s ability to undertake unsupervised the functions and duties of an IP.
This is a suggested draft template referee letter for these purposes.
An applicant must have a good command of the English language, both spoken and written. If you rely on work experience outside the UK, you may be asked to demonstrate that you have a good command of the English language.
Continuing Professional Development
An IPA licensed Insolvency Practitioner (IP) must undertake 25 hours’ structured Continuing Professional Development (CPD) each year. CPD may include attending or speaking at courses, conferences, seminars and lectures, or other practical learning. You should be able to produce details and evidence of courses and conferences attended and of other CPD undertaken. Please see our new CPD requirements New Continuing Professional Development Guidance, Professional Indemnity Insurance Regulations, Client Money Regulations and Client Money Guidance for 2024 | Insolvency Practitioners Association (insolvency-practitioners.org.uk)
Fitness and Probity
The IPA may make such further and other enquiries of third parties as it considers appropriate as to your fitness and probity to be a licensed IP.
Practice
You should immediately notify the IPA of any changes in your practice
before or after your licence is issued, including changes to where you work; changes to where your cases are administered; and changes to your nominated successor IP (or ‘alternate’).
Ordinary Membership Fee
Membership fees run from 1 January to 31 December each year. If your application is accepted our accounts team will send you an invoice for payment.
One off registration fee £165 +
£349-£419 (Firm Member)
£465 (Non-Firm Member)
Licence fees can be viewed here.