A total of 8 units must be completed by candidates in order to achieve the qualification.

2017 onwards version

This qualification has been revised and full details published in the Qualification Specification which can be found in the links at the bottom of this page.  The 8 units required to complete the qualification can include any of 10 work-based units or 4 examined units.  Unit 1 of the work-based units is mandatory.

The Qualification Specification includes details of the transitional arrangements for those who have credits from the pre 2017 version of the qualification.

Pre 2017 version

Transitional arrangements (pre 2017 version)

If you have any completed units from other PMI qualifications it may be possible to transfer them to CPA as follows:

DPC to CPA

Mandatory units (pre 2017 version)

Candidates must select at least one of these units but they can take two or all three if they wish:

Monitor Ongoing Entitlement to Pension Scheme Benefits

Process Contributions for a Defined Contribution Scheme

Process Pension Scheme Data for Periodic Events

Other units (pre 2017 verison)

Candidates can select any units from this section:

Payment of Pension Scheme Benefits

Create Pension Scheme Records for New Members

Update Pension Scheme Member Records

Process Applications for Pension Scheme Transfers Out

Process Pension Scheme Retirement Benefits

Process Applications for Pension Scheme Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs)

Process Applications for Pension Scheme Early Leavers

Prioritise and Organise own Pension Administration Activities

Process Pension Scheme Death Benefits

Process Pension Scheme Transfers In

Calculate and Quote Pension Scheme Death Benefits for Members Without Special Circumstances

Calculate and Quote Pension Scheme Leavers Benefits for Members Without Special Circumstances

Calculate and Quote Pension Scheme Retirement Benefits for Members Without Special Circumstances

Calculate and Quote Pension Scheme Transfers In and Transfers Out

Customer service units (pre 2017 version)

The units in this section are taken from the Council for Administration National Occupational Standards for Customer Service.

Candidates do not have to select any units from this section but if they do they can only select one.

Follow the Rules to deliver customer service

Demonstrate an understanding of the rules that impact on improvements in customer service

Process information about customers

Deal with incoming telephone calls from customers

Make telephone calls to customers

Deal with customers in writing or electronically

Do your job in a customer-friendly way

Deliver reliable customer service

Use questioning techniques when delivering customer service

Deal with customers using bespoke software

A number of units in this qualification are work-based and will be completed as part of the day to day work activities carried out matching them to specific criteria listed in the units.

However some units are assessed via examination and the content of this page refers to studying for those examinations.

Early preparation and a planned study schedule for the examinations is essential:

1. As the case studies are based on three fictitious pension schemes - two final salary schemes, one of which is contracted out and a money purchase scheme with the option to contract out, becoming familiar with those schemes is essential.
2. Practise calculations from past papers and check the answers against those given in the appendix to the Examiners’ Report.
3. Read copies of past Examiners’ Reports – these will identify many common problems and guidance about how to avoid them.
4. Purchase the relevant access key for on-line learning. A separate PMI online learning inter-active programme is available for each of the examined areas – Transfers, Deaths, Retirement and Leavers. It guides candidates through their preferred learning style enabling them to define how they want to practice for the examinations.
5. Attend a revision course held at PMI House (if numbers allow).

The examinations are designed to test the competence of candidates in the calculation and communication of pension benefits for a range of scheme types.  Depending on the examination being tested, there will be either five or six case studies (Calculation Section) and either one or two letters (Letter Section).

The examinations are based on three types of fictitious pension schemes:

The examinations require candidates to provide evidence of their ability to:

• understand and interpret rules for different types of pension scheme
• carry out manual calculations for a range of member events, this range is detailed in the Units.
• understand the impact of supplementary information (e.g. part-time service, enhanced accrual rates, transferred-in benefits, AVCs, etc.) on the core benefits payable
• understand legislative restrictions that apply to the level of benefits payable
• communicate benefit options fully and accurately and request all the information required before the scheme can pay the benefits

Copies of Scheme Booklets and Tables of Factors should be taken into the examinations. It is vital that candidates ensure they have the current versions, which are downloadable from this page by accessing the following links:

OPQ Retirement & Death Benefits Plan - (reviewed May 2019)

The RST Career Average Earnings Scheme - (reviewed May 2019)

The XYZ Pension and Life Assurance Scheme - (reviewed May 2019)

Tables of Factors - (reviewed May 2019)

Key Features Document - (relevant for March 2020 examinations)

September 2019

Part 1 - Determine Retirement Benefits

Part 2 - Determine Retirement Benefits

Part 1 - Determine Death Benefits

Part 2 - Determine Death Benefits

Part 1 - Determine Leavers Benefits

Part 2 - Determine Leavers Benefits

Determine Transfers In and Transfers Out

September 2018 - Examiner's Report

March 2019

Part 1 - Determine Retirement Benefits

Part 2 - Determine Retirement Benefits

Part 1 - Determine Death Benefits

Part 2 - Determine Death Benefits

Part 1 - Determine Leavers Benefits

Part 2 - Determine Leavers Benefits

Determine Transfers In and Transfers Out

Examiners Report (all units)

September 2020

The closing date for entry to the September 2020 exams will be Monday 27th July 2020.

Monday 7 September

Retirement benefits without special circumstances - 1.30pm - 4.30pm

Tuesday 8 September

Retirements benefits with special circumstances - 9.30am - 12.30pm

Death benefits without special circumstances - 2.00pm - 4.30pm

Wednesday 9 September

Death benefits with special circumstances - 9.30am - 12.30pm

Leavers’ benefits without special circumstances - 2.00pm - 4.30pm

Thursday 10 September

Leavers' benefits with special circumstances - 9.30am - 12.30pm

Transfers in and out - 1.30pm - 4.30pm

The September 2020 results will be issued to the centre contact, or independent candidate, on Monday 30 November 2020.

Special consideration can be given to an individual who has temporarily experienced illness or injury or some other circumstance outside his or her control (such as problems at the exam centre such as noise or disturbance) that may have impacted on performance or attainment. 

The PMI is committed to providing fair and consistent examination, verification, approval and assessment processes. Visit the Wider information set page to find out more.

On completion of CPA individuals can apply for certificate level of membership of PMI and have the designatory initials CertPMI after their name.

This qualification can be used as part of the Workplace Pensions Trailblazer Apprenticeship. Amongst the many benefits of the apprenticeship is the opportunity to access Government funding to cover the cost of the qualifications and any associated training. 

Employers/training providers wishing to use this qualification as part of the apprenticeship should use the apprenticeship specific registration/entry forms. 

Organisations wishing to offer this qualification must apply to the PMI for Centre Approval, unless they are already a PMI Approved Centre.

It will be necessary to apply to become an approved centre - the process involves three stages:

• A Centre Recognition Form is completed and returned to PMI along with the approval fee.
• An approval visit to the centre is carried out.
• Once approval is agreed a PMI Approved Centre Certficate is issued and candidates can be registered for the approved qualification(s).

PMI Approved Centres have to meet specified criteria, set out in the General conditions of recognition for the qualification.

Single Site Centre

This is a centre where all the candidates are at one location.

Multi Site Centre

If candidates are based at more than one location, it is possible to become a multi site centre where it will consist of one main centre and minimum one satellite centre. In this setup there must be a main centre contact who will be responsible for dealing with the administration of the qualification across all locations. All correspondence and examination material will be sent to the main centre contact who will be responsible for distributing it to the different locations. Each location must have a designated local contact. The alternative is to register each location as a single site centre.

Application for centre approval £900

Add a qualification to an exisiting PMI Approved Centre No Charge

Add another location to a multi-site centre structure £400

Add/change a centre contact, invigilator, mentor, or internal verifier No Charge

Annual centre fee - once approved a centre fee is payable. This commences in the year following centre approval and is paid in January.

It is broken down as follows:

Single Centres £900

Multi-Site Centres £900 + £400 per satellite centre

As soon as an Organisation has been approved as a centre for CPE then candidate registration can commence. All candidate registrations must be completed by the centre contact.

New to PMI?
Centre contact must register any new candidates.

Not New to PMI?
You can transfer a candidate if any of the following scenarios apply:

• Transfer from one centre to another.
• Completed APE within 12 months of registration and immediately transfer to CPE.
• Existing VQ candidate (other than in 2 above), completed qualification or actively working towards completion within last 2 years, wishing to transfer to another VQ qualification.

Confirmation of the transfer will be sent to you to confirm that registration has been completed.

It is an Ofqual requirement that Awarding Organisations must capture the Unique Learner Number (ULN) for all candidates. The Learner Registration Service (LRS) will allocate a ULN to every person undertaking education and training. Candidate details submitted to PMI need to match those on the LRS exactly, if there are any differences, PMI will be unable to validate the ULN.

For more information and to generate a ULN, please refer to the Learning Records Service – Learner Registration Area: www.learningrecordsservice.org.uk

It is not mandatory requirement to have a ULN.