PMI Pathways offer five specialised streams
The PMI’s Pathways allow you to decide the direction of your career
Retirement Provision
Retirement Provision Deepen your expertise in retirement planning and pension management, and excel in self-administered schemes, third-party administration, life assurance, or consulting and advisory services.
The Retirement Provision steam is for an individual to undertake, after sufficient experience, a position as a pensions specialist within a self-administered scheme; a third-party administrator; a life assurance company; or within the consulting and advisory services.
The comprehensive curriculum covers core units and specialised subjects such as defined benefit and defined contribution arrangements, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of retirement provision.
This pathway is designed for pension scheme managers, retirement consultants, policy advisers, financial planners specialising in pensions, and HR professionals managing pension schemes.
Technical Pensions Administration
Technical Pensions Administration Prepare to excel as a pensions consultant with technical expertise in calculations and client engagement.
This pathway equips you with the skills needed for roles in self-administered schemes, third-party administration, life assurance companies, and consulting and advisory services, covering both DB and DC schemes.
What you will study
You will gain insight into a broad understanding of pensions, such as gaining knowledge on DB and DC schemes, as well as how to professionally liaise with members first-hand on their occupational pension schemes.
Who is this pathway for?
This pathway is designed to deepen the expertise of pension scheme administrators, technical pension consultants, compliance officers, pensions operations managers and scheme actuaries.
Pensions Trusteeship
Pensions Trusteeship Become a trusted professional trustee with our dedicated programme.
You will acquire advanced knowledge and professional skills in managing and operating pension schemes within regulatory frameworks, directly impacting the financial security and wellbeing of pension scheme members through your decisions.
What you will study
You’ll gain in-depth knowledge of both defined benefit and defined contribution arrangements, as well as key governance and professional standards. This pathway enhances your ability to analyse complex scenarios, prioritise tasks, and lead with confidence, positioning you for advanced roles and increased responsibilities.
Who is this pathway for?
The pathway is designed for current and aspiring pension trustees, governance committee members, scheme secretaries, trustees of defined benefit and defined contribution schemes, and professional trustees. It’s also beneficial for those who have completed the pensions regulator’s trustee toolkit, or are interested in stepping into trusteeship roles.
Pension Benefits
Pension Benefits Gain the expertise needed to excel as an employee benefits specialist.
Gain the expertise needed to excel as an employee benefits specialist, navigating the complexities of pensions alongside broader savings and benefits contexts, while understanding trends in global employee benefit provision, and building strong client relationships. This tailored pathway supports your career growth by providing essential knowledge, skills and opportunities.
What you will study
This pathway will significantly enhance your ability to manage pension benefits, from the intricacies of scheme design to the operational challenges of benefit delivery. You'll gain a thorough understanding of both defined benefit and defined contribution arrangements, as well as the professionalism and governance standards required to excel in this field.
Who is this pathway for?
The pension benefits pathway is ideal for professionals involved in the administration and management of pension schemes, such as benefits managers, HR professionals and pension consultants. It is also suitable for those working in international employee benefits, who need to understand the broader context and implications of pension provision globally.
Practical Pensions Administration
Practical Pensions Administration Gain the practical knowledge and skills needed to excel as a pensions administrator.
This pathway equips you with the skills needed for roles in self-administered schemes, third-party administration, life assurance companies, and consulting and advisory services, covering both DB and DC schemes.
What you will study
You will gain insight into a broad understanding of pensions, such as gaining knowledge on DB and DC schemes, as well as how to professionally liaise with members first-hand on their occupational pension schemes.
Who is this pathway for?
This pathway is designed to deepen the expertise of pension scheme administrators, technical pension consultants, compliance officers, pensions operations managers and scheme actuaries.
Discover membership options, professional recognition and opportunities
Advance your pensions knowledge and professional growth through qualifications
Got a question? Frequently asked questions
What happens if I do not want to undertake one of the 5 new qualifications pathways?
Individuals are not being forced to undertake one of the five new pathways and you are welcome to take a stand-alone qualification by itself if you wish. It is completely up to an individual what route they want to take, and no one will be forced down a particular avenue.
Is the Advanced Diploma in Retirement Provision still an available qualification?
Yes, the ADRP will be available for five more years from the date we launch the new member streams.
I am part-way through the Advanced Diploma Qualification, should I switch to one
of the new pathways?
of the new pathways?
The decision is yours to make. If you feel one of the new pathways is a beneficial route to undertake and suits your educational/career needs, then you are welcome to do so. If you want to continue with the current Advanced Diploma, you will have five years to complete any remaining units (five years from the date of launch).
I think I have finished all of the units within the Retirement Provision stream, what do
I need to do to claim for the certificate?
I need to do to claim for the certificate?
Please note, anything post 2016 can be claimed for with regards to one of the new pathways, but anything pre 2016 would need to be passed again in order to count towards one of the new steams. This is to ensure the qualifications can be matched against the qualifications we currently offer. There will be a fee to claim for the final certificate.
Can I still complete the Advanced Diploma in Retirement Provision without following the new pathways?
Yes, you can! If you prefer not to follow the new pathway model, you can still sit and complete the singular qualification for the Advanced Diploma in Retirement Provision. However, this option will only be available until April 2028.
I’ve passed some units/qualifications before 2016. Will they count towards the new pathways?
No, unfortunately, any units or qualifications passed before 2016 will need to be retaken if you want to qualify for one of the new pathways. However, we will accept passes from units or qualifications achieved post-2016.
How do PMI Pathways affect membership?
PMI Pathways has introduced five career-specific routes to Fellowship. If you were an existing Certificate or Diploma member, in 2023 you were automatically migrated to the new Professional Membership. This means your membership status now aligns with the new structure, providing more opportunities to progress in your career.
I’ve completed qualifications or units that didn’t make me eligible for Certificate or Diploma membership under the old structure. Am I eligible for Professional Membership now?
Yes, under the new pathways, if you’ve completed a PMI qualification or combination of units that didn’t previously make you eligible for Certificate or Diploma membership, you may now qualify for Professional Membership. Contact us to check your eligibility.
What if my Certificate or Diploma membership lapsed?
If you were a lapsed Certificate or Diploma member, you have also been migrated to the new Professional Membership. You can reinstate your PMI membership to take advantage of enhanced member benefits. Reach out to us to discuss reinstatement.
Do I need to retake qualifications to progress towards Associateship?
If you wish to progress towards Associateship, you must retake any qualifications or units completed before 2016. Only qualifications and unit exams taken in 2016 or later will count towards Associateship.
Is there a sample paper that I can view prior to the examination?
Yes, past papers can be viewed here.
Do I need to download any software onto my computer to take the examination?
Yes, you will be required to download the TestReach application to your device (laptop/desktop computer). If you are going to be taking your exam using a work device, we strongly urge you to get in touch with your IT team ASAP, who may need to enable certain permissions for the application to be downloaded and accessed. It is crucial that this is actioned in good time and as early as possible, as all learners are required to schedule themselves onto their exam 72 hours before they are due to sit the exam, to pass all the system checks, to avoid any issues on the day of the exam. A link to download the TestReach application is available on our qualification webpages.
Am I eligible for extra time during the exam?
Yes, if you have any medical conditions that inhibit your ability to complete an exam within the standard timeframe, e.g., dyslexia, or any other medical disorders, then we can offer you an additional 25% extra time on top of the standard exam time. We would need supporting evidence, such as a medical note from your doctor, to be provided to us, which would then be reviewed by a member of the team and a decision then made. If you require extra time, the PMI Qualifications team will get in touch in the run-up to your exam and request it from you in due course.