CeMAP Qualification Home Study Courses: Pros and Cons

July 3, 2008 by Brendan O'Neill

CeMAP

Many people think there are only two methods of studying for their CeMAP qualification.

The first we are all familiar with, is a CeMAP training course usually taken over a five day period and you either take the exam at the end of the course or take a little longer to revise at home and then apply for the exam.

The second is studying from the ifs (Institute of Financial Services) books that you are sent when you register for the exam. These books are essentially free because no matter which route you choose to take, if you want your CeMAP qualification then you will have to register for the exam and pay the registration fee anyway.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these methods, each of which we will cover in separate articles, but there is also a third method of study, namely taking a CeMAP Home Study Course.

Here are a few advantages of the home study method:

You can study at your own pace, fitting it in around your other commitments
You can study wherever and whenever suits you, whether that’s on the way to work, in your lunch hour, evenings or weekends, at home or at family or friends
You can still have tutor support (check the course you offer provides this)
Home study courses are generally cheaper
You don’t have to travel or find accommodation as you may have to if you attend a course
You don’t have to use holidays from work to take time off to attend a course

There are a few disadvantages too, of course. You should be self-disciplined to make sure that you actually do the study as there will be nobody to remind you and you should make sure that the company that runs the home study course sends you updates on the CeMAP syllabus if needed. Using a home study course can be a great way to get your CeMAP qualification.