How to get competent advisor status (CAS) for mortgages

June 24, 2026 by Brendan O'Neill

Mortgage Advisors

The final stage in becoming a fully-fledged mortgage advisor happens to be gaining competent advisor status. This is not a qualification, it is a designation. It tells the public you have been deemed to be completely qualified and suitable to advise clients on your own.

In this blog, we will look at the stages you need to go through to achieve CAS.

Secure an industry-standard qualification

The first thing you must do is achieve one of the industry-standard qualifications. The two recognised by industry regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are CeMAP and CII Level 3 Certificate in Mortgage Advice. CeMAP stands for Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice.

The majority of aspiring advisors take the CeMAP course, which you can now study for online. After the completion of the course, you will have to pass an exam.

Complete a period as a trainee

Next, you will have to apply to companies that hold FCA authorisation. This can be networks, banks, building societies or brokerages. When you are accepted by one, you will start work as an advisor.

At this stage, you are a trainee though and will have to do a period of training on-the-job. This process has two parts:

• Structured training and shadowing

This part involves shadowing an advisor who has CAS. You will sit in on meetings with clients, read and review client files, and be tested on your grasp of mortgage lender criteria.

• Create a portfolio under supervision

You will be expected to do product and lender research, before compiling a portfolio of your recommendations. You will advise a client based on this, but under supervision.

Your work will be checked to ensure all files and information comply with regulations, that your affordability assessments are accurate and that you are recommending the correct products. If you pass between 5 and 8 of these supervised cases, there will be one more review of your competency. Once you pass this, your employer will sign off on CAS.

Before you can get CAS, you must get the CeMAP qualification. Now is the time to start.