Each year there are 2 opportunities to sit our examinations: in April and September/October. You can find the full timetable of IFoA exams on our Exam dates web page.
You can sit our online exams at any convenient location. But you will need to book within the exam entry period. Exam entry dates for upcoming examinations are listed on our Exam dates web page.
New joiners
You’ll need to register as a student member to sit most of our exams.
If you wish to try an IFoA exam first before becoming a student member, you can sit the CM1 or CS1 exam as a non-member. Learn more on our non-members page.
To read our step-by-step guide, see our non-member registration form.
To sit all our other exams, you will need to join the IFoA as a student member before you book an exam. Learn more at student membership.
Please ensure that you submit your student membership application at least 3 weeks before the exam booking opens.
To read our step-by-step guide, see our student membership application form.
For the September 2025 exams, the vast majority of candidates will sit the closed book exam(s) online in examination centres. Your exam centre will be allocated using your preferred address, so please ensure this is up to date via the member portal. If you plan to be in an alternative location during your exam, update it now, as you can always change it back as required after the exam session.
1. 25 July: Exam booking closes
We will not be able to take any more bookings after this date.
2. Week commencing 4 August
We will contact you via email to inform you of your allocated exam centre (this email will also include a form to complete should you wish to make a change request).
3. 12 August Change request deadline
While we will do our best to allocate the most convenient centre, we understand you may wish to make a change request. This will be dependent on availability.
Once a change request has been successfully processed, your original space will be reallocated, so you will not have the option to swap back to your originally allocated location
Options will include:
Any change requests must be made by completing the online form by 12 August.
4. Week commencing 18 August
We will contact you via email to confirm whether your change request can be accommodated. If we are unable to accommodate your change request, you will be entitled to a full refund at no charge. However, your refund request must be made by 29 August 2025.
5. 29 August: Deadline to request a full refund
The option to request a full refund will be available up to 29 August. Any refund requests made after the deadline will be subject to our standard refund policy.
Please make sure you are aware of our Assessment Regulations, Exam Rules and Examinations Handbook before you sit your exam.
Personal and Professional Development (PPD) is an essential part of your IFoA qualification. You must record a minimum amount of PPD credits and formal learning hours each year, to sit IFoA exams.
Please make sure you have met your PPD requirements, or you will not be able to book on to IFoA exams. Find out more at PPD requirements for exam booking.
Both elements A and B of the CS1, CS2, CM1, and CM2 examinations need to be sat during the same examination sitting.
Non-members wishing to sit the IFoA CS and CM examinations can find information about this on our non-members page.
When booking an exam, please ensure that you are or will be in a position to sit the exam on the date and time booked. You can find the full timetable of IFoA exams on our Exam Dates web page. Refunds will only be made due to circumstances out of your control, such as personal illness or family bereavement.
Once exam entry opens, you can book IFoA exams by logging in to the My Account area of the IFoA website and navigating to the exams section.
If you wish to pay for your exam using BACs payment, we provide a separate form on this page during the exam booking window.
If you are booking an IFoA exam for the first time, you will need to register before you can book an IFoA exam. Find out how to register and then book your first IFoA exam.
The CB3 exam entries are managed differently. You can log in to the My Account area of the IFoA website at any time to see available examination dates and to book your exam (once you have completed PSC Stage 1 - formerly OPAT).
You will need to make a credit card, debit card, or PayPal payment for each examination that you book through the My Account area of the IFoA website.
Please ensure you have all the information you need before starting the exam booking and payment process and you are using an up-to-date version of your internet browser. IFoA offers two payment options, Credit/debit Card and PayPal. Should you face any issues paying with one option, we encourage you to try the other. UnionPay is accepted through PayPal.
If you would like to pay by bank transfer you will need to download and complete an Exam Entry form. You will need to email your completed form, along with confirmation of the completed bank transfer, to our Member Services Team.
If you are eligible to pay reduced examination fees, please make sure that you have successfully applied for reduced-rate membership subscription fees as part of your IFoA membership application or renewal before you book any IFoA examinations.
If you have not successfully applied for reduced-rate membership subscription fees, you will automatically be charged the full examination fees when you book an IFoA exam.
You will receive an email confirmation of your booking, once it has been processed. You will also be able to view your exam bookings in the Review My Exam Bookings area in the My Account area of the IFoA website.
You will receive your joining instructions two weeks before the exam session begins.
If you would like to cancel your online exam booking, please contact the Member Services team as soon as possible along with the completed refund form (DOCX, 50 KB)
You can find information on how to apply for refunds for exams cancelled outside of the exam booking period in our refund policy.
To change your CB3 examination booking, you will need to cancel and then rebook your examination for a new date.
Please email our Member Services team to notify them of your exam cancellation and include a completed CB3 Refund application form.
To request a refund for extenuating circumstances (up to 15 days after you have sat your exam), email our Member Services team, including the supporting documentation set out in our Refund policy.
For example, a refund request because of illness or medical grounds should include a medical certificate.
If we do accept your request for a refund, you will be entitled to a refund of the assessment fees you have paid for that assessment, subject to a deduction of a 25% administrative charge and any applicable bank charges.
If you have any questions about membership please email us or call us on +44 (0) 131 240 1325. Response times can be found in our membership FAQs.