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United Kingdom · Qualifications

CISI membership grades

The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) describes five membership levels, Student, Affiliate, Associate (ACSI), Member (MCSI) and Fellow (FCSI), with Chartered versions of Member and Fellow above them. CISI membership is open to anyone working in or interested in financial services, and which grade you join at depends on your qualifications or experience.

  • £128Upgrade from Associate to Chartered Member
  • Not openNew applications for Fellow (FCSI)
  • Up to 15 working daysCISI’s time to assess Chartered status
Where to study

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Which CISI membership grade can you join?

GradeWho it’s for
StudentAnyone booking a CISI exam, free for a year or until you finish your qualification
AffiliateAnyone interested in financial services, with no experience or qualifications needed
Associate (ACSI)Holders of a qualifying-level CISI qualification, such as the Investment Operations Certificate (IOC) or Investment Advice Diploma (IAD), or an equivalent
Member (MCSI)Holders of a CISI Level 6 or 7 qualification or an equivalent, or people with significant experience
Chartered Member (Chartered MCSI)Senior professionals with the right qualifications and a consistent record of continuing professional development (CPD)
Fellow (FCSI)Senior professionals with advanced qualifications or extensive experience; CISI isn’t taking new applications
Chartered Fellow (Chartered FCSI)Professionals with specific qualifications and a consistent CPD record

Every applicant has to pass IntegrityMatters, CISI’s integrity test, before joining.

What IntegrityMatters involves →

Becoming Chartered

CISI awards individual Chartered status through two grades, Chartered Member and Chartered Fellow. You need IntegrityMatters, the right qualification and a run of completed CPD years, with the number of years depending on your qualification level and current grade. The CPD page gives the hours each CPD year needs. CISI may take up to 15 working days to assess an application.

CISI’s application and upgrade fees, from 1 April 2024, are:

ItemFee
Associate to Chartered Member£128
Member to Chartered Member£55
Member to Chartered Fellow£80
Chartered Member to Chartered Fellow£80
Chartered member of another chartered body to Chartered Member£55
CISI CPD requirements →

Annual fees, discounts and the member directory

CISI publishes the yearly subscription for each grade on its membership fees page, so check it before you apply. UK residents on a low income can get 50% off new membership.

CISI’s member directory lets anyone search active members and check their membership status. It doesn’t publish contact details, and you can opt out in MyCISI.

The 50% concession →
Sources: CISI and 6 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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