The London Institute of Banking & Finance has launched its first CPD programme for CeMAP mortgage advisers.
The private university said the programme, which leads to a CeMAP Professional designation, will help advisers differentiate their skills and keep up with market changes.
Brian Wilkinson, managing director for corporate and professional qualifications at the London Institute of Banking & Finance, said: "The mortgage market is changing constantly and it’s vital for advisers to be able to demonstrate that they are keeping up with developments. The recent FCA call for it to be easier for consumers to compare advisers and products shows how important it’s becoming for advisers to differentiate.
"And there are other factors at play. With the liberalisation of the market, advisers need to continually develop their professional skills, knowledge and practice to ensure they give their clients the best possible advice.
"We also signpost advisers to other areas they may want to explore to take a more holistic view of their clients’ needs as our society ages – such as equity release and pension transfers."
Last week the FCA said in its interim report into the mortgage market that it intended to work with the broker sector to develop metrics to help consumers compare brokers.
David Hollingworth, from London & Country, said professional development was important but there was a danger letters after mortgage brokers’ names were meaningless and "customers might attach weight to them just because they are there".
He said "It is all about establishing the true value of staff development."
