The FPA has launched Return to Learn - an online hub of tools and resources, supporting practitioner members as they navigate the FASEA education standards.

With new education requirements for new and existing planners, new CPD standards of 40 hours a year applying from 1 January 2019, a new ongoing professional development component, in addition to a new Code of Ethics that all practitioners must comply with from 1 January 2020 and an industry exam that needs to be passed by 1 January 2021, the FPA has launched Return to Learn – an online hub of tools and resources to support practitioners as they transition to the new Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) framework.

Return to Learn is an online education hub containing everything planners and licensees need to know to navigate the FASEA education standards and professional requirements for new and existing planners, including tips for planners undertaking further study.

The online resource was developed in response to FASEA’s education pathways, which documents the range of pathways for new and existing financial planners to comply with FASEA’s education criteria for planners.

To assist planners in determining their education requirements, the FPA’s Return to Learn online hub offers ‘one-stop’ access to information, tools and resources to support planners as they transition to the new FASEA standards.

“All planners are impacted by FASEA, whether it’s further study, the exam or complying with the new Code of Ethics module. The FPA is committed to assisting members transition smoothly to the new framework,” says FPA CEO, Dante De Gori CFP^®.

“By using Return to Learn, we will help individual members work out the right education pathway for them, and show planners how to manage their work and study requirements.”

Education pathway

According to De Gori, Return to Learn was designed as a resource to support members by cutting through the confusion and misinformation concerning the new education framework, and seamlessly guiding them through their education pathway.

Return to Learn features concise explanations of FASEA’s policies and Code of Ethics, as well as invaluable education tools that are conveniently grouped together in one easily accessible hub on the FPA Learn website at learn.fpa.com.au.

The hub contains a wealth of information, providing users with a a wide range of tools, fact sheets, videos and tips that have been specifically designed to help planners. These tools range from video tutorials that help planners prepare for their exams, to information on the various approved tertiary education providers, including course requirements, course costs and required time commitments.

“This resource guides planners through their education pathway,” De Gori says.

“It will help planners identify what study credits are available to them with all the different education providers; it will help them decide which is the best education provider for their specific education needs; it will provide practitioner members with the support to prepare them for the financial planner exam; and it equips them with the necessary information for any further study they may need to do.”

Tools and resources

While the Return to Learn hub offers a wide selection of tools and resources for planners to access, there are a couple of features that De Gori is particularly excited by. One of these is the FASEA education pathways tool.

“By answering a series of questions, users will be able to identify what further studies they will need to undertake in order to comply with the new education standards, whether this is a bridging unit or more intensive study,” he says.

De Gori is also excited by the ‘one-stop’ education matrix comparison tool, which lists and compares all the approved education providers offering postgraduate degrees, enabling planners to easily compare and identify the best study option for them.

“We believe this comparison tool to be the first of its kind in the market,” De Gori says. “Planners and licensees can see at a glance what degree and courses are available in the market, and directly compare them to other education providers.

“This tool includes helpful information like: duration of the program, cost per subject, full program cost, delivery mode and much more. It’s a very beneficial resource for practitioners.”

De Gori adds that once FASEA releases the practice exam, it will be linked to the FPA Return to Learn portal, and study resources will be provided to help members prepare for the exam. He also reveals the FPA is currently working on tools to enable planners to fulfil their CPD requirements, including the FPA’s updated CPD policy, which aligns with the new FASEA requirements.

The online education and resource hub is free for members to use. It can be accessed at: learn.fpa.com.au.