The ABF of RE deadlines are upon us. It is highly unlikely that the FSB will extend the final date for writing and passing the regulatory exams at this late stage. For those who did not make it, it is not the end of the line. You will not be able to continue practising, but you can still write. If you made several unsuccessful attempts, consider reviewing what you did in the past. Harsh as it may sound – you cannot keep doing the same thing and expect a different result. In our view, most people have the required knowledge, but struggle to convey this knowledge in the exams. If you have not yet studied the FSB’s preparation guide, or watched the preparation DVD produced on 22 February, now is the time to do so. It will benefit you more than going through the study material which you are almost able to recite in your sleep by now.
Those who did pass in time will hope to hear soon about the level 2 regulatory exams. We believe that the roll out is “under review”, and trust that the way forward will be announced sooner, rather than later. The whole process, aimed at improving the professional image and skills of the industry, was delayed by 15 months due to extensions of the deadline. As Mr. Gerry Anderson, FSB chief operating officer and deputy executive officer recently said: “We will be failing with the objectives of the FAIS Act and consumer protection if we allow somebody that is not able to continue,” he said.
