How to Register for CII Exams (2026): Fees, Booking and Resits

This guide covers the registration process for the CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning — R01 through R05. It applies whether you're sitting your first unit or rebooking after a failed attempt.

Step 1: Create a MyCII Account

MyCII is the CII's online student portal. You'll use it to buy units, access study materials, book exams and view your results.

If you don't already have an account, create one at cii.co.uk. You'll need to provide personal details and choose whether to register as a CII member or non-member (membership affects pricing — see the fee table below).

Step 2: Buy Your Unit Enrolment

On the unit's page at cii.co.uk, you'll see two enrolment options:

• Enrolment — includes the study text and one exam entry
• Enrolment Plus — includes the study text, one exam entry, plus additional revision materials

Once you've purchased, the exam voucher appears in MyCII within about 30 minutes. Your study access lasts 12 months from purchase, and the exam voucher is valid for 18 months.

On ExamDen.uk, you get instant feedback on your enrolment

Step 3: Book Your Exam

Log into MyCII and go to Bookings and Results to schedule your exam.

R01–R05 are multiple-choice exams that you can book almost any day. You have two options:

• Test centre — sit at a Pearson VUE centre near you, with an invigilator present
• Online — sit from home or your office with a remote invigilator via webcam

You can change the date yourself in MyCII if your plans change — there's no need to contact the CII.

CII Diploma Exam Fees (2026)

First attempt (study text + one exam entry)

Each price includes the study text and one exam entry. R05 is cheaper because it's a shorter exam (50 questions, 1 hour) at RQF Level 3, while R01–R04 are Level 4.

Resits (exam entry only, no study text)

A resit is a fresh exam entry. You don't get a new study text — the one from your original enrolment still applies.

On ExamDen.uk, practise by chapter to find your weak spots before you take a full mock

What About R06?

R06 is different from R01–R05. It's a 3-hour written exam taken on screen, based on case studies released about 2 weeks before the sitting. Unlike R01–R05, it only runs on fixed dates:

2026 sittings: 20 January, 21 April, 30 June, 6 October

Booking closes about 15 days before each sitting. R06 uses the same MyCII booking system, but you must select one of the fixed dates rather than choosing your own.

Step 4: If You Fail — Resits

If you don't pass, log back into MyCII, buy a resit and rebook. There's no limit on the number of resit attempts, but each one costs £198–£247 for R01–R04, so it's worth doing enough preparation to pass first time.

After a failed attempt, the CII provides feedback in your MyCII account showing which learning outcomes you performed poorly on. Use this to target your revision before rebooking.

Which Unit Should You Sit First?

There's no required order for the CII Diploma. You can sit R01–R05 in any sequence. However, most candidates follow this path:

1. R01 first — gives you the regulatory foundation. Understanding FCA rules, the advice framework and ethics makes the product-specific units easier.
2. R02 second — investment principles build on the regulatory context from R01.
3. R03 and R04 — taxation and pensions. Many candidates find R03 the hardest due to the volume of tax rules.
4. R05 last — financial protection. Level 3 rather than Level 4, with a higher pass mark (70%) but no multiple-response questions.

This is a common path, not a requirement. Some candidates prefer to start with the unit that's most relevant to their current role.

CII Membership: Is It Worth It?

CII membership gives you lower exam fees — £270 vs £379 for R01–R04, and £236 vs £286 for R05. Whether membership is worth it depends on how many units you plan to take and whether your employer covers the cost.

If you're sitting all five diploma units, the member discount on exam fees alone adds up significantly. Many employers in financial services pay for CII membership as part of professional development.

On ExamDen.uk, a timed mock shows your score against the 65% pass mark, and which learning outcomes are below it

Exam Format Quick Reference

For unit-specific study guides, start with our R01 study guide.