More advisers and financial services businesses are putting staff through the Certificate in Financial Services Level 5 this year with Professional IQ, while Strategi Institute has confirmed to prospective students in May that it is no longer accepting enrolments until 2027. While Professional IQ is still taking enrolments, the Strategi pause removes one of the sector’s established providers from the market for the remainder of 2026. For advice businesses that rely on a steady pipeline of qualified staff, it tightens an already busy market for the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5) — the benchmark qualification for anyone providing regulated financial advice.
More students turn to Professional IQ
Professional IQ remains open and taking enrolments. Because of its self-directed learning model, Professional IQ can enrol a student and have them studying within one business day, rather than waiting for a fixed intake. With other providers’ scheduled intakes causing enrolment delays, Professional IQ is currently the best option for an adviser to enrol and start studying straight away.
This focus on service is reflected in recent Google rankings, showing Professional IQ as the most highly rated provider of the Certificate in Financial Services.
Our research as of 20/05/2026 shows:
Why does Professional IQ stand out with a 5-star rating?
Flexibility is the practical difference. As an unfunded PTE, Professional IQ isn’t tied to releasing course materials on a pre-set timetable to match a funded course calendar. Students get full access from day one and progress at their own pace — so a motivated learner can complete and certify sooner than fixed-term programmes typically allow.
The approach has earned Professional IQ a 5-star Google rating, and NPS scores consistently averaging above 60 and into the 80s, indicating excellent to world class service. Learners point to the quality of teaching, the responsiveness of the student support team, and the practical, industry-relevant nature of the material. The feedback comes from across the sector — advisers, advice business staff, insurance professionals and mortgage brokers who have qualified through Professional IQ.
One recent Google reviewer captured the themes that come up repeatedly:
“Study material is perfectly designed and easily understandable. Assessors provide accurate feedback in good time, and the student support team responds quickly and is very supportive.”
Professional IQ General Manager Jillian Stewart said they are open, resourced, and ready to support advisers and businesses who need certainty.
“Advisers and advice businesses need to know they can still get staff qualified this year, and they can. We’re open, we’re enrolling now, and our self-paced model means people can start straight away and study around their work rather than around a timetable. We’re committed to the advice industry, and we’re making sure capacity isn’t the thing that holds anyone’s progression back.”
Professional IQ offers the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5) across the Investment, Residential Property Lending, Life/Disability/Health Insurance, and General Insurance strands, alongside professional development short courses and CPD-aligned learning.
Enrolments are open now. With Strategi not taking enrolments in the Certificate in Financial Services until next year, Professional IQ is encouraging businesses and individuals to get in touch early to map out a study plan that fits around work commitments and is scaling its onboarding and tutor support to meet expected demand.
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