Canadian Securities Institute (CSI)

The Canadian Securities Institute is the primary provider of financial services education and licensing courses in Canada, established in 1970 by a group of investment professionals who recognized the need for standardized training across the industry. More than 800,000 financial professionals have taken its courses since its founding. The institute is now part of Fitch Learning, a global education provider, and is based in Toronto and Montreal. Its programs are recognized by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization, the Canadian Securities Administrators, and foreign regulators in the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

The Canadian Securities Course Is the Gateway to the Industry

The Canadian Securities Course, first offered in 1964, is the foundational licensing credential required for many roles in Canadian financial services. Until regulatory changes took effect January 1, 2026, the course qualified candidates for approval as registered representatives with CIRO investment dealers. It covers investment products, mutual funds, alternative investments, and the structure of Canadian financial markets.

If you want to work in investment sales, advise clients on securities, or join most major bank brokerage platforms in Canada, completing the Canadian Securities Course is typically the first step. Completing it also grants an exemption from the Investment Funds in Canada course for purposes of certain designations.

Four Major Designations Define Career Progression

Beyond the foundational course, the Canadian Securities Institute awards designations that signal advanced competence to employers and regulators.

• Personal Financial Planner (PFP). The standard credential for financial advisors at major Canadian banks. ISO 17024 accredited and recognized across Canada except Quebec, which has its own equivalent through the Institut québécois de planification financière.
• Chartered Investment Manager (CIM). Required by Canadian securities regulators for professionals who manage client assets on a discretionary basis. Recognizes the knowledge to apply for portfolio management registration.
• Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM). Co-granted with the Association of International Wealth Management. Designed for advisors serving high-net-worth clients globally.
• Fellow of CSI (FCSI). The highest recognition the institute offers, requiring an existing designation, years of experience, and an ongoing commitment to industry contribution. As of 2012, fewer than 3,500 professionals held it in good standing.

Moody's Acquired the Institute in 2010

Moody's Corporation acquired the Canadian Securities Institute in 2010 for approximately CAD $155 million. The institute now operates as part of the Moody's Analytics training and certification division alongside Fitch Learning. That ownership structure gives Canadian financial professionals access to a broader range of international programs while preserving the designations and regulatory recognitions that Canadian employers and regulators rely on.

Sources:
https://www.csi.ca/en/about
https://www.csi.ca/en/credentials/about-certificates-and-designations
https://www.csi.ca/en/learning/courses/csc
https://www.wealthprofessional.ca/company-profiles/canadian-securities-institute/221490