The FPA plans to roll out a new education program offering financial planners accreditation in specialist professional areas including life risk advice.
In what the association is calling a first, the advanced education program will be available to new and current Associate Financial Planner (AFP) members.
Life Risk Advisers will be the program's first target. There are plans for courses in estate planning and self-managed superannuation fund advice at a later stage.
"The combination of a specialisation identification with the professional standing of FPA practitioner membership, offers those members who provide quality advice in specialist areas recognition and accreditation for the valuable role they play in meeting consumer needs," FPA chief executive Jo-Anne Bloch said.
"The specialisation identification mark planners attain upon successful completion of the AFP program will serve as a symbol of high professional standing for clients."
The program combines modules on ethics and the specialty area to deliver a qualification higher than ASIC's RG146 training requirements. The AFP courses will be aligned to technical components of the Certified financial planner program.
The FPA is in discussions with a number of education providers for delivery of the program, which will be available in various formats including distance learning.
The FPA is currently taking applications for registration for its first program, Life Risk Advice, which will commence in the second half of the year.
