Frequently Asked Questions

Upon successful completion of your PPA course and final examination, you will receive a CPD-accredited certificate recognised by employers across the finance industry. Your certificate is issued digitally within 48 hours of passing and can also be requested in hard copy. Each certificate includes a unique verification code so employers can confirm its authenticity instantly. CPD (Continuing Professional Development) accreditation means your qualification counts toward your annual professional development hours, which is a requirement in many regulated finance roles.

Once enrolled, you have lifetime access to all course materials, including reading resources and downloadable study guides. You can study entirely at your own pace — there are no weekly deadlines, mandatory live sessions, or expiry dates.

Yes — all PPA courses are fully optimised for mobile, tablet, and desktop. Our learning platform is browser-based, so there is nothing to install. Whether you are commuting, on a lunch break, or studying from home, you can pick up exactly where you left off across any device. Video lessons, quizzes, and reading materials all adapt seamlessly to your screen size.

PPA offers courses across three levels — Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced — so there is an appropriate starting point for everyone. Each course page clearly states the recommended prior knowledge and who the course is best suited for. Our Beginner-level courses assume no prior finance knowledge and are designed to build a solid foundation from the ground up. If you are unsure which level is right for you, our team is happy to advise — simply reach out via the contact page.

PPA uses a secure online examination platform that you can access directly from your student dashboard. Once you feel ready, simply launch the exam — no scheduling or invigilation appointment is needed. Exams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and bank holidays, so you can sit at a time that suits you. The exam is multiple-choice format and your result is displayed immediately upon submission. A pass confirmation and your certificate are issued automatically if you meet the required pass mark.

Every course enrolment includes up to three exam attempts at no additional cost. We recommend using your first attempt only when you feel confident with the material, as this gives you the best chance of passing first time. If you do not pass within your three included attempts, additional attempts can be purchased individually through your student dashboard. There is no mandatory waiting period between attempts, though we advise allowing time to review areas of weakness before re-sitting.

The majority of our exams are untimed, giving you the freedom to read each question carefully and answer at your own pace without the pressure of a countdown. A small number of our advanced-level exams do include a generous time allowance to reflect real-world professional assessment standards. Where a time limit applies, this is clearly stated on the individual course page and in your exam dashboard before you begin. You will not be caught off guard.

Enrolling is straightforward and takes just a few minutes. Browse our course catalogue, select the course you are interested in, and click "Enrol Now". If you do not already have an PPA account, you will be prompted to create one for free — this only requires your name and email address. Once your account is created and payment is confirmed, you will have immediate access to all course materials. You can enrol in multiple courses simultaneously and manage everything from a single student dashboard.

We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, and bank transfer for corporate or group bookings. All card payments are processed securely via an encrypted payment gateway — PPA does not store your card details. For organisations looking to enrol multiple employees, please contact us directly to discuss volume pricing and invoiced payment options. VAT receipts are available for all purchases upon request.

We offer a 14-day cooling-off period from the date of enrolment, in line with UK consumer protection regulations. If you change your mind within this period and have not yet accessed a significant portion of the course content or sat an exam attempt, you are entitled to a full refund. To request a refund, please contact our support team with your order details and we will process it promptly. Refunds are not available after the 14-day period or once an exam attempt has been used.

Our student support team is available Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm, and Saturday, 10am–2pm (GMT). If you encounter any technical issue — whether it is a problem logging in, a video not loading, or a difficulty accessing your exam — please reach out via the contact form on our website, by email, or by phone. We aim to respond to all support requests within 2 hours during working hours. For urgent exam-related issues, please call us directly so we can resolve it as quickly as possible.

Data security is a top priority at PPA. All personal data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and stored on secure UK-based servers. We operate in full compliance with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. PPA will never sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties without your explicit consent. You can request a copy of your data, or ask for it to be deleted, at any time by contacting our data protection team. Our full Privacy Policy is available on our website.