The CII is to launch a new pensions exam unit to support professional standards in the sector.

Available from January, the Life and Pensions Foundations exam unit has been developed following CII commissioned consumer focus groups in collaboration with senior representatives from firms in this area of the industry.

It is aimed at new entrants, front-line contact centre staff and those working in “customer-facing functions” and will complement employers’ staff induction processes.

Completion of the unit will lead to a recognised qualification – the CII Level 2 Award in Life and Pensions Foundations.

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Steve Jenkins, director of financial services, said: "We recently organised a series of consumer focus groups to gauge the public’s perspective of the Life and Pensions sector and give us a better understanding of how best to aid the market in addressing their clients’ needs.

"The results of this work revealed that demonstrating high standards of professionalism is vital to ensuring public trust and confidence, particularly in light of pension freedoms where the sector has a huge role to play.

"Working with 18 Life and Pensions employers, including product and service providers, we were able to develop the outline for this new exam unit. And in doing so provide those in related roles with the essential and ongoing knowledge of topics key to the delivery of a customer focused culture."

Enrolments opens in January and includes a complete programme for a single fee: a study text with updates, RevisionMate online study support, including specimen exam and answers, and entry to the multiple choice question tested exam.