IAA says new process will better support advisers, strengthen assurance of competence, and improve the applicant experience
The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) on Wednesday announced that it has made significant changes to its competence assessment process for immigration advisers, including a revised and enhanced assessment structure with a new sequence for applicants seeking to become regulated advisers.
The IAA has published several documents setting out the changes, including:
- A press release summarising what is changing.
- Four guidance documents on the key changes to the new competence assessment syllabuses.
- Four guidance documents about the new 2026 competence assessment syllabuses.
- A brief supporting information document to support advisers and candidates through the competence assessment changes.
- An updated guidance document explaining the IAA registration process.
According to the IAA, the changes were implemented following a recent tender exercise to procure a new competence assessment provider as the contract with its current provider came to an end. The authority said the new arrangements are intended to better support advisers and candidates, strengthen assurance that applicants meet the required level of competence, and improve the assessment experience.
Key changes highlighted by the IAA include revised assessment questions based on new syllabuses, which are intended to better reflect the knowledge, skills and competence required for immigration advice practice. The assessment will be expanded to include a separate component covering the IAA's Code of Standards, ethics and professional behaviours.
The authority said the change is intended to place greater emphasis on professional conduct alongside technical competence. The technical assessment will remain broadly similar to the previous structure, but candidates will also have to complete the additional ethics and professional behaviours component. The IAA expects there to be a break between the technical assessment and the additional component.
Candidates will need to pass all sections of the assessment, including the Code of Standards, ethics and professional behaviours section, to receive an overall pass.
The assessment will also move to an earlier point in the application process. Under the new arrangements, candidates who want to join an organisation regulated by the IAA will have to pass the competence assessment before they can be added to that organisation's application. Those seeking to establish their own immigration advice organisation will have to pass the assessment before submitting their application for regulation.
The IAA said the change is intended to allow applicants to demonstrate their competence at an earlier stage, before investing time in completing the wider application process, and to help provide greater certainty for candidates and organisations and reduce delays in progressing applications.
There will also be changes to the frequency of assessment opportunities. The IAA expects Level 1 assessments to be available every two weeks, compared with every four weeks under the previous arrangements. Level 2 and Level 3 assessments are expected to take place every eight weeks, rather than every 12 weeks. The authority said the increased frequency should give candidates greater flexibility and reduce waiting times.
A new assessment platform will be introduced to provide an improved user experience for candidates. The existing resource book will be replaced by access to approved, whitelisted websites during the assessment.
While the new arrangements are put in place, the online competence assessment is currently paused. The IAA said assessments are anticipated to resume from November 2026, although this is subject to the completion of the necessary arrangements and dependencies outside the authority's control. The precise dates have not yet been confirmed.
"We recognise how important this information is to advisers, candidates and organisations across the sector, and are working at pace to finalise the arrangements and confirm details as soon as possible," the IAA stated.
Applications can continue to be submitted during the transition period. However, the IAA said applications submitted during this period will be required to undertake the new competence assessment based on the revised syllabuses. For the time being, those applications will continue to follow the existing application process, with the IAA expected to provide further information when the application journey changes.
The authority said candidates should continue to monitor its website for updates on assessment dates and changes to the application process. Candidates intending to take Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 assessments are being advised to review the new syllabuses and familiarise themselves with the revised arrangements.