How Long Does It Take to Train as a Financial Adviser in New Zealand?
Warwick Slow
18 Nov 2025
How Long Does It Take to Train as a Financial Adviser in New Zealand?
Quick Snapshot: The 3 Main Steps
Compliance & Qualification (4 weeks to 6 months)
Get your Level 5 certs, register on the FSPR, join a FAP, and sort your PI insurance and DRS.Mentorship & On-the-Job Learning (6 to 24 months)
Work under a mentor, gain hands-on experience, and build your advice-giving confidence.Full Competency (1 to 2 years total)
Reach the point where you’re confidently giving mortgage, insurance, or KiwiSaver advice on your own.
Step 1: Qualifications (4 weeks to 6 months)
Starting out in financial services? Your first job is ticking all the compliance boxes. Thanks to the FSLAA (Financial Services Legislation Amendment Act), advisers in NZ are now held to solid professional standards - which is great for both clients and the industry.
Key Requirements:
Requirement | Description | Timeline/Details |
|---|---|---|
Level 5 Qualification | You need to show you've got the knowledge and skills. That means completing Level 5 papers, including the Core Strand and product-specific strands (like lending or insurance). | Most complete this in about 3-6 months if working full-time, faster if you’re purely focused on study. |
FSPR Registration | Register as an individual adviser on the Financial Service Providers Register. | Legally required, approx. $1,000. Don't complete this step until you've got a FAP licence you can join (below). |
FAP Licensing | You must be engaged by a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FAP). | Full licence responses usually take 1-3 weeks, but could take up to 60 working days. |
PI and DRS | You’ll need Professional Indemnity insurance and membership in a Dispute Resolution Scheme. | Mandatory for giving advice and satisfying lender requirements. Speak with your FAP or aggregator to obtain. |
Total setup time ranges from 4 weeks to 6 months depending on your starting point.
Step 2: Mentorship and Practical Training
Once you've ticked off the above, the real learning begins. This is where you get on the tools and start building the confidence and competence that clients resonate with.
How long until you’re actually giving advice?
It depends. For new-to-industry mortgage advisers, some banks usually expect about 6 months of industry experience before they’ll consider accreditation. Then, generally speaking, junior advisers will have about 12 months of oversight from a mentor before the training wheels come off.
For insurance, the timeline is similar - the first 3 months are often spent learning the ropes, and by around the 6-month mark, new advisers with strong training and support should be comfortable enough to begin giving advice.
KiwiSaver can move faster. In some firms, 1 month of solid, focused training can be enough to start giving advice - especially if it’s part of a broader advice offering.
The fastest learners are those who join busy advice businesses and get exposure to a lot of different deals every day.
Step 3: Continuous Development
Becoming a fully accredited, confident adviser across mortgages, insurance, and KiwiSaver isn’t an overnight gig. Most take 12 to 24 months of study, mentoring, and hands-on experience to get truly client-ready.
If you're committed, it's one of the most rewarding career pivots you can make - both financially and in the impact you have on everyday Kiwis.
How Long Does It Take to Train as a Financial Adviser in New Zealand?
Quick Snapshot: The 3 Main Steps
Compliance & Qualification (4 weeks to 6 months)
Get your Level 5 certs, register on the FSPR, join a FAP, and sort your PI insurance and DRS.Mentorship & On-the-Job Learning (6 to 24 months)
Work under a mentor, gain hands-on experience, and build your advice-giving confidence.Full Competency (1 to 2 years total)
Reach the point where you’re confidently giving mortgage, insurance, or KiwiSaver advice on your own.
Step 1: Qualifications (4 weeks to 6 months)
Starting out in financial services? Your first job is ticking all the compliance boxes. Thanks to the FSLAA (Financial Services Legislation Amendment Act), advisers in NZ are now held to solid professional standards - which is great for both clients and the industry.
Key Requirements:
Requirement | Description | Timeline/Details |
|---|---|---|
Level 5 Qualification | You need to show you've got the knowledge and skills. That means completing Level 5 papers, including the Core Strand and product-specific strands (like lending or insurance). | Most complete this in about 3-6 months if working full-time, faster if you’re purely focused on study. |
FSPR Registration | Register as an individual adviser on the Financial Service Providers Register. | Legally required, approx. $1,000. Don't complete this step until you've got a FAP licence you can join (below). |
FAP Licensing | You must be engaged by a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FAP). | Full licence responses usually take 1-3 weeks, but could take up to 60 working days. |
PI and DRS | You’ll need Professional Indemnity insurance and membership in a Dispute Resolution Scheme. | Mandatory for giving advice and satisfying lender requirements. Speak with your FAP or aggregator to obtain. |
Total setup time ranges from 4 weeks to 6 months depending on your starting point.
Step 2: Mentorship and Practical Training
Once you've ticked off the above, the real learning begins. This is where you get on the tools and start building the confidence and competence that clients resonate with.
How long until you’re actually giving advice?
It depends. For new-to-industry mortgage advisers, some banks usually expect about 6 months of industry experience before they’ll consider accreditation. Then, generally speaking, junior advisers will have about 12 months of oversight from a mentor before the training wheels come off.
For insurance, the timeline is similar - the first 3 months are often spent learning the ropes, and by around the 6-month mark, new advisers with strong training and support should be comfortable enough to begin giving advice.
KiwiSaver can move faster. In some firms, 1 month of solid, focused training can be enough to start giving advice - especially if it’s part of a broader advice offering.
The fastest learners are those who join busy advice businesses and get exposure to a lot of different deals every day.
Step 3: Continuous Development
Becoming a fully accredited, confident adviser across mortgages, insurance, and KiwiSaver isn’t an overnight gig. Most take 12 to 24 months of study, mentoring, and hands-on experience to get truly client-ready.
If you're committed, it's one of the most rewarding career pivots you can make - both financially and in the impact you have on everyday Kiwis.
How Long Does It Take to Train as a Financial Adviser in New Zealand?
Quick Snapshot: The 3 Main Steps
Compliance & Qualification (4 weeks to 6 months)
Get your Level 5 certs, register on the FSPR, join a FAP, and sort your PI insurance and DRS.Mentorship & On-the-Job Learning (6 to 24 months)
Work under a mentor, gain hands-on experience, and build your advice-giving confidence.Full Competency (1 to 2 years total)
Reach the point where you’re confidently giving mortgage, insurance, or KiwiSaver advice on your own.
Step 1: Qualifications (4 weeks to 6 months)
Starting out in financial services? Your first job is ticking all the compliance boxes. Thanks to the FSLAA (Financial Services Legislation Amendment Act), advisers in NZ are now held to solid professional standards - which is great for both clients and the industry.
Key Requirements:
Requirement | Description | Timeline/Details |
|---|---|---|
Level 5 Qualification | You need to show you've got the knowledge and skills. That means completing Level 5 papers, including the Core Strand and product-specific strands (like lending or insurance). | Most complete this in about 3-6 months if working full-time, faster if you’re purely focused on study. |
FSPR Registration | Register as an individual adviser on the Financial Service Providers Register. | Legally required, approx. $1,000. Don't complete this step until you've got a FAP licence you can join (below). |
FAP Licensing | You must be engaged by a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FAP). | Full licence responses usually take 1-3 weeks, but could take up to 60 working days. |
PI and DRS | You’ll need Professional Indemnity insurance and membership in a Dispute Resolution Scheme. | Mandatory for giving advice and satisfying lender requirements. Speak with your FAP or aggregator to obtain. |
Total setup time ranges from 4 weeks to 6 months depending on your starting point.
Step 2: Mentorship and Practical Training
Once you've ticked off the above, the real learning begins. This is where you get on the tools and start building the confidence and competence that clients resonate with.
How long until you’re actually giving advice?
It depends. For new-to-industry mortgage advisers, some banks usually expect about 6 months of industry experience before they’ll consider accreditation. Then, generally speaking, junior advisers will have about 12 months of oversight from a mentor before the training wheels come off.
For insurance, the timeline is similar - the first 3 months are often spent learning the ropes, and by around the 6-month mark, new advisers with strong training and support should be comfortable enough to begin giving advice.
KiwiSaver can move faster. In some firms, 1 month of solid, focused training can be enough to start giving advice - especially if it’s part of a broader advice offering.
The fastest learners are those who join busy advice businesses and get exposure to a lot of different deals every day.
Step 3: Continuous Development
Becoming a fully accredited, confident adviser across mortgages, insurance, and KiwiSaver isn’t an overnight gig. Most take 12 to 24 months of study, mentoring, and hands-on experience to get truly client-ready.
If you're committed, it's one of the most rewarding career pivots you can make - both financially and in the impact you have on everyday Kiwis.