ASIC's full approved providers list (2026)
| Provider | Tier 1 qualification | Cost (AUD) | Mode |
|---|
| Kaplan Professional | Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning | $18,000-$25,000 | Online + workshops |
| FINSIA | Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance (Financial Planning) | $20,000-$28,000 | Online |
| AIST | Graduate Diploma of Superannuation | $15,000-$22,000 | Online + workshops |
| University of Tasmania | Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning | $22,000-$30,000 | Online |
| RMIT Online | Graduate Certificate / Diploma of Financial Planning | $15,000-$24,000 | Online |
| Deakin University | Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning | $24,000-$30,000 | Online / on-campus |
| Macquarie University | Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning | $25,000-$32,000 | Online / on-campus |
| Swinburne University | Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning | $20,000-$26,000 | Online |
This is the current approved list as of September 2026. New providers are added periodically; check ASIC's Professional Registers (professionalregisters.asic.gov.au) for the most current list (ASIC, September 2026).
Worked example: choosing between Kaplan and UTas
James is 28, working as a paraplanner in Melbourne, and needs Tier 1 to become a financial adviser. He is comparing Kaplan Professional and University of Tasmania. Kaplan ($22,000, 14 months part-time) is industry-recognised with a strong alumni network, online plus 4 weekend workshops; best for advisers who want flexibility and a practical, industry-focused qualification. UTas ($26,000, 12 months full-time or 18 months part-time) is university-issued, more academic, and FEE-HELP eligible; best for advisers who want a university-branded qualification, may use HECS-HELP, or plan to do further postgrad study. For most career-changers and new advisers, Kaplan or FINSIA offer the best value and the strongest industry recognition. University qualifications make sense if you specifically need a university brand or FEE-HELP access (Kaplan Professional, FINSIA, UTas, September 2026).
Continuing professional development (CPD) after qualification
Once qualified, you must complete 40 hours of CPD per year, with at least 1 hour in ethics and 70% in specialist knowledge areas. ASIC audits AFS licensees' CPD registers. Common CPD providers include Kaplan, FINSIA, AIST, and the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA). Annual CPD subscriptions cost AUD $400-$1,200 depending on the provider and breadth of content (ASIC, September 2026).
Next steps
To compare Tier 1 and Tier 2 in the context of the broader financial-adviser qualification stack, see our FASEA standards guide and our RG146 prerequisite guide.
FASEA Tier 1 vs Tier 2 in practice
Most Tier 2 qualifications are 6-12 month undergraduate certificates or diplomas focused on a single product area (e.g., superannuation only, or insurance only). A Tier 1 Graduate Diploma takes 12-18 months and covers the full breadth of personal advice (superannuation, insurance, investments, tax, estate planning). In practice, Tier 2 advisers are limited to specific product advice within their qualification's scope — they cannot hold themselves out as a "comprehensive financial adviser" and may need to refer clients to a Tier 1 colleague for advice outside their scope. Many mid-tier advice firms use Tier 2 staff as paraplanners or limited-advice specialists (e.g., a Tier 2 superannuation-only adviser for a SMSF-focused role). For most new advisers, the extra cost and time of Tier 1 is worth it for the long-term scope of practice (ASIC, September 2026).
Fazlur Rahman
