“Canadian Securities Certificate” is a common informal label for the Canadian Securities Course (CSC®) offered by the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI). The CSC® is a foundational proficiency used across the Canadian securities industry and is widely required (or strongly preferred) for many front-office and support roles at investment firms.
This page summarizes the CSC® based on CSI’s published course information and highlights the CIRO-era context that candidates should be aware of.
The Canadian Securities Course (CSC®) is an entry-level securities course covering Canadian capital markets, products, trading mechanics, analysis, portfolio concepts, and working with retail and institutional clients. It is offered by CSI and is commonly used to meet (part of) industry proficiency expectations in Canada.
Important: Passing the CSC® does not automatically register you as an advisor or give you permission to sell securities. Registration is role- and province-dependent and is completed through an employer and the relevant regulators/SRO requirements.
Below is the CSC® exam structure as described by CSI:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Exams | 2 |
| Exam format | Proctored (remote or in-person at a test centre) |
| Duration | 2 hours (per exam) |
| Question format | Multiple choice |
| Questions per exam | 100 |
| Attempts allowed | 3 attempts per exam (fees apply after the first attempt) |
| Passing grade | 60% per exam |
| Assignments | None |
| Recommended study time | 135–200 hours (CSI estimate) |
| Enrolment period | 1 year (course extension policies/fees may apply) |
CSI publishes topic weightings for each exam. Use these as a guide for prioritizing study time (they can change, so always verify on the official CSI page).
| Topic | Weight |
|---|---|
| The Canadian Investment Marketplace | 15% |
| The Economy | 13% |
| Features and Types of Fixed-Income Securities | 12% |
| Pricing and Trading of Fixed-Income Securities | 11% |
| Common and Preferred Shares | 13% |
| Equity Transactions | 10% |
| Derivatives | 10% |
| Corporations and their Financial Statements | 8% |
| Financing and Listing Securities | 8% |
| Topic | Weight |
|---|---|
| Investment Analysis | 18% |
| Portfolio Analysis | 18% |
| Mutual Funds | 14% |
| Exchange-Traded Funds | 10% |
| Alternative Investments, Other Managed, and Structured Products | 16% |
| Canadian Taxation | 6% |
| Fee-Based Accounts and Working with the Retail Client | 8% |
| Working with the Institutional Client | 10% |
CSI’s CSC® syllabus is organized into chapters that align closely with the two exams. At a high level:
CSI sets the enrolment fee, exam booking rules, deferrals/rescheduling policies, and retake fees. Because pricing and administrative policies change, it’s best to rely on the official CSI pages for current details.
What you should plan for:
A simple way to plan your timeline:
Suggested routine:
To complement the official CSI materials, CSCExams.ca focuses on:
Canada’s national self-regulatory organization is now CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization). CSI has also noted that new CIRO proficiency rules are expected to take effect January 1, 2026 for Approved Persons of Investment Dealers, moving toward a more assessment-centric proficiency model. Requirements and accepted pathways may evolve over time.
If you’re pursuing the CSC® for a specific role, confirm the current requirements with:
CSC® is a trademark of the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI). This site is not affiliated with CSI or CIRO.
The CSC® is a major first milestone for building Canadian securities proficiency. Use CSI’s official structure/weightings to prioritize what matters, then build confidence through active recall, practice questions, and timed exam-style sessions.
For more information and free practice questions, visit CSCExams.ca.