National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) has announced the fee revision for classroom-based Continuing Professional Education (CPE) programs. Starting from March 1, 2025, the fee has been increased from ₹2,500 to ₹3,000.
Online CPE programs, or eCPE, will maintain the fee at ₹2,500.
This fee overhaul is expected to encourage a number of participants wishing to engage in the renewal of NISM certifications to move away from classroom learning to online learning. This comes at a time when operational costs of delivering classroom CPE are spiraling.
NISM states that online delivery is much less expensive than classroom delivery, where ever-increasing costs such as classroom hiring costs and food services have led to the rise in fees. The increment in fees is to cover these increased costs.
In spite of the explanations provided, concern over the fee change has been expressed by the industry. Mutual Fund Distributors and the other levels of CPE participants are bound by the requirement to renew their certificates every three years, and they expressed their displeasure with this fee increase.
Additionally, the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) has recently raised its ARN renewal fee, adding to the financial burden faced by distributors. Critics argue that these additional costs are becoming an unnecessary burden on the industry.
In the larger scheme of things, it is thought that the revision of fees will be better for the CPE, as the proposed better quality programs could be introduced. However, that being said, it is still going to be interesting to see whether a tangible difference will actually come out of the raised fee, with all the intense competition existing among CPE providers.
Presently, NISM CPE programs are available for 17 different areas ranging from Currency Derivatives, Mutual Fund Distributors, Research Analysts to PMS Distributors, Merchant Banking and so on. For more details regarding the CPE and eCPE programs, visit NISM.AC.IN.
