The Institute of Financial Services (ifs) is set to offer mortgage advisers the chance to maintain competence online.

In response to the Financial Services Authority's expanding regulatory framework, the Institute is moving ongoing competency courseware to e-learning. The IFS says the move is to satisfy demand for a system that can be continually updated to demonstrate compliance.

The Competence Maintenance Tool (CMT) will feature a wide range of scenarios that mortgage advisers can tailor according to their continuing professional needs.

“When we launched CeMAP the industry was self-regulating,” says Mark Roberts of the ifs. “Today, we are dealing with a regulatory environment that moves faster, reaches deeper, and bites harder than ever before. Our new online competency solution provides advisers with a powerful, interactive platform that matches the pace of regulation.”