Associate membership is open to individuals

• who work in the money advice sector (applicants will normally have at least 12 months’ experience – those with less may wish to consider applying for trainee membership, see below)
• whose function of employment (paid or unpaid) includes the delivery or promotion of free, confidential, independent and holistic money advice
• who do not yet hold our Certificate in Money Advice Practice qualification, or who do so but are not compliant with the CPD scheme
• whose work conforms to and fully supports the definition of money advice as defined in our Statement of Good Practice
• who work to or promote the standards and practices set out for members in the IMA’s Statement of Good Practice
• who have the relevant FCA permissions (or who are exempt) and hold the appropriate professional indemnity insurance.

Associate members will normally be carrying out FCA-regulated activities, such as:

Debt Counselling
(1) giving advice to a borrower about the liquidation of a debt due under a credit agreement;
(2) giving advice to a hirer about the liquidation of a debt due under a consumer hire agreement.

or

Debt Adjusting – this activity comprises the following, in relation to debts due under a credit agreement or consumer hire agreement:
(1) negotiating with the lender or owner, on behalf of the borrower or hirer, terms for the discharge of a debt;
(2) taking over, in return for payments by the borrower or hirer, that person’s obligation to discharge a debt; or
(3) any similar activity concerned with the liquidation of a debt.

If you are not undertaking these activities, but are giving more general advice, primarily signposting or doing financial capability work, Affiliate membership is likely to be more suitable.

Accredited membership is open to current IMA members who satisfy the requirements of Associate membership, but also:

• have been awarded the IMA’s Certificate in Money Advice Practice,
• have satisfied the requirements for the IMA’s continuing professional development scheme, and
• continue to comply with the IMA’s Code of Conduct for Members and Affiliates.

Current Associate members are automatically awarded Accredited membership once they have successfully completed the Certificate in Money Advice Practice and, as such, non-members cannot apply for Accredited membership. This Accredited status can be rescinded where a member fails to comply with the requirements, as detailed above. Follow the links for more information about the IMA’s Certificate in Money Advice Practice and Continuing Professional Development scheme.

In order to be a member of this category you will need to have the relevant FCA permissions (or be exempt) and hold the appropriate professional indemnity insurance.

Trainee membership is open to individuals who do not yet meet the requirements for Associate membership, but who can demonstrate that they have a genuine interest in, and are working towards, fulfilling the Associate membership criteria and working (paid or unpaid) in the free, non fee-charging advice sector. Applicants for trainee membership will normally have been working in money advice for less than 12 months.

Trainee members benefit from a 20 per cent reduction from the cost of full Associate membership.

Please note that Trainee members are not able to undertake the Certificate in Money Advice Practice.

Affiliate membership is open to individuals who are not providing money advice, but are working in related roles.

In the course of their employment (paid or otherwise), Affiliates must in some way promote free, confidential and impartial money advice.

Examples of job roles normally eligible for Affiliate membership include:

• Benefits adviser
• Financial capability officer
• Financial inclusion support officer
• Grants officer
• Guidance officer
• Housing adviser
• Revenue and benefits assistant

Please note that this list is not exhaustive and that we assess each application for membership on its own merits.

Affiliate members must not be working for fee-charging advice agencies.

This is a category for members previously in the Accredited or Associate categories who are now unemployed or taking an extended break from work.  Non-Practising members benefit from a reduced annual membership fee. See here for details of IMA membership fees.

The purpose of this category is to enable members to maintain their membership of the IMA, stay up to date with our work and developments in the sector, and to support such members back into work if desired, through access to IMA resources and qualifications.

The category also allows Non-Practising members to continue to support us as an organisation, including through holding voluntary positions, for example as Trustees or Council Representatives.

To qualify, you must not be in paid employment or self employment, and you must not be eligible for any other category of membership. The category is only open to current Accredited and Associate members, not to new applicants.

This is a category for retired people who were Accredited, Associate or Non-Practising members on the date of their retirement from work. Retired members benefit from a reduced annual membership fee. See here for details of IMA membership fees.

The purpose of this category is to enable retired members to maintain their membership of the IMA, stay up to date with our work and developments in the sector, and continue to support us as an organisation, including through holding voluntary positions, for example as Trustees or Council Representatives.

To qualify, you must not be in paid employment or self employment, and you must not be eligible for any other category of membership. The category is only open to current or previous Accredited, Associate or Non-Practising members, not to new applicants.

Honorary Fellowship is the Institute’s ultimate accolade, intended to recognise someone that has made an outstanding contribution to the free-to-client money advice sector and profession, or a significant contribution to the IMA. For full details of eligibility criteria and how an Honorary Fellowship is awarded, please see Rule 14 of the IMA’s Membership Rules and Regulations, and Article 18 of the IMA’s Articles of Association, both available here.