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Compare Canadian securities exams
Side-by-side comparisons of the CSC exams, CIRO's CIRE and Retail Securities Exam, and the IFC: questions, time, pass marks and who needs each one.
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CSC Exam 1 vs CSC Exam 2
CSC Exam 1 covers the marketplace, the economy and products: bonds, shares and derivatives.
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CIRE vs CSC Exam 1
The CIRE is CIRO's regulatory exam (110 questions, 2 hours) and, since 1 January 2026, the entry exam for new investment dealer representatives.
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CIRE vs RSE
The CIRE tests rules and ethics for every registered individual.
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IFC vs CSC Exam 1
The IFC is one 100-question exam focused on mutual funds, the usual route for mutual fund dealer reps.
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IFC vs RSE
The IFC qualifies mutual fund dealer representatives; the RSE qualifies retail representatives at investment dealers under CIRO's 2026 Proficiency Model.
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