The Certificate in Financial Law is Equalifi’s exam-based qualification for professionals who want to understand the legal and regulatory foundations of financial services. It recognises a sound understanding of the laws, contractual principles and compliance obligations that shape financial products, institutions and transactions, with a primary focus on India and selected cross-border perspectives.
The Certificate covers the foundations of financial law, India’s financial regulatory architecture, contract law, business entities and corporate governance, banking and lending, security creation and credit documentation, securities and capital markets, investment advisory and distribution, investment funds and alternative investments, corporate finance transactions, insolvency and recovery, foreign exchange and cross-border transactions, anti-money laundering and KYC, insurance and consumer protection, trusts and succession, and tax-law interfaces. It also addresses fintech and payments, data protection, cybersecurity, AI governance, dispute resolution, legal due diligence, compliance governance and professional ethics.
The Certificate is designed for financial services professionals rather than only legal specialists. It builds the knowledge needed to identify legal and regulatory risks, understand key financial documents, recognise professional obligations, and work effectively with legal and compliance teams.
The Certificate is assessed through a single MCQ examination, with knowledge, application and case-based questions drawn from practical financial-services situations.
Who should take the exam?
Banking and lending professionals, investment and wealth advisers, financial planners, family office professionals, fund managers and alternative investment professionals, risk, compliance and audit teams, corporate finance and treasury professionals, fintech and product teams, financial-services consultants, and law graduates seeking a grounding in financial services.
Important
The Certificate in Financial Law is an educational qualification awarded by Equalifi. It does not constitute a law degree, enrolment as an advocate, a licence to practise law, or regulatory authorisation to provide investment advice or other regulated financial services.
The program develops legal awareness and practical issue-identification skills. It does not replace transaction-specific advice from qualified legal, tax or regulatory professionals.
Exam details
Equalifi offers the examination through an external, remote-proctored platform. Once registration and payment are confirmed, candidates receive an exam link by email. Candidates may schedule and take the exam within one year of registration, subject to the platform’s requirements.
Candidates need a reliable internet connection and a computer with a working camera. Please read the technical and exam-day instructions before starting the exam.
| Sr. No. | Name of Module | Type of Questions | Test Duration | No. of Questions | Passing Criteria | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certificate in Financial Law | MCQ | 2 hours | 100 | 60% | 20% per incorrect answer |
The applicable syllabus and regulatory cut-off date will be specified in the examination guidance. Candidates should refer to these when preparing, as laws and regulatory requirements may change.
Validity
The Certificate in Financial Law does not expire.
Certificate holders are encouraged to keep their knowledge current through continuing learning on legal, regulatory and compliance developments.
Candidate audit
Equalifi randomly audits a percentage of applications on a regular basis. Candidates are responsible for providing the requested supporting documentation to verify the education and professional background stated in their registration form. Equalifi does not contact employers or educational institutions to obtain verification documents on a candidate’s behalf.
Candidates selected for audit will be notified by email and will have 10 business days to respond. They must meet the audit requirements before receiving the certificate.
Failure to comply with the audit, falsification or misrepresentation of information, or any unprofessional conduct will result in denial or cancellation of registration and/or revocation of the certificate, and all fees will be forfeited. A candidate who does not comply with an audit will also be subject to audit when reapplying in future.
Fee details
Exam fee: INR 2,360
The fee is inclusive of GST and applies to each attempt.
Access Pass benefits
Fee waiver : Equalifi Chartered, Professional and Virtual Pass holders receive a 50% waiver on the exam fee.
Learn more about the Equalifi Access Pass.
Exam preparation
For stronger exam readiness, candidates are encouraged to attend relevant Equalifi executive education programs and masterclasses covering financial regulation, compliance, governance and transaction documentation, where available.
Access Pass holders receive a 10% to 50% fee waiver on eligible programs, based on their pass category.