UK career qualification guide

What is CeMAP, and how do you become a UK mortgage adviser?

Last updated: 3 August 2026
Quick answer: CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) is LIBF's entry qualification for UK mortgage advisers. As of the 2025/26 update, it has three exam units — FRE1, FRE2 and MRT1 — each needing a 70% pass mark, sat remotely on LIBF's Brightspace platform. The old exam format closed on 12 January 2026; everyone now sits the new structure.

What CeMAP actually is

CeMAP is awarded by the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) and is the most widely held entry-level qualification for mortgage advisers in the UK. Passing it is what most firms require before you can advise clients on residential mortgages — it's the practical equivalent of a licence to practice in this field.

The new 2026 module structure

CeMAP was restructured for 2025/26. The old single UK Financial Regulation (UKFR) unit was replaced with a two-part Financial Services, Regulation and Ethics (FSRE) module — the same module LIBF uses in its Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA) — sitting alongside the mortgage-specific unit:

UnitCoversFormat
FRE1Industry, Regulation and Key Parties25 MCQs + 3 case studies (5 questions each), 1 hour, 70% pass mark
FRE2Skills, Principles and Ethical Behaviours25 MCQs + 3 case studies (5 questions each), 1 hour, 70% pass mark
MRT1Mortgage Law, Practice and Application50 MCQs, 1 hour, 70% pass mark

The biggest practical change is the case studies: instead of only standalone questions, FRE1 and FRE2 now include short client scenarios with five linked questions each — you need to read and interpret a situation, not just recall a fact.

How and where you sit the exams

All CeMAP exams moved to LIBF's Brightspace platform with remote invigilation, replacing the previous Pearson VUE test-centre model. If you already held passes under the old format, those were automatically carried over to the new FRE1/FRE2/MRT1 structure on 13 January 2026 — the old-format exam could last be sat on 12 January 2026.

Try free CeMAP practice questions

Practice questions across FRE1, FRE2 and MRT1, built around the new case-study format. The full CeMAP course is coming soon — the free practice set is live now.

Try free practice →

Frequently asked questions

What is CeMAP?

The UK's standard entry qualification for mortgage advisers, awarded by LIBF.

What changed in the 2026 CeMAP structure?

UKFR was replaced by the two-part FSRE module (FRE1, FRE2), each now including scenario-based case studies, alongside the mortgage-specific MRT1 unit. Exams moved to Brightspace with remote invigilation.

How many exams does CeMAP have and what is the pass mark?

Three units — FRE1, FRE2, MRT1 — each with a 70% pass mark and roughly a one-hour limit.

Can I still sit the old CeMAP exam format?

No. The old format closed on 12 January 2026; all sittings now use the new FRE1/FRE2/MRT1 structure.

This is general educational information, not regulatory or careers advice. Module structure and exam details summarized from LIBF's published CeMAP updates and third-party exam-prep guides current as of August 2026. For the authoritative syllabus and booking details, check directly with LIBF.