CIRO Exam Readiness
Speed to Proficiency, Through Demonstrated Mastery
Launching March 2026
Executive Summary
Edward Jones has set a high bar for licensing outcomes, with approximately 90% first-attempt pass rates across existing providers. Maintaining — and improving — this standard while accelerating time to proficiency is central to your learning mandate.
The Regulatory Shift
CIRO's new proficiency model has fundamentally changed the risk profile of exam preparation for firms. Completion is no longer enough. Progress alone is no longer defensible.
Our CIRO Exam Prep is a readiness-based exam preparation platform built for CIRO proficiency candidates — and the firms responsible for licensing them. Designed as an assessment-first, enterprise-ready solution, it gives firms a clearer signal of when candidates are truly ready to write — before exam booking decisions are made.
Edward Jones is invited to participate in a limited Enterprise Beta Partnership ahead of the March 2026 launch.
The Opportunity: CIRO's Proficiency Shift Has Changed Firm Risk
CIRO's new proficiency model introduces a material shift in how firms must think about exam preparation. Firms are now facing:
- Greater uncertainty around candidate readiness
- Higher cost of delays, retakes, and stalled registration timelines
- Limited visibility into whether candidates are truly prepared before booking exams
Most existing exam prep solutions still measure:
❌ Traditional Metrics
- Time spent
- Lessons completed
- Hours logged
✓ What Actually Matters
- Demonstrated mastery
- Competency readiness
- Evidence of preparedness
These signals feel productive — but they do not confirm proficiency. Our CIRO Exam Prep is designed to reduce this risk.
The Problem: Activity ≠ Readiness
Under a proficiency-based regulatory model:
- Progress is not proof
- Completion is not readiness
- Hope is not a strategy
The Real Cost of Failure
CIRO exam fees add up quickly when candidates aren't ready:
💰 $475
First exam attempt fee
💸 $300
Each retake (2nd and 3rd attempts)
⛔ 6 Months
Mandatory cooling-off period after 3 failures
The Bottom Line
Three failed attempts means a 6-month delay before the candidate can try again — a massive penalty for firms waiting for new advisors to start producing. The problem is not a lack of content. The problem is a lack of verifiable readiness.
✨ The BCC Advantage: Adaptive Learning That Proves Readiness
Our CIRO courses are powered by a platform built for speed to proficiency with concept mastery. The focus is verified exam readiness, not just efficient study paths.
Grounded in learning science and supported by AI, it directs each candidate's effort to the areas that matter most for CIRO exams, reducing wasted time and uncertainty.
🎯 Baseline Assessment
Identifies each learner's starting point. Creates a personalized study plan from day one — no wasted time on what they already know.
🔄 Adaptive Quizzes
Targets weak areas. Resurfaces concepts at strategic intervals for long-term retention. Questions get harder as mastery improves.
📈 Concept Mastery Tracker
Shows exactly where learners stand on each topic. Progress reflects understanding, not time spent.
🏆 ReadyRating™ Score
A predictive measure of exam readiness, weighted to CIRO's exam blueprint. Candidates know when they're truly prepared.
🤖 Riley AI Assistant
24/7 personal tutor. Ask questions, get study recommendations, break down complex concepts. Always available.
👩🏫 Expert Support
Real human experts via email plus regular open office hours. AI-assisted learning backed by people who know the material.
✅ Pass Guarantee
When a candidate reaches ReadyRating 5, we guarantee they're exam-ready. If they don't pass, we support them until they do.
Built to Confirm Concept Mastery
BCC's adaptive learning platform is designed to confirm exam readiness, not just personalize study paths. Grounded in learning science and supported by AI, it directs each candidate's effort to the areas that matter most for CIRO exams.
ReadyRating™ Score
A predictive, evidence-based readiness score weighted directly to the CIRO exam blueprint. The ReadyRating provides:
- A clear signal of exam readiness
- A defensible indicator of pass probability
- Shared visibility for learners, coaches, and firm leaders
This enables Edward Jones to maintain close oversight of learner progress and readiness — aligning with your existing high-support, high-accountability model.
This replaces guesswork with evidence.
🛡️ Pass Guarantee (Readiness-Backed)
If a candidate reaches a ReadyRating™ of 5 and does not pass their CIRO exam on the first attempt, their exam prep tuition is refunded.
This guarantee aligns incentives between learner, firm, and provider — and ensures candidates test only when mastery has been demonstrated. It's a model we are willing to stand behind financially.
Speed to Proficiency — Without Wasted Time
CIRO Exam Prep does not push candidates through content faster. It removes wasted effort.
Because the platform:
- Skips concepts already mastered
- Prioritizes high-risk exam areas
- Continuously refines focus
Candidates spend time where it matters most.
For firms, this means:
- Faster, more predictable time to licensing
- Reduced first-attempt failure risk
- Less remediation and rework
Speed becomes a result of precision, not pressure.
Enterprise Beta Partnership
We are inviting a small group of CIRO member firms to participate in an Enterprise Beta Partnership ahead of the March 2026 launch.
This beta is structured as a collaborative partnership, not a product trial — designed to help shape firm-level exam readiness in a proficiency-based regulatory environment.
Beta Participation Includes
- Invite-only access for up to 5 CIRO candidates per firm
- No cost during the beta period
- Direct input into firm-facing oversight and reporting features
- Priority onboarding at public launch
- Locked-in 25% enterprise pricing for participating firms
Initial Focus: CIRE Exam
The Enterprise Beta will launch with a focused scope on the Canadian Investment Regulatory Exam (CIRE). This allows firms to validate readiness signals in a real CIRO exam environment before broader rollout. Additional CIRO exams are planned following launch.
Early Success Signals
Our adaptive learning platform launched in December 2025 within our real estate school. While the cohort size is intentionally small, early indicators are promising:
We are cautious not to over-claim on early data. Instead, we view these results as strong initial validation of a readiness-based, mastery-first model.
Importantly, this platform was designed to support — not replace — firm-led coaching and learner support. The goal is to give learning leaders clearer signals so interventions happen before exam failure, not after.
We believe this model is well aligned with Edward Jones' emphasis on speed to proficiency, high-touch learner support, and consistently strong first-attempt pass rates.
Why Business Career College
While CIRO Exam Prep is new, Business Career College is not.
BCC is a nationally recognized provider of professional licensing, certification, and continuing education for Canada's financial services and insurance industries. For more than 25 years, BCC has partnered with individuals and enterprise organizations to deliver learning that meets regulatory standards, accelerates time to proficiency, and supports long-term professional excellence.
Our focus has always been the same: high-stakes credentials require disciplined instruction, credible assessment, and outcomes that stand up to scrutiny.
Proven Track Record
Our refreshed LLQP program demonstrates measurable outcomes in a high-stakes credential environment:
These outcomes reflect disciplined instructional design, assessment-driven learning, and a deep understanding of regulatory expectations.
BCC's Full Program Portfolio
CIRO Exam Prep is part of a broader, integrated learning ecosystem designed to support professionals across their full licensing and career lifecycle.
🎯 CIRO Exam Prep (9 Exams)
Comprehensive exam preparation for all CIRO proficiency exams, powered by our adaptive learning platform.
- Canadian Investment Regulatory Exam (CIRE)
- Retail Securities Exam (RSE)
- Institutional Securities Exam (ISE)
- Supervisor Exam
- Derivatives Exam
- Director and Executive Exam
- Chief Compliance Officer Exam
- Chief Financial Officer Exam
- Trader Exam
Life License Qualification Program (LLQP)
A nationally trusted licensing pathway for Life Insurance and Accident & Sickness certification.
- Fully online, self-paced delivery
- Accredited and regulator-aligned
- Proven learner outcomes
CFP® / QAFP® Exam Preparation
Comprehensive exam prep programs designed to build both technical mastery and exam confidence.
- Structured study plans and mock exams
- Expert-led instruction and support
- Proven performance nationally
With our newly developed adaptive learning platform, in 2026 BCC plans to convert the rest of our current offerings and additional programs onto it — creating a consistent experience for learners and becoming their chosen partner throughout their career in finance.
Enterprise Solutions: Built for Scale and Oversight
BCC's Enterprise Solutions are designed to support firm-wide learning, licensing, and compliance needs — not just individual learners.
🏪 Branded Partner Storefronts
Co-branded, user-friendly learning hubs with centralized access and simplified purchasing.
📊 Training Dashboards
Visibility across learner progress, cohort-based onboarding, and early identification of risk areas.
👨🏫 Live Instructor-Led Training
Expert-led licensing and exam prep delivery with real-time coaching and flexible formats.
💰 Scalable Pricing
Volume-based discounts (up to 60% off standard rates) with enterprise-friendly structures.
🤝 Strategic Guidance
Dedicated partner success management, quarterly reporting, and ongoing guidance.
🔗 Integrated Ecosystem
CIRO Exam Prep integrates directly into this enterprise framework for visible, manageable, scalable readiness.
Why This Matters Now
CIRO has already raised the bar. Firms that continue relying on activity-based prep will:
- Absorb unnecessary failures
- Delay advisor onboarding
- Carry avoidable compliance exposure
Firms that adopt verified readiness gain:
- Predictability
- Defensibility
- Confidence before exam day
Proposed Next Step: Hands-On Evaluation
We recognize that for Edward Jones, confidence comes from direct experience. As a next step, we propose:
- Hands-on access for learning leadership to experience the platform from a learner and oversight perspective
- A focused review of readiness signals, dashboards, and coaching visibility
- A discussion on how CIRO Exam Prep could complement your existing learner support model
If there is mutual alignment, we can then outline a small, controlled Enterprise Beta for candidate allowables.
Ready to Explore the Beta?
If your organization is interested in participating in the CIRO Enterprise Beta, we would welcome a brief discussion.
Contact
Business Career College
by We Know Training (WKT)
1-519-851-6099