Frequently Asked Questions
IAA Level 1 Course
No. You cannot sit the IAA competence assessment independently. The assessment is only scheduled as part of a formal application for registration with the IAA. Candidates are invited to sit the assessment only after their application has been received, their DBS check has been completed, and their New Adviser competence statement meets the required standards.
There is no standalone "pre-registration exam" option — the assessment and the registration process run together.
The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), formerly the OISC, is the statutory regulator for immigration advisers in the UK. Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, providing immigration advice or services without being regulated is a criminal offence punishable by up to two years imprisonment and/or a fine.
The IAA regulates over 3,800 individual immigration advisers and over 2,000 organisations, assessing and registering those who wish to become immigration advisers, and auditing them to ensure standards are maintained.
The course and registration is open to both legal and non-legal professionals, including career changers and aspiring immigration advisers. Key eligibility conditions include:
- Be a British Citizen, EEA national, or have permission to work in the UK
- Have at least 18 months' visa validity remaining at the time of IAA application
- Be fit to be an adviser (as assessed by the IAA)
- Complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- Submit a New Adviser competence statement demonstrating relevant experience and training
You may work as a trainee immigration adviser under supervision while preparing for or awaiting your IAA Level 1 registration. However, you cannot provide immigration advice independently until you receive your official IAA registration number.
Even trainees under supervision must still register with the IAA — supervision allows individuals to work up to Level 1 without full registration, but a supervision plan must be approved before supervision begins.
The Level 1 assessment has two sections and must both be passed to pass overall:
- Section 1: 20 multiple choice questions
- Section 2: Scenario-based questions requiring written answers
The total duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes with no break between sections. You should allocate roughly half your time to each section.
Yes — the assessment is open book. You may use any hard copy books, immigration handbooks, periodicals, case law references, or paper notes during the test. These must be within reach of your computer, as you cannot leave the camera's view.
An official IAA exam resource booklet is also provided digitally within the exam environment. This booklet contains the statutory material, rules, and regulations relevant to the exam and can be printed in advance if you prefer a paper copy.
- Permitted: Hard copy books, notes, printed IAA resource booklet
- Not permitted: The internet or any online resources (except the IAA exam resource book which is available within the exam platform)
The assessment is conducted via proctoring software which records you through your webcam for the duration of the exam. Normal exam conditions apply.
Before the exam day, all candidates must complete an onboarding process approximately two weeks in advance. This includes:
- Verifying your photo ID (current passport or driving licence) online
- Downloading and testing the required software
- Completing a practice assessment to familiarise yourself with the system
On exam day, registration opens at 9:30 am and your assessment must begin between 9:30 am and 10:00 am. You will log in with a unique exam code provided in your invitation email.
No — candidates are not permitted to choose their preferred assessment date. The IAA schedules assessments in advance and applicants must attend the next available exam following submission of their application for registration.
Deferrals are only granted in exceptional circumstances with documentary evidence and must be agreed by your IAA caseworker. Failure to sit the exam without a granted deferral will be recorded as a failure for non-attendance and could lead to refusal of your application.
If you fail the Level 1 assessment, your application for registration will be refused. You will not be permitted to re-sit as part of the same application.
To re-apply you must:
- Wait at least 4 weeks after receiving the application decision
- Complete additional training and submit evidence of this with your new application
- Pay a new application fee
Applications re-submitted without evidence of additional training will be refused. Results are communicated by email within 20 working days of sitting the assessment.
- Basic applications for entry clearance, leave to enter or remain in the UK
- Applications for Administrative Review (except those refused on credibility grounds or fundamental document/relationship issues)
- Straightforward applications to vary conditions attached to leave already granted, including bail conditions granted by the Secretary of State
- Lodging notices of appeal or substantive appeals work before courts or tribunals
- Representations for illegal entrants or overstayers
- Applications for release from detention or to prevent removal/deportation
- Judicial Review
Level 1 – Advice and Assistance: Simple cases only — e.g. straightforward visa extension where all documents are in order. Can advise on entry clearance, leave to enter/remain, nationality, citizenship, EU/EEA law.
Level 2 – Casework: Everything Level 1 can do, plus more complex cases: asylum and human rights applications, administrative reviews, cases involving overstayers or illegal entrants, and removal/deportation scenarios.
Level 3 – Advocacy and Representation: Everything Levels 1 and 2 can do, plus the ability to appear on behalf of a client at an immigration tribunal and provide court assistance in certain circumstances.
All assessments are held online. Registration opens at 9:30 am on the day and you must begin between 9:30 am and 10:00 am.
| Package | What's Included | LCI Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Training Course Only | Hard copy book, chapter-wise MCQs, sample templates, 1-to-1 tutor sessions (2 × 30 min) | £299 |
| Firm Registration Support | Company House registration, business insurance guidance, bank account guidance, DBS support, full IAA required documents A–Z | £899 |
| Exam Preparation | Hard copy book, MCQs, sample templates, tutor sessions, 1-hour mock test (Zoom) | £199 |
| Full Package (Training + Registration) | Everything above plus live Zoom classes, LCI extended support, all IAA required documents | £1,100 |
In addition to your LCI course fee, you will need to budget for the following costs paid directly to third parties:
| Item | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|
| IAA Firm / Exam Registration Fee | £733 |
| Companies House Registration | £100 |
| Business Insurance | ~£12/month |
| Enhanced DBS Check | £45–£75 |
| Total Estimated Cost (Full Package) | ~£2,100 |
No. Passing the competence test is only one factor the IAA considers. You must wait for formal authorisation from the IAA — in the form of a registration number — before providing any immigration advice or services.
The IAA will continue to review your full application (including fitness to practise) and will notify you of the outcome once all checks are complete.
Most people who need to register with the IAA will also need to sit the competence assessment. There are limited exemptions:
- Law Society IAAS Senior Caseworkers and Supervising Senior Caseworkers are exempt from the Asylum and Protection category assessment only. They are not exempt from the Immigration category.
- Trainee advisers working under an approved supervision plan do not need to sit an assessment while supervised, but they must still register with the IAA.
For the vast majority of aspiring advisers — including all LCI students — the assessment is required.