The move follows confirmation that a “meaningful cohort” of advisers still has outstanding study requirements, despite a steady decline in numbers over the past 12 months.
Under the FAS rules, existing advisers who have not completed the mandated qualifications must cease on the Financial Adviser Register (FAR) on or before 31 December 2025. They may return to practice once their required study is finished, but they cannot continue advising beyond the deadline.
With no remaining study periods available in 2025, Kaplan Professional will introduce a six-week New Year Intensive beginning 12 January 2026. The provider will also open its first standard 12-week study period for the year on the same date.
Kaplan Professional CEO Brian Knight said the two January options are intended to support advisers who plan to step off the FAR temporarily and return as soon as their qualifications are completed.
“We have seen strong progress as advisers work towards the FAS education deadline, but there remains a smaller – yet still significant – group who will not finish their study in 2025,” Knight said.
“It is our understanding many of these advisers plan to cease on the FAR at year-end and return as soon as their remaining study is complete.”
Knight said the additional intensive intake reflects the provider’s effort to maintain flexibility during the final stages of the transition period.
“This is now the fourth six-week intensive we have released (on top of our traditional six study periods) … while we have had to move a fair bit around operationally over the past 12 months to make these work, we understand both the personal and professional pressure advisers are under as the deadline approaches,” he said.
According to Knight, offering both the intensive and the standard intake in January is intended to ensure advisers have “every opportunity” to complete their remaining units and re-enter the profession promptly once compliant.
Knight also emphasised the broader industry objective of retaining experienced practitioners.
“The goal is to ensure the profession does not lose advisers simply because they need a little more time,” he said.
“We want advisers to know that even if they must cease on the FAR at the end of 2025, there is a structured way back … and we will be with them every step of the way.”
Enrolments are now open for the six-week New Year Intensive and the standard Study Period 1, both commencing on 12 January 2026.
Advisers who do not complete their qualifications and fail to cease on the FAR by the 31 December deadline will only be able to re-enter the sector as new entrants, subject to the full professional year and exam requirements.
