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CMA Level 3 Award in Generalist Debt Advice

  1. Description of the programme
  2. What are the outcomes?

Description of the programme

The “CMA Level 3 Award in Generalist Debt Advice” requires attendance at three separate training days which must be completed in sequence:

Part 1 Contents:

  • Causes and Effects of Debt
  • Vulnerability, Debt & Mental Health
  • The Debt Advice Process
  • First Interview and Factfinder
  • Recognising Emergency Situations
  • Maximising Income and Minimising Expenditure
  • Identifying Creditors / Credit Reports
  • Establishing Liability for Debt
  • Homework and Next Steps

Part 2 Contents:

  • Factfinder Case Study and Standard Financial Statement
  • Debt Resolution Options and Strategies
  • Priority and Non-priority Debts
  • Creditors – Contact and Negotiation
  • Administration and Client Casework
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Court System – the Basics
  • Post-judgment Options for Debt Enforcement
  • Signposting and Referrals
  • Next Steps

Part 3 Contents:

  • Tackling Problem Cases
  • Negative Financial Statements
  • Negotiating with Difficult Creditors
  • Creditor Options for Debt Enforcement
  • Emergency Situations
  • Enforcement Agents (Bailiffs)
  • Debt Relief Orders
  • Next Steps

Pre Requisite Learning / Pathway / Accreditation for Prior Learning

There is no pre-requisite learning required to enrol onto the CMA Level 3 Award as it is designed to take someone in a position of no knowledge of debt advice, to being a fully trained debt adviser, completing MaPS Accredited Training to Advice Level.

Individual Certification

Those booking onto the “CMA Level 3 Award in Generalist Debt Advice” will attend three separate training days in sequence with a test after the second training day and another test after the third training day. Both tests require a 75% pass mark and after the final test has been successfully passed, a certificate of accredited training is provided electronically which can be saved or printed. All results are recorded on CMA systems.

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What are the outcomes?

This course is accredited to Advice Work level only. Advice activity will involve an adviser diagnosing the client's problem(s), giving information and explaining options and helping the client decide between options.  The provision of information alone is not advice. Advice can include some action such as referral to another organisation, identifying options and next steps, giving assistance such as form filling and contacting third parties for information.  There is no rule about the maximum number of client contacts.

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