The CySEC Basic certification is required for professionals in Cyprus performing reception and transmission of client orders, execution of orders, and marketing of collective investment schemes. This guide covers the exam format, the 8-chapter syllabus, and how to prepare effectively.
The full curriculum the Basic exam draws from, in order.
Scope, powers, and offences under the Law regulating investment services in Cyprus.
Licensing, authorisation, and operational obligations of CIFs (heaviest chapter: ~12 questions).
Application of investment services rules to credit institutions.
Transparency and reporting obligations under MiFID II.
Market abuse prevention under the 2016 Regulation (~8 questions).
UCITS fund regulation under the 2012–2016 laws.
Rules for Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and their managers.
Prevention and suppression of money laundering.
The Basic certification covers 8 chapters and 50 questions in 60 minutes. The Advanced covers all 14 chapters with 70 questions in 90 minutes. Basic is sufficient for roles involving reception/transmission of orders and execution only. If your role includes portfolio management, investment advice, or dealing on own account, you need the Advanced certification.
See full comparison →Five practical tips that separate first-time passes from retakes.
Cypriot Investment Firms (~12 questions) and Insider Dealing & Market Manipulation (~8 questions) together account for a large share of the exam. Mastering them first gives you the highest return on study time.
Answering questions while the material is fresh exposes gaps early, when they are cheap to fix — rather than the night before the exam.
The passing mark is 70%, but exam-day nerves and unfamiliar phrasing eat into your score. A consistent 90% in practice gives you real margin.
CySEC rotates its question bank. Memorising wording does not transfer; understanding why a rule exists and how it applies does.
A hint that explains the reasoning behind the correct option turns every practice question into a short lesson — so you learn the concept, not the answer key.
ExamPass CY covers all 8 chapters of the CySEC Basic syllabus — chapter-by-chapter practice, AI hints, and mock exams under real exam conditions.