The Institute of Financial Services has unveiled a universal gap-filling tool for financial advisers who hold any of the FSA’s approved Level 4 transitional qualifications, including qualifications from other awarding bodies.

As with its recently announced online SPS service, the universal gap-filling tool is available to both members and non-members.

The gap-fill tool extends the suite of RDR related services on offer from the Institute, with Level 4 qualifications such as the Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA) and SPS.

The tool enables advisers to identify topics where they need to update or gain new knowledge and provides focussed learning to address the knowledge gaps. The tool also provides confirmation, through testing, that the knowledge has been attained.

In line with other elements of the RDR suite, the tool is available online.

Anne Kiem , chief executive at the Institute of Financial Services, said: “I’ve been travelling the country over the last few weeks talking to advisers about the RDR and how it affects them. Gap-fill or qualification top-up is something which comes up again and again.