CIM (Chartered Investment Manager)
The Canadian-domiciled portfolio-manager credential explicitly recognized by CIRO for discretionary trading authority. Stronger Canadian regulatory fit than CFA for IIROC PM registration. Often pursued in parallel with CFA at Canadian asset managers.
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Visit Official Site →Founded
1989
HQ
Toronto, ON, Canada
Target Audience
Canadian portfolio managers and advising representatives operating under discretionary authority (managed accounts, IIROC/CIRO portfolio-manager category).
Key Features
- 3-course pathway: Canadian Securities Course (CSC) + Investment Management Techniques (IMT) + Portfolio Management Techniques (PMT)
- Each course ends in proctored exam (~70% passing score)
- Curriculum: portfolio construction, ethics, fixed income, equity analysis, alternative investments, behavioral finance, risk management
- Approved by CIRO and provincial securities commissions for Portfolio Manager / Associate Portfolio Manager proficiency
- Recognized for discretionary management authority under NI 31-103
- ~12,000+ CIM holders in Canada (CSI 2024)
How to Get This Certification
Prerequisites
No specific prerequisite to start CSC. CIM designation requires 2 years of relevant industry experience.
Why Get Certified — ROI
Salary Impact
Canadian CIM holders managing discretionary portfolios earn CAD 20,000–CAD 60,000 premium versus non-discretionary advisors (Hays Canada 2024). Median CIM-credentialed portfolio manager total comp: CAD 120,000–CAD 195,000.
Career Benefits
- What makes this stand out
- The Canadian-domiciled portfolio-manager credential explicitly recognized by CIRO for discretionary trading authority. Stronger Canadian regulatory fit than CFA for IIROC PM registration. Often pursued in parallel with CFA at Canadian asset managers.
- Industry recognition
- CSI proprietary; approved by CIRO and provincial securities commissions for Portfolio Manager proficiency.
Who Should Get This Certification
Ideal for:
- Canadian portfolio managers and advising representatives operating under discretionary authority (managed accounts
- IIROC/CIRO portfolio-manager category).
Consider alternatives if:
- Canada-only recognition — does not transfer internationally
- Less depth/prestige than CFA at top-tier asset managers (CFA is the resume signal; CIM is the regulatory unlock)
Pricing
Pricing varies.
Weaknesses
- Canada-only recognition — does not transfer internationally
- Less depth/prestige than CFA at top-tier asset managers (CFA is the resume signal; CIM is the regulatory unlock)
- Locked into CSI as education provider — no competition keeps pricing high
- CSC content overlaps heavily with QAFP/Series 7 — feels redundant for career-changers from other regimes
Markets Served
Canada
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links.
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