Education · 1 of 4

The path

Degree, then a dealer hires you and puts you through licensing. Then years of finding clients.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Math, business, economics. Start following markets now.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Business, economics or finance. Job Bank says a bachelor's or master's is usually required.

3. 3

   Get hired by a dealer

   Months of applying

   A bank-owned brokerage or independent firm. Many start as an associate on a team, or in a bank branch with a mutual funds licence.

4. 4

   Licensing and registration

   3 to 12 months

   The CSC (Canadian Securities Course) or the new CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization) exams, the conduct course, a supervised training period, and registration with CIRO and your provincial securities commission.

5. 5

   Build a book

   3 to 5 years

   Find clients, keep them, grow their money. This is the real qualification and it takes years.