How to Choose a Legitimate RE5 or RE1 Training Provider in South Africa
Before you pay anyone for RE5 or RE1 preparation, use this practical checklist to find out what you are actually buying, who is behind it, whether the material is current, and what support you can expect.
Use it to check any RE5 training provider, including RE5 Online. A good provider should not be afraid of sensible questions before payment.
One important thing to know before you compare RE training providers
Searching for RE5 or RE1 training can become confusing very quickly. Everybody seems to have the best course, the latest material and a convincing reason why you should pay today. Before comparing promises, start with one fact that many candidates do not know.
RE training providers are not “FSCA-accredited” or “FSCA-approved”.
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority states that providers offering regulatory examination preparation are not accredited or approved by the FSCA because the FSCA does not have the mandate or authority to approve RE training providers.
That does not mean there are no good training providers. It means you should judge a provider using evidence such as transparency, current material, facilitator experience, support, course terms and independent reviews rather than an accreditation claim that does not exist.
Official source: FSCA Regulatory Examinations FAQ
Check the business
Find out who operates it, how to contact them and whether important information is easy to verify.
Check the preparation
Look at the material, facilitator, learning structure, support, mock exams and readiness process.
Check the evidence
Read real reviews, terms and guarantees before relying on marketing claims made by the provider itself.
RE Training Provider Trust Check
Thinking of paying an RE5 or RE1 provider? Answer all 12 questions. This does not certify or approve a provider. It simply shows where you may still need answers before spending your money.
What the 12 checks actually mean
A provider does not need the fanciest website in South Africa to be credible. But you should be able to get sensible answers to sensible questions.
Can you identify who is behind the provider?
You should be able to work out who you are actually paying. Look for a business or trading name, useful contact information and identifiable people behind the organisation.
Do they avoid misleading FSCA accreditation claims?
The FSCA states that RE preparation providers are not accredited or approved by the FSCA. A responsible provider should understand and explain that distinction.
A business can be experienced and very good at preparing candidates without pretending that the regulator formally accredits its RE course.
Can they show that their material is current?
Regulatory requirements change. Ask when the material was last updated and look for an edition or version date.
The FSCA itself warns candidates about workshop content that has not been updated with legislative amendments.
Is the training aligned with the examination framework?
RE1 and RE5 are regulatory examinations. Preparation should be structured around the relevant qualifying criteria, legislation, codes and regulatory requirements.
Ask the provider what its material is based on and how the course connects the study content to the exam framework.
Who is actually teaching you?
A beautiful course page cannot answer a difficult question in class. The person teaching matters.
The FSCA warns about facilitators with insufficient or outdated knowledge and expertise. Find out who teaches the course and whether that person can explain application, not merely read presentation slides.
Do they distinguish training from the official exam?
A training provider prepares you. Completing a private training course does not automatically mean you have passed the official regulatory examination.
Be cautious if marketing makes it sound as though purchasing a training package itself results in an official RE certificate.
Are mock exams being used properly?
Mock exams can help identify weak areas, test application and improve question-reading technique. They should not replace proper studying.
The FSCA specifically cautions about sub-standard mock questions that can produce high scores without preparing candidates to the required standard.
Is there a proper readiness process?
“The classes are finished. Go book” should not be the entire readiness strategy.
Preparation and readiness are not the same thing. A useful process may include revision, study targets, performance review, readiness checks or individual feedback before the learner proceeds to the official exam.
What happens after you have paid?
Find out what “support” actually means before registering. Can you ask questions? Who answers them? How long does access last? Are recordings included? What happens if you struggle?
There is a meaningful difference between access to content and access to support.
Is it completely clear what you are paying for?
Before paying, check the classes, material, learning platform, mock exams, support, access period and whether the official examination fee is separate.
You should not need an advanced degree in archaeology to uncover what your payment actually includes.
If there is a guarantee, can you read the conditions first?
The word “GUARANTEE” in enormous letters is not enough. You should be able to see what is covered, which products qualify and what the learner must do.
Attendance, study, task results, readiness requirements or writing periods may form part of legitimate guarantee terms. Read them before paying.
Can you find independent evidence from real students?
Website testimonials can be useful, but they are selected by the business itself. Search beyond them.
Read recent and older reviews. Look at what people actually describe. Do they mention the classes, support, material, staff members and the preparation experience?
RE5 and RE1 training claims worth investigating
A red flag is not an automatic legal finding that a provider is illegitimate. It is a reason to stop, ask questions and verify the claim before paying.
Claims that the RE preparation provider or course is “FSCA-accredited” or “FSCA-approved”.
Promising an official RE certificate simply because you purchase or complete the provider's training.
Advertising alleged leaked, remembered or “actual exam questions” as the preparation strategy.
Study notes with no clear date, version or explanation of how regulatory changes are incorporated.
No meaningful information about the facilitator who will actually teach the course.
Important access periods, refund conditions or guarantee terms only appearing after payment.
Encouraging candidates to book quickly without any meaningful consideration of their preparation or readiness.
Very high practice scores being treated as proof of readiness without reviewing whether the questions themselves are appropriate.
Price alone proves very little.
An expensive course can be poor. A reasonably priced course can be excellent. Judge the substance of the preparation, the transparency of the provider and whether the option genuinely suits your needs.
What should a good RE training provider actually help you do?
A provider cannot study on your behalf. Frankly, that would be a lovely product. Technology has not delivered it yet.
What a provider can do is make the preparation process clearer. You should understand what you need to study, how the regulatory concepts connect, where your weaknesses are, how questions test application and what you should do next.
Move from: “I have read the material.”
To: “I understand the rule, I know who it applies to, and I can apply it to a question.”
How does RE5 Online measure against this checklist?
A comparison guide would be rather pointless if the company publishing it mysteriously exempted itself. Please apply the same 12 checks to RE5 Online.
Are we FSCA-accredited?
No. RE5 Online is an independent regulatory exam preparation provider. We do not claim that our RE training is FSCA-accredited or FSCA-approved.
Is our material maintained?
Our current resources identify the applicable year or edition and are maintained for the current examination environment.
Do we distinguish training from the exam?
Yes. RE5 Online prepares candidates. Completing our training does not itself issue an official regulatory exam certificate.
Do we offer different preparation routes?
Yes. Options include study material, online learning, live webinars, workshops and additional support pathways.
How do we use mock exams?
As practice and diagnostic tools. They help identify weak areas and should be used together with proper study and review.
Do we have a readiness process?
Yes. Our process combines structured study, practice, feedback and readiness checks before students are encouraged to write.
Is support part of our class options?
Yes. Support continues beyond simply issuing login details. Exact inclusions depend on the preparation option selected.
Does every RE5 Online option carry a guarantee?
No. Our Exam Pass Money-Back Guarantee applies to qualifying class options and is subject to published terms and requirements.
Don't choose RE5 Online because this page tells you to.
Check us. Read our terms. View our material. Look at independent reviews. Ask awkward questions. Compare what is included.
Then decide whether RE5 Online is the right preparation provider for you.
Questions people ask before choosing RE5 or RE1 training
The questions most candidates really want answered before deciding where to spend their time and money.
Are RE5 training providers accredited by the FSCA?
No. The FSCA states that regulatory exam preparation training providers are not accredited or approved by the FSCA because the FSCA does not have the mandate or authority to approve them.
How do I know whether an RE5 training provider is credible?
Check the provider's identity, contact details, current study material, facilitator experience, regulatory claims, course inclusions, learner support, readiness process, independent reviews and terms. The 12-point checklist above is designed to make that easier.
Does completing an RE5 course give me my official RE5 certificate?
No. A preparation course helps you prepare for the regulatory examination. You must still successfully complete the official examination process.
Can I prepare for RE5 by doing mock exams only?
You should not rely on mock exams alone. Practice questions can test understanding and identify weak areas, but candidates still need to study the relevant regulatory content and understand how it applies.
How can I tell whether RE5 study material is outdated?
Look for an edition or update date and ask the provider how legislative or regulatory amendments are incorporated. Be cautious about undated notes circulating online.
Does a high mock-exam score mean I am definitely ready?
No. A mock result is one indicator. Question quality, understanding, consistency, application and exam technique also matter. Reviewing why answers were correct or incorrect is more useful than collecting percentages.
Is the cheapest RE5 course automatically a bad course?
No. Price alone tells you very little about quality. Compare what is included, the currency of the material, support, access period, facilitation and the provider's overall track record.
Is the most expensive RE5 course automatically the best?
Also no. A spectacular invoice is not a regulatory qualification. Choose the level of structure and support that actually suits your learning needs.
Should an RE5 provider promise that I cannot fail?
Be careful with absolute claims. A provider can offer a contractual money-back guarantee subject to published conditions, but the learner must still prepare properly and write the official examination.
What should I do if I have already failed RE5?
Before simply booking again, identify why marks were lost. The problem may involve a knowledge gap, outdated material, weak application, poor question-reading technique, role-player confusion or insufficient preparation. A failed attempt gives you useful information if you review it properly.
Should I choose self-study or live RE5 classes?
It depends on how you learn. A disciplined learner who understands the regulatory material well may be comfortable studying independently. Someone who struggles with the legislation, has failed before or needs accountability may benefit from structured live support.
What should I ask a provider before paying?
Ask what is included, who teaches the course, how current the material is, how long access lasts, what support is provided, whether the official exam fee is separate, how mock exams are used, and whether any guarantee has published conditions.
Sources used for this guide
Where we refer to the regulator's position, we want you to be able to check it yourself. RE5 Online's recommendations are kept separate from official regulatory information.
View the FSCA source
View FSCA Fit and Proper resources
View the RE5 Online preparation guide
Check the provider. Check the material. Ask the questions.
You are preparing for an examination that affects your progress in the financial-services industry. Take a few minutes to verify what you are buying before you pay for it.