CIRE exam cost calculator

How the math works

• CIRO sitting fee: typically $170 CAD per attempt. The fee is paid to CIRO when you book the exam through Fitch Learning. Verify the current fee at the time of booking.
• Fitch Learning prep bundle: $895 to $1,200 CAD depending on the package (basic textbook + question bank vs full premium with video and live Q&A). Numbers from public Fitch pricing as of 2026.
• Employer reimbursement: Canadian financial-services employers commonly reimburse $500 to $2,000 in study stipends per year. Bank trainee programs often reimburse the full Fitch bundle. Some firms require a clawback if you leave within 12 months.
• Resit fee: a failed attempt costs another full sitting fee. The Fitch bundle is usually re-usable, but the prep package's term may have expired. Resits are the largest hidden cost.
• Ciroexam: $29.99 CAD/month or $250 CAD/year (saves $109.88 vs monthly). Includes all 9 CIRO Proficiency Model exams under one subscription, not just the CIRE.

CIRE exam cost — frequently asked questions

How much does the CIRE exam cost in 2026?

The CIRO sitting fee is $170 CAD per attempt. A clean first-attempt pass requires 5 sittings (four foundational modules plus the capstone) for $850 in CIRO fees. Add the CIRO course pack at $500–$700 and a prep platform: Ciroexam at $29.99/month or $249/year, or Fitch's premium prep at $895–$1,200. All-in: $1,440 to $2,245 depending on prep choice.

Is the CIRE exam expensive compared to the CSC?

At base, the CSC bundle ($998–$1,398) is slightly cheaper than the CIRE pathway. After rewrites and extensions the CIRE is cheaper because rewrite fees are lower ($170 vs $300) and there are no extension fees. For most candidates the comparison is moot — CIRO dealer members require the CIRE; the CSC is only accepted at Exempt Market Dealers under NI 31-103 §3.10.

Does my employer pay for the CIRE exam?

Bank-affiliated dealers (RBC Dominion Securities, BMO Nesbitt Burns, CIBC Wood Gundy, Scotia McLeod, TD Wealth) commonly reimburse the full CIRE pathway for new dealing representatives, typically conditional on first-attempt pass or pass within a defined timeframe. Independent broker-dealers vary. Worth confirming with HR before paying out of pocket.

How much does a CIRE rewrite cost?

$170 CAD per rewrite — one CIRO sitting fee per attempt. The CIRO course pack and Fitch prep package are usually re-usable on a rewrite within a reasonable window. The largest hidden cost on a rewrite is lost study time, not the sitting fee.

Are CIRE exam fees tax-deductible in Canada?

Exam fees and study materials for a credential required by your employer in a regulated profession are often deductible against employment income under the CRA's employment-expense rules. Speak with a tax preparer about your specific situation — this depends on whether the CIRE is required for your role and whether you have a signed T2200.

Do newcomers to Canada get a discount on the CIRE?

CIRO and Fitch Learning do not currently publish a newcomer discount on the CIRE sitting fee or course pack. CSI offers a 10% newcomer discount on the legacy CSC and IFIC mutual-funds course, but the CIRE is administered by Fitch Learning under CIRO, not by CSI.

Related reading

• How much does the CIRE exam cost in 2026 (full breakdown) — the long-form companion to this calculator.
• CSC cost vs CIRE cost in 2026 — side-by-side numbers for candidates choosing between pathways.
• I have the CSC — do I need to write the CIRE? — five candidate scenarios that decide whether you owe a CIRE sitting fee at all.
• Canadian Securities Course in 2026: full hub — context on the credential that the CIRE replaced.