On 25 September the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) published new syllabuses for its Level 1-3 competence assessments and confirmed that testing will not resume until November 2026 while the changes bed in. The revisions mark a shift from knowledge-based multiple-choice exams to scenario-driven evaluations of practical skills, supported by whitelisted online resources instead of the traditional resource book. The IAA says the overhaul is aimed at ensuring advisers can apply law and policy in real-world casework, particularly important given the pace of recent rule changes. Key alterations include mandatory assessment at the start of the registration journey, an expanded Professional Code of Standards and new pass-mark calibration. For in-house mobility teams that use external advisers – or maintain OISC-regulated staff – the hiatus means no new entrants to the regulated sector for at least six weeks. Firms should verify that existing advisers’ registrations remain current and may need to adjust onboarding timelines for junior caseworkers. Training providers have already launched courses aligned to the new format. Companies sponsoring staff under the Skilled Worker route should expect adviser capacity to tighten temporarily, potentially lengthening lead-times for complex applications such as Global Business Mobility–Senior or Specialist Worker visas. Longer-term, higher professional standards should reduce application error rates, benefiting employers through smoother processing and fewer compliance headaches.
Source: HJT Training
