Stage 1 · Learn
Foundations
Learn the framework
- Principal audience
- Student Affiliates, graduates, career entrants, operations/support staff
- Award family
- Foundation Certificates
- AI position
- Mainly unaided baseline
CAPABILITY ARCHITECTURE
Six stages of progressive professional capability.
The curriculum moves from learning and applying the framework to deciding, defending, leading and reviewing professional systems.
- Stage 1LearnFoundations
- Stage 2ApplyApplied Practice
- Stage 3DecideProfessional Judgement
- Stage 4DefendSpecialist Professional Practice
- Stage 5LeadStrategic Practice
- Stage 6ReviewExpert Review
Stage 2 · Apply
Applied Practice
Apply the framework
- Principal audience
- Analysts, KYC/KYB staff, junior compliance, operations, risk support
- Award family
- Applied Professional Certificates
- AI position
- Limited / declared AI
Stage 3 · Decide
Professional Judgement
Exercise professional judgement
- Principal audience
- Compliance Officers, AML analysts, managers, advisers, legal/risk practitioners
- Award family
- Professional Certificates
- AI position
- Unaided Gate + declared AI exercises
Stage 4 · Defend
Specialist Professional Practice
Demonstrate specialist professional competence
- Principal audience
- Experienced practitioners and specialist managers
- Award family
- RMCA / FDRC / PSCR Professional Diplomas†
- AI position
- AI challenge and verification
Stage 5 · Lead
Strategic Practice
Lead and defend institutional decisions
- Principal audience
- MLRO/DMLRO, Heads of Compliance, senior lawyers, risk leaders, directors
- Award family
- Advanced Professional Diplomas†
- AI position
- AI permitted or deliberately required
Stage 6 · Review
Expert Review
Review, challenge and redesign professional systems
- Principal audience
- Senior reviewers, consultants, regulatory specialists, senior governance practitioners
- Award family
- RMCA Expert Practice Award†
- AI position
- AI-augmented work expected; professional remains fully accountable
Level language
Capability stages, not qualification levels.
These are RMCA capability stages. They are not RQF, EQF, FHEQ, NQF, academic or national qualification levels.
Stage 1 distinguishes Foundation Certificates from the Foundation Award; Stage 2 distinguishes Applied Professional Certificates from the Applied Professional Award. Stage 3 remains the professional-judgement benchmark. Stage 6 combines Expert Review capability with the RMCA Expert Practice Award†.
Curriculum in development. Enrolment is not yet open.