In the first of a series of article from BTS for Professional Paraplanner, looking at the individual CII exams, Natalie Dawes, considers the R01: Regulation and Ethics exam, and offers some advice for those undertaking the exam this year.
Main image: Natalie presenting at the Professional Paraplanner Technical Insight Seminar in Southampton. You can see Natalie and members of the BTS team at our 2025 Seminars around the country – find out more HERE.
Anyone who knows me, knows I absolutely love R01, I even have a t-shirt that says ‘I love R01’ on it. I’m not shy in admitting such things and I say admit, because I also am not shy in saying that I know I’m in a bit of a minority with my fondness of this unit.
I get that not everyone shares my enthusiasm, and in fact many feel the polar opposite. I hope this article will help to ignite a little of the fondness that I have, or at the very least more of a ‘marmite’, love-hate situation.
Whether you’re gearing up to sit the exam or just starting your preparation, here are three things to help you approach the CII R01 Regulation and Ethics unit, with the right mindset and tools to succeed.
1. Don’t let others’ opinions influence you.
My first, vital piece of advice is to stop listening to everyone telling you how awful R01 is. Sure, there may be some frustrations from learners who’ve struggled with it, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have the same experience. Your experience with study is your own and that is irrelevant of which unit you are working towards.
Just because Dave in the office said that R01 isn’t the most scintillating of subjects, doesn’t mean you need to head on into the unit thinking that’s what you’re in for – at least make that decision for yourself!
2. Approach not with caution but with an open mind.
This leads on from my first point. Approaching a unit of study with caution, is immediately setting off on the wrong foot and potentially setting you up for a rocky ride. Instead, try to approach with an open mind and with curiosity. Think of R01 as the unit that provides clarity around why we do things in the industry, the way we do them today.
Confession: I hated history when I was at school. R01 is a little like a history lesson, so some might say that it doesn’t make an awful lot of sense that I am as fond as I am. The difference is that I am passionate about our industry and if you are working towards the R0s, there will be a part of you that is as well.
Having a deeper understanding of where all the rules (so many of them!) and regulations come from, can make the content much more engaging and relatable, perhaps even enjoyable?! Mindset is everything – which of course is the point I am making here.
3. Source materials that work for you.
This was the BIGGEST mistake that I made when I was working towards my L4 Diploma a few years ago. I had no idea that I had choice in the materials that I used to study. It made my learning so much harder than it needed to be and at times, stressful. This comes back to a point I made earlier around your studies being your own, and the materials you use should be fit for purpose when it comes to your learning style.
With content such as R01 that has a bit of a rep for being somewhat dry, it is all the more important to get the materials in front of you right, in order to make the learning a much nicer experience.
Fully appreciate I write this from a biased position, in that I strongly believe in how BTS go about supporting learners through the CII exams. However, the important message here for me to put across is that you do have choice – so ensure you figure out what is right for you.
Let’s get you ‘been there and done that’ for R01 – with the t-shirt being optional!
I will continue to wear my I love R01 t-shirt (proudly, might I add) and give this unit the positivity that it deserves. I will also continue sitting the R01 exam on a regular basis, to ensure that I stay as close to the content and exam structure as I can. Nothin’ like putting yourself through the very thing that you endeavour to support others in. It certainly allows me to say, that I really have been there, done that and got the t-shirt.
About BTS
Bespoke Training Solutions, a Davies Company, have been supporting regulated exams for over 20 years. Known as ‘the exam experts’ within the industry, BTS provide support for the CII regulated exams by way of study guides, e-learning resources, and workshops for L3, L4 & L6 units. You can learn by visiting https://www.bespoketrainingsolutions.com
You can also visit https://www.bespoketrainingsolutions.com and check out the BTS Careers Zone for study plans, answers to exam FAQs and lots more to support your journey.
