What is a securities licence for, and does it raise your pay?

A securities licence lets you carry on regulated activities, such as dealing in or advising on securities, for clients. You cannot hold it on your own: you need a licensed firm, or a bank, to apply with you. There is no published data showing a pay premium for holding a licence, but the roles that require one do have published pay ranges, set out below.

What the licence lets you do

The SFC divides regulated activities into types. The ones most front-line staff meet are:

• Type 1: dealing in securities
• Type 4: advising on securities
• Type 8: securities margin financing
• Type 9: asset management

Others include dealing in futures contracts (Type 2), leveraged foreign exchange trading (Type 3) and advising on corporate finance (Type 6).

A licence is tied to an employer. A licensed representative carries on regulated activities for the licensed corporation they are accredited to. The application is made jointly by you and that corporation, which verifies and endorses it, and the SFC deals with the corporation rather than with you. If you leave, your old firm must tell the SFC within 7 business days, and you can apply to transfer your accreditation to a new firm within 180 days.

Banks work differently. A bank registered with the SFC is a "registered institution". Its staff who carry on regulated activities are "relevant individuals". They are not licensed by the SFC; the bank enters their details on a register kept by the HKMA. They must still meet the same competence requirements as licensed representatives.

Which jobs need it, and what job ads ask for

Roles that deal in or advise on securities for clients generally need a licence or registration: bank relationship managers and wealth staff, broker account executives, dealers and investment consultants. Job ads usually name the papers:

• Hang Seng Bank, Relationship Manager (Customer Contact Centre), posted 2 November 2026: passes in IIQE Papers 1, 2 and 3 and HKSI Papers 1, 7 and 8.
• Hays, recruiting for a retail bank, Priority Banking Relationship Manager: IIQE Papers 1, 2 and 3 (or equivalent) and HKSI LE Paper 1, 7 and/or 8 (or equivalent).

Bank wealth roles usually pair HKSI Papers 1, 7 and 8 with the insurance IIQE papers. For which papers each role needs, see which HKSI papers do I need.

What the roles pay

JobsDB salary pages (refreshed 1 November 2026; average monthly ranges):

Role	Monthly pay (HK$)
Relationship Manager	37,000–47,000
Wealth Management Manager	35,000–43,000
Investment Consultant	49,000–59,000
Dealer	23,000–27,000
Account Executive	20,000–24,000

JobsDB's "Account Executive" is a generic title that includes account executives outside finance.

Morgan McKinley's 2026 Hong Kong Salary Guide (permanent, monthly, low / median / high):

• Private banking relationship manager, VP: HK$70,000 / 100,000 / 120,000
• Retail distribution sales: HK$55,000 / 80,000 / 120,000

The guide does not say whether these figures are base salary only. The same page puts typical annual merit increases at 3%–5% and rises for job movers at 10%–15%.

Does it raise your pay?

Honestly, we cannot say. We found no published source that compares pay for licensed and unlicensed people in the same role. Anyone quoting a "licence premium" is guessing.

What the evidence does show is that the licence is an entry requirement. Relationship managers, investment consultants and dealers must be licensed or registered to do the job, and those jobs pay the ranges above. The licence does not raise your pay by itself. It makes you eligible for roles you could not otherwise take, including internal moves into licensed positions.

Key point: the licence is a ticket in, not a pay rise. The role it opens decides the pay.

Who should sit the exams

• Bank staff in, or aiming for, relationship management, wealth or investment product sales.
• Brokerage staff: account executives and dealers. Futures work needs Paper 9 instead of Paper 8.
• Asset management staff: Type 9, where the practical papers are 7 and 12.
• Graduates and career changers whose target job ads list HKSI papers. Holders of a degree in accounting, business administration, economics, finance or law need only Paper 1 under SFC rules, but employers may still ask for Papers 7 and 8.

On cost, HKSI's current fees at the Hong Kong centre are HK$1,800 for Paper 1 and HK$1,620 each for Papers 7 and 8 (checked November 2026); see HKSI registration and fees. The SFC charges HK$1,790 per regulated activity for a representative licence application. Once licensed, you need at least 10 hours of continuous professional training a year.

If you decide to sit, ExamDuck lets you practise in English and Chinese with timed mocks. Pair it with a realistic study plan.