PDO FAQ — Common Questions (Executive Oversight, Risk, Compliance)

What is the official PDO exam format and structure?

CSI publishes PDO exam structure on the official Exam & Credits page:

• Exam format: Proctored (remote or in-person at a test centre)
• Exam duration: 2 hours
• Question format: Multiple-choice
• Questions per exam: 80
• Passing grade: 60%
• Attempts allowed: 3

Source: https://www.csi.ca/en/learning/courses/pdo/exam-credits

What are the official topic weightings?

From CSI’s official weighting table:

• The Role of the Executive and Canada’s Regulatory Environment — 6%
• Industry Business Models — 18%
• The Distribution of Securities — 8%
• Ethical Decisions and Corporate Governance — 12%
• Senior Officer and Director Liability — 16%
• Risk Management in the Securities Industry — 12%
• Managing Risk in the Financial Sector — 12%
• Financial Compliance and the Consequences of Noncompliance — 16%

Source: https://www.csi.ca/en/learning/courses/pdo/exam-credits

What should I prioritize first?

Prioritize the high-weight domains that also show up as scenarios:

• business models + their risk surfaces (private client, online, investment banking)
• director/officer liability and defensible oversight (documentation + due diligence)
• risk management frameworks + significant risk areas (AML, privacy/cyber, supervision)
• capital requirements and what to do when metrics deteriorate

Do I need the official CSI materials?

Yes. Use this hub as a study map + practice layer, but rely on CSI’s official materials for the canonical reading.

How should I practice?

Short drills per topic, then a weekly mixed set. Review every miss and write a one-sentence “first action” rule:

“Given this risk, the first correct step is … because …”

Where do I find official policies (fees, timing, retakes)?

Use the official CSI links in Resources. Policies can change, so we avoid hard-coding beyond the published exam structure and weightings.