Notice periods and licence timing

The administrative detail that turns a clean job move into an awkward six weeks.

The licence does not travel

It was applied for by your principal and it is tied to them. Resigning does not hand you a portable credential.

The new firm makes its own application. Your examination passes and your experience carry over; the accreditation does not.

What actually governs the timing

• Your notice period, which is a contract question
• The new firm's internal approval and onboarding, which is often slower than the offer implied
• The SFC application itself, which the firm submits and the SFC processes
• Any conditions the SFC attaches, which can include a period in which to pass a paper

Only the first of those is yours to control.

The conditional approval route

The SFC may approve an application on condition that the individual passes a local regulatory framework paper within six months of the approval.

That grace period, including any extension, is usually granted once for each paper, and failing to pass in the time set may render the approval invalid and cause the licence to lapse. It is a bridge, not a habit.

Practical sequencing

1. Tell the new firm your notice period before you accept, because their application planning depends on it
2. Ask who submits the application and when they intend to
3. Confirm whether the role needs a regulated activity type you do not currently hold
4. If it does, and you need a paper, find that out during the offer rather than after

The register shows the join

The public register reflects your current accreditation. Anyone checking during the gap sees the gap, which is normal and worth knowing before it surprises you.