The role of the SAIS is to set and maintain the qualification standards for stockbrokers and other financial markets professionals. Ensuring that professionals have the requisite knowledge and skills is a further aim, as is ensuring that knowledge and skills remain current and relevant. 

In order to effectively fulfil its role, the SAIS has three categories of examinations:

• Professional Stockbroker Examinations (PSE): These examinations are the gateway to achieving the Certified Stockbroker designation- CSb(SA)
• Financial Markets Professional Regulatory Recognition (FMPRR) examinations: These examinations prepare financial market professionals to act in various regulatory capacities (endorsement by the JSE pending).
• Financial Markets Professional: This is a qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and is a registered learnership.  This is also an entry level qualification for the PSE and successful completion of these examinations provides access to the Certified Financial Markets Practitioner designation – CFMP(SA)