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SOI Certification Requirements |
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Master |
Specialist |
| Course Requirements |
Core courses credits: 42
Concentration course credits
(total varies by concentration) |
Core course credits: 42
Concentration course credits
(total varies by concentration) |
| Experience |
5 Years in the Securities Industry |
2 Years in the Securities Industry |
| Examinations |
Core Securities Operations Exam (Master)
Exam for Selected Concentration (Master) |
Core Securities Operations Exam (Specialist)
Exam for Selected Concentration (Specialist) |
| Recommendations |
2 from industry professionals senior to the candidate |
1 from an industry professional senior to the candidate |
| Continuing Education |
12 credits per year |
12 credits per year |
Core Courses Requirements
The following courses are required for both Master & Specialist Certifications:
101 - How The Securities Industry Works (2 days)
102 - Introduction to Securities Processing (2 days)
106 - Introduction to Buy Side Processing
108 - Straight-Through Processing (STP)
Total Credits: 42
Courses can be taken through SOI. With proper documentation, SOI can also accept prior coursework from other educational providers - subject to approval.
Concentration Course Requirements Following is the list of courses required for each concentration area.
Master certifications require the completion of courses in addition to those required for the Specialist certification.
More than one concentration can be awarded. Where there is overlap, course credit can be counted towards both concentrations.
Fixed Income Operations
Courses for Specialist Certification:
600 - Fixed Income Trading and Processing (2 days)
plus 2 Electives
Additional Courses for Master Certification:
603 - Introduction to Fixed Income Products
plus 2 Electives
Derivatives Processing
Courses for Specialist Certification:
801 - Derivatives: Markets, Operations, Accounting & Control
plus 2 Electives
Additional Courses for Master Certification:
Not offered
Corporate Actions
Courses for Specialist Certification:
401 - Corporate Actions Processing: Basic
403 - Global Corporate Actions: Basic
500 - Capital Markets Overview
plus 1 Elective
Additional Courses for Master Certification:
402 - Corporate Actions Processing: Advanced
404 - Global Corporate Actions: Advanced
plus 2 Electives
International Securities Processing
Courses for Specialist Certification:
201 - International Securities Operations
231 - FX: Markets, Clearance, Settlement & Accounting
403 - Global Corporate Actions: Basic
500 - Capital Markets Overview
plus 1 Elective
Additional Courses for Master Certification:
222 - Withholding Tax Relief Worldwide
404 - Global Corporate Actions: Advanced
plus 2 Electives
Experience
Years of experience will be based on the number of years of employment in a securities-oriented area of a bank, broker, investment manager, vendor, utility, consultancy or other related organization.
Examinations
Examinations are required for certification:
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Core Securities Operations Exam |
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Exam for the Selected Concentration (one for each concentration) |
The Master exams have a higher degree of difficulty and a higher passing score is required.
Examinations are administered on-line and scored by SOI.
Recommendations
One recommendation is required for candidates for a Specialist Certification and two are required for Master certification candidates. Any operations professionals senior to the candidate may write the recommendations, however, the candidate's direct manager is preferred.
Continuing Education Requirements 12 credit hours are required to maintain certification for both Master and Specialist certifications.
Education credits can be earned by attending courses offered by SOF and other educational firms, attending securities industry events such as seminars, symposiums and conferences, and taking in-house courses or web training programs offered by the candidate own firm.
Course credit for continuing education will be accepted from the following:
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Courses presented by industry associations (SIA, ABA, ICI, etc.) |
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New York Institute of Finance |
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ABA/ICB |
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Cannon Institute/Nash |
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Professional conference organizations, (IIR, IBC, IMN, etc.) |
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Other recognized industry organizations, vendors, candidate's firm |
To maintain certification, documentation must be submitted detailing the amount of credit SOI should recognize. Generally, SOI will approve 1 credit per hour of instruction. For example, each day of SOF classroom training equals seven credit hours.
Fees
The fees charged for this certification program are:
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Examination
- Core US Securities Operations
- Each concentration
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$ 100 per general test
$ 75 per concentration test
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| Annual Re-certification |
$75 per person |
| Courses and other education credits |
Established by individual vendors |
Record Keeping
The Securities Operations Institute will maintain a confidential record of certifications awarded, course history and application materials.
Certificate of Certification
Upon the successful completion of all of the certification requirements, SOI will issue a certificate that identifies the recipient as a Specialist or Master in the relevant concentration.
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