Mortgage Certification

Objectives of the CMEM

• Recognize the advanced supervisory and management skills required to oversee mortgage examinations and investigations.
• Promote professional growth in leadership, communication, and regulatory expertise for mortgage supervisors and managers.
• Ensure effective supervision of staff, adherence to agency policies, and consistent application of mortgage laws and regulations.
• Strengthen agency performance by developing managers capable of organizing teams, guiding strategic initiatives, and contributing to legislative and policy development.
• Advance professionalism, accountability, and operational excellence in the supervision of mortgage providers.

Candidates for the CMEM designation must provide evidence of the following:

• Five years of on-the-job experience in the regulation and supervision of mortgage companies, including at least one year in an agency supervisory role.
• Directly supervise at least two employees and/or the examination process in the field of non-depository mortgage regulation including involvement in mentorship and on-the-job training opportunities.
• Completion of at least 92 hours of combined basic and advanced classroom, instructor-led mortgage examination training, plus:
  • CSBS LEAD (formerly Senior School) or equivalent approved advanced management/leadership/supervisory training. This may include agency-sponsored and/or relevant master's program courses.
  • Completion of 40 hours of soft skills training preferably in the areas of leadership, communication, presentation, and/or time management.

Applicants must ensure that they meet all certification requirements and will then complete an attestation of successful job performance and mastery of job-related skills, providing a thorough written response for each competency category. Their supervisor will then review and affirm the attestation to ensure accuracy and completeness. The core competencies are an integral part of the certification, and a high degree of reliance is placed on the attestation for determining compliance with these skill areas. The supervisor reviewing the application form should be familiar with the applicant’s experience, performance, and skills/abilities and be confident that the applicant meets all the requirements outlined in the form.

TECHNICAL - Provides effective leadership and organization to the department:

• Meets education, skills, and ability guidelines for the CME and CSME (application for the CME and CSME credentials need not be made).
• Effectively supervises personnel to ensure adherence to all procedures and policies.
• Monitors senior examination personnel to ensure department mission, goals, and responsibilities are being met.
• Organizes and delegates assignments.
• Effectively supervises the entire examination process.
• Effectively provides for personnel management in the areas of budgeting, recruiting, training, team building, negotiation, motivation, coaching and counseling, performance evaluation, and disciplinary actions.
• Participates in departmental policy formulation and strategic planning.

CONCEPTUAL - Provides effective supervision of the overall activities of mortgage providers:

• Effectively determines a mortgage provider’s condition from completed reports of examination.
• Effectively administers appropriate departmental response from examination findings and follow-up on correction of problems and violations.

LEGAL/COMPLIANCE - Effectively demonstrates knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, rules and regulations and participates in development of amendments to laws or new legislation:

• Effectively demonstrates knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, rules and regulations and ensures staff are familiar with and follow agency policies/procedures.
• Effectively reviews violations and approves corrective action or enforcement powers.
• Actively participates in the development of new mortgage legislation or amendments to existing legislation.
• Performs a detailed supervisory-level review of examination and investigation reports. Ensures final reports contain accurate findings, supported by complete workpapers, and meet the standards of the department/agency.
• Experience with administrative enforcement actions.

COMMUNICATIONS - Provides effective oral and written communications:

• Effectively and clearly communicates with people and organizations internal and external to the department.
• Effectively conducts meetings with management, owners, and the boards of directors of mortgage providers.
• Coordinates examination planning, execution and regulatory response with other state and federal supervisory or law enforcement authorities.
• Effectively and clearly communicates with other state agencies and the state legislature if necessary.

RECERTIFICATION

Every three years, participants will be required to provide evidence of the successful completion of a minimum of 63 continuing education hours (CEH). If an examiner exceeds this requirement, up to 14 CEHs may be carried over into the new three-year term. Continuing education should be selected with the goal of maintaining, improving, or expanding the examiner’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Participants are also required to review and remain in compliance with updates to certifications. Should a material change related to the certification occur, additional training may be required to maintain certification.

Additionally, renewal is dependent on continuous experience in a role supervising mortgage examination staff and overseeing mortgage company examinations and/or investigations.

Courses and applicable offerings from the following providers would qualify as continuing education:

• CSBS
• AARMR
• FFIEC
• CFPB
• FDIC
• FTC