Mortgage Certifications 

Certified Mortgage Examiner (CME)

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

1. Completion of a minimum of twelve (12) months of on-the-job service and training related to mortgage provider examinations.
2. Satisfactory completion of the following CSBS course offering or an equivalent* four and a half days training on basic mortgage examination:
   - Residential Mortgage Examiner School

* Examples of equivalent training would include AARMR Basic School and applicable portions of AARMR / NACCA Consumer Services Schools up to a minimum of four and a half days.

1. Attestation of successful job performance and mastery of appropriate job-related skills by a supervisor within the candidate's organization. "Supervisor" is defined as an individual whose job classification is at the Examination Manager level or higher. All attestations shall be considered final once signed. Attestation as to a candidate's skill will be supported by a defined response form that outlines the necessary and appropriate skills. A high degree of reliance is placed on the attestation forms provided by the applicant’s supervisor when granting certification. For that reason, the individual signing the form should be familiar with the applicant’s experience, performance, and skills/abilities and confident that the applicants meets all the requirements as noted on the form.

The attestation form addresses the following categories:

TECHNICAL- Provides effective organization to the examination process by:

• Effectively adheres to examination procedures and policies,
• Effectively organizes assignments,
• Ensures pre-examination planning and requests are successfully completed in a timely manner and
• Organizes and effectively documents workpapers according to prescribed procedures.

CONCEPTUAL - Provides effective and accurate evaluation of the operational and financial activities of mortgage providers by:

• Effectively follows established examination procedures to collect and analyze data and
• Develops correct conclusions from collected data.

LEGAL/COMPLIANCE - Provides effective and accurate evaluation of policies, procedures, laws, rules and regulations:

• Effectively demonstrates knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, rules and regulations and
• Effectively follows established examination procedures for presenting violations and recommending corrective action or enforcement powers

HUMAN RELATIONS - Provides effective oral and written communications by:

• Effectively and clearly communicates with mortgage provider personnel to obtain information,
• Effectively and clearly communicates examination findings to supervisory personnel and/or owners/directors and
• Effectively prepares written comments that are accurate, grammatically correct, logically arranged, and factually support any conclusions drawn.

Certified Senior Mortgage Examiner (CSME)

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

1. Completion of CME education and experience requirements.
2. Completion of a minimum of twelve (12) months of on-the-job service and training as an examiner-in-charge of large, complex interstate mortgage providers.
3. Satisfactory completion of the following CSBS course offerings or equivalent* four and a half day formal training in basic and advanced mortgage schools:                                                                                                                               - Advanced Residential Mortgage Examiner School.

* Examples of equivalent training would include AARMR Advanced School and applicable portions of Fraud Schools up to a minimum of four and a half days.

1. Attestation of successful job performance and mastery of appropriate job-related skills by a supervisor within the candidate's organization. "Supervisor" is defined as an individual whose job classification is at the Examinations Manager level or higher. All attestations shall be considered final once signed. Attestation as to a candidate's skill will be supported by a defined response form that outlines the necessary and appropriate skills. A high degree of reliance is placed on the attestation forms provided by the applicant’s supervisor when granting certification. For that reason, the individual signing the form should be familiar with the applicant’s experience, performance, and skills/abilities and confident that the applicants meets all the requirements as noted on the form.

The attestation form addresses the following categories:

TECHNICAL - Provides effective leadership and organization to the examination process:

• Meets skills and ability guidelines for the CME,
• Effectively supervises personnel to ensure adherence to examination procedures and policies,
• Provides effective training,
• Monitors progress of assigned personnel to ensure accurate and timely completion of work,
• Effectively organizes and delegates assignments, and
• Supervises, organizes, and effectively documents workpapers according to prescribed procedures and
• Effectively supervises and oversees the entire examination process.

CONCEPTUAL - Provides effective and accurate evaluation of the operational and financial activities of larger, complex interstate mortgage providers:

• Effectively follows established examination procedures to collect and analyze data,
• Develops correct conclusions from collected data,
• Effectively reviews reports of examination for accuracy, content, conclusions, and proper grammar, and
• Effectively evaluates and adjusts scope of examination as each situation requires.

LEGAL/COMPLIANCE – Effectively demonstrates knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, rules and regulations:

• Effectively demonstrates knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, rules and regulations and
• Effectively follows established examination procedures for presenting violations and recommending corrective action or enforcement powers.

HUMAN RELATIONS - Provides effective oral and written communications:

• Effectively and clearly communicates assignments to assisting personnel;
• Effectively and clearly communicates with mortgage provider personnel to obtain information;
• Effectively and clearly communicates examination findings to the mortgage provider owner, directors, and supervisory personnel;
• Effectively prepares written comments which are accurate, grammatically correct, logically arranged, and factually support any conclusions drawn and
• Effectively coordinates examination planning and execution with other state regulators or authorities as appropriate.

Certified Mortgage Examinations Manager (CMEM)

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

1. Satisfactory completion of the following CSBS course offerings or their equivalent:
   - Course requirements for the CME and CSME designations
   - Senior School  or Advanced Management Training
    
2. Attestation of successful job performance and mastery of appropriate job-related skills by a supervisor within the candidate's organization. "Supervisor" is defined as an individual whose job classification is at the Examiner-in-Charge level or higher. All attestations shall be considered final once signed. Attestation as to a candidate's skill will be supported by a defined response form that outlines the necessary and appropriate skills. A high degree of reliance is placed on the attestation forms provided by the applicant’s supervisor when granting certification. For that reason, the individual signing the form should be familiar with the applicant’s experience, performance, and skills/abilities and confident that the applicants meets all the requirements as noted on the form.

The attestation form addresses the following categories:

TECHNICAL - Provides effective leadership and organization to the department:

• Meets skills and ability guidelines for the CME and CSME,
• 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,
• Effectively 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 and
• Effectively 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 and
• 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,
• Effectively reviews violations and approves corrective action or enforcement powers and
• Actively participates in development of new mortgage legislation or amendments to existing legislation.

HUMAN RELATIONS - 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,
• Effectively coordinates examination planning, execution and regulatory response with other state and federal supervisory or law enforcement authorities and
• Effectively and clearly communicates with other state agencies and the state legislature if necessary.

Certified Mortgage Investigator (CMI)

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

1. Satisfactory completion of the following CSBS course offerings or equivalent four and a half day training programs on mortgage fraud or examination training:
   - Residential Mortgage Examiner School
   - Advanced Residential Mortgage Examiner School
   
2. Attestation of successful job performance and mastery of appropriate job-related skills by a supervisor within the candidate's organization. "Supervisor" is defined as an individual whose job classification is at the Examination Manager level or higher. All attestations shall be considered final once signed. Attestation as to a candidate's skill will be supported by a defined response form that outlines the necessary and appropriate skills. A high degree of reliance is placed on the attestation forms provided by the applicant’s supervisor when granting certification. For that reason, the individual signing the form should be familiar with the applicant’s experience, performance, and skills/abilities and confident that the applicants meets all the requirements as noted on the form.

The attestation form addresses the following categories:

TECHNICAL - Provides effective leadership and organization to the investigation process:

• Effectively supervises personnel to ensure adherence to investigation procedures and policies,
• Provides effective training,
• Monitors progress of assigned personnel to ensure accurate and timely completion of work,
• Effectively organizes and delegates assignments, and
• Supervises, organizes, and effectively documents workpapers according to prescribed procedures and
• Effectively supervises and oversees the entire investigation process.

CONCEPTUAL - Provides effective investigation of noted activities of mortgage providers:

• Effectively investigates situations noted in reports of examination or complaints and
• Effectively administers appropriate departmental response from investigation findings and follow-up on correction of problems and violations.

LEGAL/COMPLIANCE - Effectively demonstrates knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, rules and regulations.

• Effectively demonstrates knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, rules and regulations,
• Follows prescribed procedures for writing and presenting violations in an investigation report and
• Effectively testifies as needed on findings of an investigation.

HUMAN RELATIONS - Provides effective oral and written communications:

• Effectively and clearly communicates assignments to assisting personnel,
• Effectively and clearly communicates with mortgage provider personnel to obtain information,
• Effectively and clearly communicates investigation findings to the mortgage provider owner, directors, and supervisory personnel,
• Effectively prepares written comments which are accurate, grammatically correct, logically arranged, and factually support any conclusions drawn and
• Effectively coordinates examination planning and execution with other state and federal regulators or law enforcement authorities as appropriate.

Mortgage Recertification

Every three years, participants will be required to provide evidence of the successful completion of a minimum of 40 continuing education hours (CEH); at least seven CEHs must be completed each year.  Examples of qualifying programs and activities are listed below.  Other programs and activities submitted will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The following courses would qualify as continuing education:

• AARMR Annual Regulatory Conference
• Applicable portions of Annual Conferences or other seminars not utilized for minimum certification requirements of:
  • AARMR
  • CSBS
  • MTRA
  • NACCA
  • Federal Agencies