Safety and Soundness Certifications 

• Certified Operations Examiner (COE)
• Certified Credit Examiner (CCE)
• Certified Examiner-In-Charge (CEIC)
• Certified Examinations Manager (CEM)

Certified Operations Examiner (COE)

Candidates for the COE 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 financial institution regulation and supervision.
    
2. Satisfactory completion of the following CSBS course offerings or their equivalent:
   
   - Certified Operations Examiner School
   - Bank Financial Analysis School
    
3. Attestation of successful job performance and mastery of appropriate job-related skills by a superior within the candidate's organization. "Superior" 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 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 activities of financial institutions by:

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

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

HUMAN RELATIONS - Provides effective oral and written communications by:

• Effectively and clearly communicates with financial institution personnel to obtain information;
• Effectively and clearly communicates examination findings to supervisory personnel;
• Effectively prepares written comments that are accurate, grammatically correct, logically arranged, and factually support any conclusions drawn; and
• Works effectively with others to achieve common goals.

Certified Credit Examiner (CCE)

Candidates for the CCE 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 financial institution examination credit analysis and review
    
2. Satisfactory completion of the following CSBS course offerings or their equivalent (courses submitted as equivalent will be considered on a case-by-case basis):
   
   - Course requirements for the COE designation, plus
   - Credit Evaluation School
    
3. Attestation of successful job performance and mastery of appropriate job-related skills by a superior within the candidate's organization. "Superior" 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 and accurate evaluation of the credit activities of financial institutions by:

• Effectively follows established examination procedures to collect and analyze data
• Effectively reviews reports of examination for accuracy, content, conclusions, and proper grammar.

CONCEPTUAL - Provides effective and accurate evaluation of the lending activities of financial institutions by:

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

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

HUMAN RELATIONS - Provides effective oral and written communications by:

• Effectively and clearly communicates assignments to assisting personnel
• Effectively and clearly communicates with financial institution personnel to obtain information
• Effectively and clearly communicates examination findings to financial institution and supervisory personnel
• Effectively prepares written comments which are accurate, grammatically correct, logically arranged, and factually support any conclusions drawn.

Certified Examiner-in-Charge (CEIC)

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

1. Completion of a minimum of twelve (12) months of on-the-job service and training as an examiner-in-charge
    
2. Satisfactory completion of the following CSBS course offerings or their equivalent:
   
   - Course requirements for the COE and CCE designations
   - Bank Management/EIC School
    
3. Attestation of successful job performance and mastery of appropriate job-related skills by a superior within the candidate's organization. "Superior" 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 examination process by:

• 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
• Effectively supervises the organization and documentation of workpapers according to prescribed procedures
• Effectively supervises and oversees the entire examination process.

CONCEPTUAL - Provides effective and accurate evaluation of the overall activities of financial institutions by:

• 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
• Effectively evaluates and adjusts scope of examination as required.

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

HUMAN RELATIONS - Provides effective oral and written communications by:

• Effectively and clearly communicates assignments to assisting personnel
• Effectively and clearly communicates with financial institution personnel to obtain information
• Effectively and clearly communicates examination findings to financial institution and supervisory personnel
• Effectively prepares written comments which are accurate, grammatically correct, logically arranged, and factually support any conclusions drawn
• Effectively conducts meetings with management and the boards of directors of financial institutions
• Effectively coordinates examination planning and execution with other state and federal supervisory authorities.

Certified Examinations Manager (CEM)

Candidates for the CEM 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 a management/supervisory role (e.g., Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Chief Examiner, etc.)
    
2. Satisfactory completion of the following CSBS course offerings or their equivalent:
   
   - Course requirements for the COE, CCE and CEIC designations
   - Senior School or Advanced Management Training
    
3. Attestation of successful job performance and mastery of appropriate job-related skills by a superior within the candidate's organization. "Superior" 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 by:

• Effectively supervising personnel to ensure adherence to all procedures and policies
• Monitoring senior examination personnel to ensure department mission, goals, and responsibilities are being met
• Effectively organizing and delegating assignments
• Effectively supervising the entire examination process
• Effectively providing for personnel management in the areas of budgeting, recruiting, training, team-building, negotiation, motivation, coaching/counseling, performance evaluation, and disciplinary actions
• Effectively participating in departmental policy formulation and strategic planning.

CONCEPTUAL - Provides effective supervision of the overall activities of financial institutions by:

• Effectively determining financial institution condition from completed reports of examination
• Effectively administering appropriate departmental response from examination findings.

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

HUMAN RELATIONS - Provides effective oral and written communications by:

• Effectively and clearly communicating with people and organizations internal and external to the department
• Effectively conducting meetings with management and the boards of directors of financial institutions
• Effectively coordinating examination planning, execution and regulatory response with other state and federal financial institution supervisory authorities
• Effectively and clearly communicating with other state agencies and the state legislature.

Safety and Soundness Acceptance of Equivalent Certification

Individuals who have attained certification from other agencies (federal or state) and/or associations in related skills may apply for consideration of equivalent certification in the Program. An abbreviated application form is available for those applicants requesting consideration under equivalent certification criteria.
 

Safety and Soundness Recertification

Participants will be required to provide evidence of the successful completion of a minimum of 63 continuing education hours (CEH) over the three year certification period; at least seven CEHs must be completed each year. Nontraditional credit for speaking, authoring, teaching, etc., count as continuing education.