If one is in trading compliance looking to advance their knowledge, one place to look is the Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP)® program sponsored by FINRA and Georgetown University.
The program is a two-week intensive program which “provides compliance, legal and regulatory professionals with an in-depth understanding of the foundation, theory and practical application of securities laws and regulation.” According to FINRA’s website.
Jim Angel, an associate professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, and FINRA’s Patricia Albrecht were the latest guests on FINRA’s podcast, Unscripted, where they talked more about the program. Together, the two run the program.
“It is a really great program because it is a shot in the arm for a career of a compliance professional.” Said Angel.“It is the premiere program for compliance professional. I don’t think there is anything out there for compliance professionals.” Said Albrecht.
The next program will begin in July 2019 and Angel explained the curriculum.
For week one in July, Angel said, “We cover the fundamentals of regulations. Why we regulate: some of the basic rules we have to follow.” Week two is in November, and Angel said, “It’s the capstone- where we cover the material in more detail, more advanced.”
Angel said the program is split because it is largely for professionals whose organizations can’t afford to have them absent for two consecutive weeks. The program includes reading material which must be completed prior to the program, daily assessment exercises, and an exam at the end of the week.
“It is a rigorous program where you not only have to show up and do the work but also pass the test,” Angel said.“We usually tell participants that they need to spend about thirty hours worth of work to prepare for the course,” Albrecht said.
Week one covers securities laws on insider trading, public offerings, a lot of FINRA rules like supervision and suitability, Albrecht noted. Week two involves a lot of work on fintech. “That’s part of the fun of teaching. This is a very dynamic industry that’s always changing. So, it’s never really the same twice,” Albrecht said of the curriculum.
Week one will be held from July 21-26 at the Georgetown University campus which is in Washington D.C.
According to the FINRA website, here is what participants will walk away learning.
- summarize and explain the application of selected securities statutes and rules, including the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Advisors Act of 1940;
- analyze suitability standards and their relation to investment recommendations and understand how to properly apply them;
- discuss the importance of supervisory practices and internal controls;
- explain specific ethical issues in the securities industry; and
- explain new developments in securities regulation, the securities industry and securities markets.
FINRA, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, is a self-regulatory organization formed in 2007 when the regulatory arms of the NYSE and the NASD merged.
