Academy for Excellence in Financial Services Policy

The Academy for Excellence in Financial Services Policy was formed to educate state legislators, legislative staff, financial services industry professionals and others on the fundamental principles of banking, insurance and other financial services to promote the creation of sound public policy for the integrated financial services marketplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why the Academy?
The Academy for Excellence in Financial Services Policy is an educational response to the professional needs of the nation's state legislators and legislative staff with responsibility and interest in the areas of banking, insurance, securities, credit unions, and other matters related to financial services. With the forces of e-commerce, integration, consolidation and globalization reshaping the financial services landscape, it is necessary to keep current and understand the policies that meet the needs of the modern economy and provide the oversight necessary to ensure that state financial regulation is efficient and effective. The Academy's curriculum is designed to help state legislators, legislative staff and financial services professionals to meet the challenges of their role and keep current in hot topics in the industry. 

Who Can Attend?
The Academy is a voluntary program.  Newly elected lawmakers and those recently assigned to financial institutions and insurance committees are especially encouraged to participate. Individuals may take selective courses of their choosing or enroll in the certificate program.  Financial Services professionals are also encouraged to participate to keep current on some of the most critical topics in their industry.  Participants who successfully complete the certificate program earn the Academy for Excellence designation.

What Are the Certification Levels?
There are two levels of Academy certification: "Associate" and "Advanced". The Academy curriculum includes 15 courses divided into five series: Market Principles; Supervision and Regulation; Product Lines; Company Operations; and Current Topics in Financial Services. Core course are specific classes that must be taken and elective courses are classes that give fellows a choice, typically from among a particular series. Fellows may complete their Associate certification in route to obtaining their Advanced Certification.

• Associate Certification:
  Includes six courses, including four core and two elective. Core courses include: "The Financial Services Marketplace: A Primer" from the Market Principles series, and "Understanding Financial Regulation and Supervision", "Financial Safety and Soundness", "Protecting Financial Consumers" from the Regulation and Supervision series. Two electives must be selected from the Product Lines series.
• Advanced Certification:
  Includes 12 courses: eight core and four elective. Core courses include all the classes in the Market Principles series, the Regulation and Supervision series, and the Company Operation series. At least three electives must be selective from the Product Lines series and no more than one from the Current Topics series.