Examiner Certification Program Handbook Updated March 2025

Examiner Certification Program (ECP) Participant Handbook: For Candidates, Certified Examiners, Supervisors

Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Certification Overview .................................................................................................................................. 3 Mission and Vision .................................................................................................................................... 3 Committee ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Responsibilities ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Procedure.............................................................................................................................................. 4 Required Information............................................................................................................................ 4 Certification Process ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Certification Portal Access ........................................................................................................................ 4 Certification Requirements ....................................................................................................................... 4 Initial Application ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Recertification ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Continuing Education................................................................................................................................ 6 Guidelines for Denial, Suspension, and/or Revocation of Certification ................................................... 6 Use of Certificates, Logos, and Designation.............................................................................................. 7 Appeals and Complaints ........................................................................................................................... 7 Appeals:................................................................................................................................................. 7 Complaints: ........................................................................................................................................... 9 APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Tab A – Certification Committee Roster and Charter ......................................................................... 10 Tab B – Credentials Currently Offered ................................................................................................ 13 Tab C - Continuing Education Requirement and Policy ...................................................................... 14 Tab D – Candidate/Reviewer/Supervisor Agreements ....................................................................... 17 Tab E – Conflicts of Interest, Confidentiality, and Nondisclosure Acceptance Form ......................... 19 Tab F – Administrative Action Procedures.......................................................................................... 20 Appendix G - Accessing Certification with Okta Account ....................................................................... 20 Certification Portal User – Set up Okta account to access Certification Portal .................................. 22 Log into Certification via Okta............................................................................................................. 25

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Introduction The CSBS Examiner Certification Program (ECP) was established more than thirty years ago and is administered by CSBS staff and the Certification Committee (hereinafter “Committee”) under the auspices of the CSBS Education Foundation Board of Trustees (hereinafter “Board”). This handbook summarizes the key aspects of the ECP and is intended to help participants understand how the program is governed, its policies and procedures, and the steps to earning and maintaining an ECP credential. The handbook is intended to be a useful reference and may not address every potential question or policy detail. It is a supplement to the information found at the ECP website ( https://www.csbs.org/examiner-certification ) and information provided by ECP staff ( certification@csbs.org ). Certification Overview Mission and Vision The CSBS certification program's mission is to be the primary means by which state agency licensing and examiner staff achieve recognition for acquiring knowledge and skills necessary to supervise depository and non-depository entities. The program serves to build inter-agency trust, promotes skills development and career advancement, instills confidence in a state agencies’ consumer protection efforts, and aids licensers and examiners in adapting to an ever-evolving regulatory landscape. Our vision is to create a unified, credible, and respected community of state financial regulators who are recognized for their expertise and commitment to excellence. We strive for a future where certification is synonymous with ambitious standards, skills development, and professional growth and fosters collaboration and trust among state and federal agencies. By continuously updating the program to reflect current regulations and best practices, we aim to build a robust framework that ensures the safety and soundness of financial institutions, benefiting the public and the financial system at large. Committee Responsibilities The Certification Committee is responsible for the decisions for certifying, maintaining certification, recertification, suspending, and withdrawing certification. The decision regarding certification shall be made strictly based on the eligibility criteria and requirements for certification. The decision regarding certification of a candidate shall be made solely by the Committee and CSBS staff based on the information gathered during the application process. The decision on certification shall be executed by CSBS staff on behalf of the Committee. The Committee shall provide a digital certificate, signed by the chairs of the Board and the Committee, and/or a digital badge. The Committee shall maintain sole ownership of the certificate and badge granted.

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Procedure The final certification decision is relayed to the candidate and their supervisor via automated email notification. If approved, the candidate receives digital credentials (certificate and/or badge). Certificates shall contain the following information: the name of the certified person, a unique credential license ID number, the CSBS logo, the name of the credential for which the applicant is approved, the date of expiration of certification, and the electronic signature of the current Board and Committee chairpersons. Badges contain the CSBS logo, the name of the credentialing program, and the approved certification. These digital credentials are protected by blockchain security, reducing the risk of counterfeiting. Required Information The certification application requires key demographic information to ensure traceability in the event of an appeal or complaint, and it shall request information related to all eligibility criteria and requirements for certification to enable the Committee to reach a final decision. The following combination of demographic information helps ensure traceability of these unique records in the event of an appeal or a complaint: name, email address, date of application, mailing address, and telephone number. Furthermore, prior to application, applicants are assigned a unique username which is associated with their application. This demographic information and unique username are stored in perpetuity in the ECP database. Certification Process Certification Portal Access 1. Certification portal access can be provided by an agency certification POC. a. POCs can follow the steps here to add/remove agency users. 2. Users with existing accounts can access the portal through the CSBS single sign on at csbs.okta.com. a. For detailed instructions, see appendix G. b. For account access issues, please contact RUG@csbs.org. c. Name change requests will need to be submitted to RUG@csbs.org. Certification Requirements Credential Requirements. Credential requirements can be found on the CSBS website. The ECP relies on strict adherence to the three core requirements of all its credentials: (1) on-the-job service, (2) completion of core education, and (3) supervisory recommendations through adequate ratings and thorough narrative assessment. Additionally, completion of a minimum number of field examinations is required for several credentials. Lastly, a candidate must be able to demonstrate the ability to meet the continuing education requirements for recertification.

The Certification Committee delegates authority to CSBS staff to award certification when all designation requirements are met. If an application is received by CSBS staff that deviates in any way

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from a credential’s core requirements, staff will request that the applicant initiate the waiver process below if they elect to proceed. Waiver process. A waiver is considered by a subgroup of the Committee upon the request of the candidate, with the approval of their supervisor. A statement in support of a waiver must be provided to the application waiver group, which takes into consideration all aspects of the application and any special circumstances set forth by the applicant. The group will grant a waiver when the applicant demonstrates that they fulfill the credential requirements through alternative, equivalent education and/or industry or federal regulator on-the-job experience. A simple majority of group members must vote in the affirmative to grant an application waiver. Determining education equivalency. Core education other than a designation’s stated requirement will be determined to be equivalent if it contains these three features: (a) conducted by qualified instructor(s) (instructor credentials must accompany an equivalency request); (b) consists of a minimum of forty (40) hours [or twenty-eight (28) for specialty designations] of classroom training; and (c) focused on skills-based training (not emerging issues, seminars, or roundtable discussions). Accommodation . No individual shall be deprived of the opportunity to apply for ECP certification by reason of disability. All disabilities shall be verified and accommodated where possible as long as the accommodation does not fundamentally alter the process by which the knowledge and experience of the applicant is measured. Credential Updates. A periodic review of credential requirements will be conducted; any changes will be made publicly accessible and will be communicated directly to training directors. New applicants and current credential holders must fulfill any new requirements instituted resulting from these periodic reviews. Initial Application 1. Applications for certification are submitted through the Certification portal. 2. Once an application is submitted, it will go directly to the applicant’s assigned level 1 reviewer in the online portal. 3. The level 1 reviewer will complete the narrative attestation on behalf of the applicant. 4. The application will go through any additional levels of review determined by the agency. 5. CSBS staff reviews each application and will reach out with any questions or clarification. 6. If necessary, the application may go to the certification committee for review. 7. Once an application has passed review by CSBS staff, the applicant and their supervisor are notified of the results by automated email. Within seven (7) days, digital credentials (certificate and badge) are sent by email link from the Accredible platform.

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Recertification Recertification is an automated process that occurs through the online portal. Continuing education must be tracked in the online portal to be validated for certification purposes. If a certification holder has the required amount of continuing education hours at the end of their certification period, the credential will automatically be renewed. There is a three-month grace period after this year-end renewal process. Additional training can be tracked during this time to help satisfy the certification requirements. As soon as continuing education requirements are met during the grace period, the certification will automatically renew when the system updates overnight. If any hours are tracked during the grace period to be utilized for renewal and this overlaps with the new certification period, those hours will not count towards the new certification period. Continuing Education The three-year certification maintenance cycle was selected to ensure that certified persons participate in continued learning and professional development activities. The continuing education requirement promotes involvement in leadership, learning, and service activities. Continuing education should be selected with the goal of maintaining, improving, or expanding the examiner’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. This requirement will not be waived unless it poses an undue hardship on an individual due to a disability or a similar barrier. All approved continuing education hours must be submitted through the online portal no later than ninety (90) days after the certified person’s recertification date. Continuing Education courses are submitted to the online portal by training directors from each agency and CSBS staff. All courses submitted must go through a course approval process to ensure accuracy and mitigate duplication with existing courses in the system. The decision regarding new course approvals shall be made solely by the Committee and CSBS staff based on the information gathered during the course submission process. The decision on course approval shall be executed by CSBS staff on behalf of the Committee. Should there be any question as to the application of a course for the purpose of continuing education, a committee subgroup will review the course for approval or denial. A simple majority of group members must vote in the affirmative to approve such courses. Guidelines for Denial, Suspension, and/or Revocation of Certification Misrepresentation of a candidate’s experience and education and noncompliance with eligibility criteria for certification and/or recertification constitute serious ethical issues that may result in investigation and disciplinary action. Cause for denial, suspension (temporary), or revocation (permanent) of certification includes, but is not limited to: • Falsification of information on the certification application • Misrepresentation of continuing education hours submitted for purposes of recertification • Falsification of any information requested by the Committee in response to a waiver request

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• Misrepresentation of certification status • Change in employment status • Inability to meet continuing education requirements

In any investigation of alleged misconduct, misrepresentation, and/or noncompliance, an objective review process is conducted in which evidence substantiating the allegations is collected to provide due process and to protect the rights of candidates and/or certified persons. When CSBS staff or the Committee finds a certified person to be in non-compliance with certification criteria or other policies, the certified person’s certification status is suspended. The Committee requires the certified person to show why certification should not be revoked. In such cases, the burden of proof will be on the certified person to demonstrate why certification should not be revoked. Use of Certificates, Logos, and Designation Certification applicants and certified persons agree to comply with the following provisions related to the use of certificates, logos, and designation relating to the ECP: 1. To make claims regarding certification only with respect to the scope for which the certification has been granted. 2. Not to use the certification in such a manner as to bring CSBS, the CSBS Education Foundation, the ECP, or the Committee into disrepute, and not to make any statement regarding the certification which the Committee considers misleading or unauthorized. 3. Upon suspension or withdrawal of certification, to discontinue the use of all claims to certification that contain any reference to CSBS, the CSBS Education Foundation, the ECP, or the Committee, and to return any certificates issued. 4. Upon suspension or withdrawal of certification, to discontinue the use of any designation that refers to CSBS, the CSBS Education Foundation, the ECP, or the Committee, or any ECP certification. The Committee reserves the right to address, by means of corrective measures, any misuse of its certification mark, logo, or designation. If an initial written request to cease misuse of a certification mark, logo, or designation is not adhered to, the Committee reserves the right to initiate a formal complaint under the ECP complaint process. Appeals and Complaints Appeals: In the event of a decision by the Certification Committee resulting in the denial of an initial certification (or recertification), suspension of certification, or revocation of certification, the individual may appeal the decision. Only the individual shall have the right of appeal. No other party shall be considered to have standing to pursue an appeal. The basis for this appeal must be that the Committee acted with alleged bias,

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departed from stated procedures, made a serious factual error, failed to consider all significant evidence, or rendered a decision that is arbitrary and capricious.

Should the individual appeal, the following procedures will be initiated:

Not later than thirty (30) days from the date of notification of a negative action, the individual shall notify the Committee Chairman in writing of their intention to petition for review of the action, and not later than sixty (60) days from the same date they shall submit written documentation supporting such petition. The Committee shall then have sixty (60) days to consider the petition for review of the action. If in the Committee's review of the petition, a second decision is rendered that is unsatisfactory to the individual, then the individual shall have the right to request the appointment of an Appellate Committee for further review. The individual shall have thirty (30) days to request the appointment of an Appellate Committee. If an individual requests further review, the Committee Chairman and the appealing individual shall appoint an Appellate Committee comprising three persons who have not participated in any way in the decision being appealed. These three individuals must have minimum qualifications the same as those required to have achieved the level of certification in question. The Committee Chairman will appoint one member, the individual will appoint another, and the third member shall be jointly selected by the two appointed Appellate Committee members. If the two appointed Appellate Committee members cannot agree on the third member, they shall be chosen by drawing from the roster. The Appellate Committee shall receive from the individual making the appeal, within thirty days, written material detailing the appeal and from the Committee, a written response to the appeal. The Appellate Committee shall have thirty days to affirm or reverse the Committee's decision, giving reasons in writing in either case. The Appellate Committee decision shall be final. This decision is not reviewed by the CSBS Education Foundation Board of Trustees, the CSBS Board of Directors, or any other body. The Appellate Committee's final decision shall become effective immediately upon notification made to the individual requesting the appeal. The certification status of any individual shall remain unchanged during the appeal and there shall be no public notice of an adverse action until the appeal is completed and a final determination on the matter is reached. The Committee shall maintain a roster of qualified candidates for the Appellate Committee*.

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*Note: Volunteers shall be sought for service on appellate Committees ( i.e. , certified individuals will be asked if they would be willing to be placed on the Appellate Committee roster).

Complaints: The Committee shall receive, evaluate, and make decisions on complaints in a constructive, impartial, and timely manner that treats all parties fairly and equitably. Only personnel not previously involved in the subject of the complaint may be engaged in the complaints-handling process. The complainant must send to the Committee a written complaint and all relevant supporting documentation. The Committee shall acknowledge receipt of the complaint and if applicable, may request additional information from the complainant. The Committee will conduct a review of the complaint and all supporting documentation and reach a decision on the merits of the complaint within sixty (60) days. The Committee’s decision is final and binding on all parties involved, as are any corrective actions taken in response to the complaint.

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APPENDIX Tab A – Certification Committee Roster and Charter

For a current list of certification committee members, select “Certification Committee” from the drop-down list on the following page: https://www.csbs.org/csbs-education-foundation committees

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CERTIFICATION COMMITTEE CHARTER The Certification Committee of the CSBS Education Foundation (referred to in this Charter as “CSBSEF”), shall be constituted and report to the CSBSEF Board of Trustees, and shall have the following objectives, functions, and operating policies. A. OBJECTIVES The objective of the Certification Committee is to ensure that the Examiner Certification Program (referred to in this Charter as “the Program”) endeavors to meet the highest standards of a credentialing entity through rigorous oversight and regular review of and adjustment to its processes, procedures, and standards. B. FUNCTIONS The functions of the Certification Committee are as follows: 1. To specify the conditions of delegated authority to the CSBS Staff Liaison to award certification consistent with the Program requirements; 2. To develop new designations or to amend existing designations to reflect evolving examination processes and organizational structures that vary from state to state; 3. To review applicant waiver requests, and approve or deny requests based on such review; 4. To defer decisions regarding certification or recertification and to provide applicant with the necessary guidance to correct deficiencies; 5. To terminate certification for an individual who has not complied with the criteria or policies of the Program; 6. To hear appeals of decisions on deferral, denial, and/or suspension of certification or recertification, and to issue a final decision. C. OPERATING POLICIES The primary operating policies of the Certification Committee are as follows: 1. The Certification Committee shall be composed of at least five (5) and no more than nine (9) individuals who meet the following criteria: must be an employee of the banking or non-depository department of a state regulatory agency; and must be certified under the Program for a minimum of five years; 2. The Chair and Vice Chair of the Certification Committee shall be appointed by the Chairman of the CSBS Board of Directors, with advice and consent of the CSBS Board of Directors; the remaining members of the Certification Committee shall be appointed by the Chairman of the CSBSEF Board of Trustees, with advice and consent of the CSBSEF Board of Trustees. When making appointments, the Chairman of the CSBSEF Board of Trustees shall ensure appropriate geographic distribution according to the established CSBS Districts. All members of the Certification Committee may be removed, with or without cause, by action of the CSBSEF Board of Trustees; 3. The Immediate Past Chair of the Certification Committee shall serve a single one-year term;

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4. The Vice Chair of the Certification Committee shall be appointed by the Chairman of the CSBSEF Board of Trustees, with advice and consent from the CSBSEF Board of Trustees. The Vice Chair shall not automatically become Chair when the Chair’s term expires, since Committee Chairs, as voting members of the CSBSEF Board of Trustees, shall be appointed by the Chairman of the CSBS Board of Directors; 5. Only the current Chair of the Certification Committee shall be considered a voting member of the CSBSEF Board of Trustees; 6. Members of the Certification Committee, including its Chair, shall only serve on one CSBSEF Committee at a time; 7. If a Certification Committee member position shall become vacant, that term shall expire immediately, and a new Certification Committee member shall be appointed for a regular term; 8. Time served as Certification Committee Chair shall not count against time of service on the Board of Trustees; 9. Members of the Certification Committee shall serve an initial term of two (2) years and may be extended an additional two (2) years with the approval of the Chairman of the CSBSEF Board of Trustees; 10. The Certification Committee shall hold meetings as necessary to address issues that arise in the regular administration of the Program and shall endeavor to meet quarterly during the calendar year. The presence of a majority of the members then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Minutes of all Committee meetings shall be taken and approved at subsequent meetings; 11. The Certification Committee shall have the authority to appoint working groups and members of such working groups. Any subcommittee established shall require the approval of the CSBSEF Board of Trustees; 12. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Certification Committee shall determine its rules of procedure; 13. From among the CSBS staff, the Staff Director reporting to the CSBSEF Board of Trustees shall designate, with advice and consent of the CSBS President & CEO or his designee, one or more Staff Liaisons to facilitate the activities of the Certification Committee and report to the CSBSEF Board of Trustees. Approved by the CSBS Education Foundation Board of Trustees, on Tuesday, August 2, 2016.

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Tab B – Credentials Currently Offered For a complete list of credentials currently offered and their requirements, see the certification website at the following link: https://www.csbs.org/examiner-certification

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Tab C - Continuing Education Requirement and Policy Every three (3) years, participants will be required to provide evidence of successful completion of the continuing education hours specified in their certification under the “Recertification” section. Continuing education may be claimed beginning on the effective start date of the applicant’s new certification. Training used to satisfy the core education requirement of the current designation may not be submitted for continuing education credit. Continuing education should be selected with the goal of maintaining, improving, or expanding the examiner’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Participants who earn more than the minimum required continuing education hours during a three-year certification period may carry forward up to 14 of the additional continuing education hours into the following three-year certification period (e.g., a COE certified examiner earning 83 or more CEHs may carry forward 14 CEHs into the next three-year period). CEHs will be awarded for equivalent types of training by federal regulatory agencies. When submitting a request for CEH credit for an equivalent course/seminar that is not sponsored by CSBS, FDIC, FRB, or FFIEC, please document the request with a syllabus and/or description of the course/seminar including timeframes. Submission of the completed hours in the online system does not require this documentation to be attached, but this information must be retained for a period of three years in the event the submission is audited for completeness and accuracy. Equivalent courses/seminars will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Other professional development programs and activities must have relevancy to the participant's employment.

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Certification Continuing Education Policy Approved by the CSBS Education Foundation July 17,2023 Effective Date: January 2, 2024

Purpose and Objective: The purpose of this document is to provide guidance regarding the definition of Continuing Education (CE) and how CE hours can be acquired to satisfy the CE requirements necessary to maintain a CSBS Certification. CSBS staff will be seeking approval from the Certification Committee and the CSBS Education Foundation to approve this document for inclusion into the CSBS Certification Examiner Certification Program’s Participant Handbook for Candidates, Certified Examiners, and Supervisors. Definitions: Continuing Education (CE): CE courses are those which have been submitted by state training directors and approved by CSBS staff to satisfy the education requirements necessary to maintain a certification through the CSBS Examiner Certification Program. Upon completion of a course by an examiner, State Training Directors will determine how the course is intended to be applied to an examiner’s record taking into consideration the level of the course, the individual’s career progression, and requirements of the specific certification. CE courses are categorized as: Core: Education or training which has been determined to be essential in maintaining and or enhancing skills or knowledge necessary for the performance of a job for which certification is required. Elective: Education, training, or other activities which has been determined will enhance skills or knowledge necessary to effectively work as an examiner or regulator including but not limited to soft-skills, technical training, providing on-the-job training, and/or participating on CSBS committees. General: Training completed as part of employment or general interests but does not directly contribute to the proficiency of the certification maintained. General courses do not count towards satisfying CSBS Certification requirements. Seat Hour: Every course intended to meet CSBS Certification requirements by be designed appropriately for adult learners such that it contains sufficient content and/or activities to meet the minimum time requirement of 50 seat minutes for each clock hour a course is approved. Sources for Continuing Education : CE Core or Elective hours may be completed by attending and/or participating in the following: Formal Instruction : Education or training courses that are delivered in a classroom or online by CSBS or state agency approved schools or other entities. CE hours are awarded based on actual course seat time. Conference Attendance : CE may be awarded for attending professional conferences. CE hours are awarded for specific session(s) attended. If a conference includes multiple sessions over

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multiple days, CE is only awarded for the individual session(s) attended. Seminars, Workshops, Professional Development: CE may be awarded if the learning and/or participation can be shown to have a direct relevance to the certification held by the examiner. Teaching as an Instructor : One credit hour may be awarded for every hour of CE instructed provided the instruction has relevancy to certification being maintained and contributes to the advancement of the individual's knowledge and skills in their field. Participation on CSBS Committees or Working Group: Up to 12 hours of CE can be earned annually for participating as a member of a CSBS Board, SRR Board, or CSBS Education Foundation approved committee or working group. General Education can be recorded in the Certification Portal and will be applied to an examiner’s record to track both Certification and professional development training. However, hours for courses categorized as General Education do not count towards the hours required to maintain a certification. Examples of General Education include but are not limited to: HR- related courses, employee orientation, agency or department staff meetings, routine work, or assignments.

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Tab D – Candidate/Reviewer/Supervisor Agreements (NOTE: ALL APPLICANTS AND REVIEWERS/SUPERVISORS ARE REQUIRED TO INDICATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THESE AGREEMENTS BY PLACING A CHECK IN THE ACCEPTANCE FIELD DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS. THEY ARE POSTED HERE FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY.) Candidate Application Agreement By submitting this application, you agree to the terms below. 1. Confidentiality The certification application process is confidential. Access is limited to those directly involved: the applicant, supervisor, designated agency staff, CSBS staff, and the Certification Committee. You agree to maintain this confidentiality as permitted by your agency’s statutes and policies. 2. Continuing Education and Updated Requirements Certification requires commitment to ongoing education. By applying, you affirm your ability to meet continuing education (CE) requirements and agree to audits of CE submissions. Compliance with updated certification standards is also required to maintain certification. 3. Professional Conduct You agree to act with integrity and report any inappropriate conduct by certified individuals to your supervisor, who will notify CSBS staff if applicable under your agency’s policies. Misrepresentation of credentials or falsification of documents is strictly prohibited. 4. Employment Status Changes If employment status changes in a way that impacts eligibility, you will report this to CSBS, as allowed by law. 5. Agency Policy Changes Notify CSBS immediately if new agency policies affect your ability to meet certification requirements,

particularly CE participation. 6. Consequences of Violations Violations of this agreement may result in: • Application denial or invalidation • Certification revocation • Investigation of alleged misconduct • Notification to your employer of findings Acceptance of this agreement is required to proceed with your application.

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Reviewer/Supervisor Agreement Regarding Certification Applications

By supporting certification applications, you agree to the terms below. 1. Confidentiality The application process is confidential. Access is restricted to involved parties. You agree to maintain confidentiality as permitted by your agency’s statutes and policies. 2. Attestation of Applicant’s Qualifications By submitting an application, you confirm familiarity with the applicant’s qualifications and affirm the You agree to support applicants in meeting CE requirements and assist in CE audits as needed. You agree to support applicants in meeting updated certification requirements as approved by the certification committee. Should a material change occur to a field of knowledge there may be required education in order to maintain your certification. 4. Professional Conduct You will uphold integrity, report misconduct by applicants you support, and avoid falsification of any documents. 5. Applicant Employment Status Changes If an applicant’s employment status changes in a way that impacts their eligibility, you will report this to CSBS, as allowed by law. 6. Agency Policy Changes Notify CSBS if agency policy changes impact applicants’ ability to meet certification requirements. 7. Consequences of Violations Violations of this agreement may result in: • Revocation of your ability to support applications • Investigation of misconduct • Notification to your employer of findings Acceptance of this agreement is required to proceed with application support. provided information is accurate and unique to the applicant. 3. Continuing Education and Updated Requirements Support

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Tab E – Conflicts of Interest, Confidentiality, and Nondisclosure Acceptance Form Acceptance Form Regarding the Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality, and Non-Disclosure Policy of the CSBS Education Foundation’s Examiner Certification Program Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality, and Non-Disclosure Agreement As a participant in the CSBS Examiner Certification Program (ECP), you are responsible for safeguarding confidential information in accordance with the CSBS Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality, and Non Disclosure Policy. Key Terms: 1. You will not disclose, misuse, or share confidential information obtained through your involvement with ECP. 2. Any questions regarding the confidentiality of information should be directed to CSBS staff or General Counsel before disclosure. 3. Breaches of this agreement may result in disciplinary action, including termination of certification. By signing below, you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to comply with the CSBS

Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality, and Non-Disclosure Policy. Signature: ____________________ Date: ______________ Printed Name: ____________________

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Tab F – Administrative Action Procedures Certification Committee Decisions The Certification Committee notifies individuals of their certification decision as soon as possible. Decisions include: • Initial Certification: o Approved o Deferred (more information or corrections needed) o Denied • Recertification: o Approved o Approved with probation or conditions o Denied Adverse Actions If an applicant does not meet program standards, the Committee may take the following actions: • Deferral (Not Final, No Appeal) – The applicant has time to fix deficiencies before a final decision. • Denial (Final, Can Be Appealed) – The applicant does not meet standards and is unlikely to correct deficiencies in a reasonable time. • Probation – The individual remains certified but must meet conditions within a set timeframe. • Show Cause – The individual must prove why certification should not be denied or revoked. • Revocation – Certification is removed if deficiencies are not corrected. Appeals Process An individual can appeal if denied certification, placed on probation, suspended, or revoked. Grounds for appeal include: • Bias Steps: 1. The individual must notify the Committee of intent to appeal within 30 days and submit supporting documents within 60 days. 2. The Committee reviews and issues a second decision. Appellate Committee Overview If an individual disagrees with a Certification Committee decision (denial, suspension, or revocation), they may request a final review by an Appellate Committee . Formation of the Appellate Committee • Errors in facts or procedures • Arbitrary decision-making

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• The Certification Committee Chair and the appealing individual each select one member . • The third member is jointly selected by the first two. If they cannot agree, the third member is randomly chosen from a pre-approved roster of qualified individuals. • All Appellate Committee members must meet the same certification standards as the level under review. Appeal Process 1. The individual has 30 days to request an Appellate Committee after receiving the second decision. 2. The Appellate Committee reviews written materials from both the individual and the Certification Committee. 3. Within 30 days , the Appellate Committee issues a final, binding decision in writing. Finality of the Decision • The Appellate Committee’s decision cannot be further appealed or overturned by any other body.

• The certification status remains unchanged until the appeal is resolved. • No public notice of adverse action is given until the final decision is made.

Certifications remain valid until the appeal process is complete.

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Appendix G - Accessing Certification with Okta Account The Certification portal is a platform designed to serve the needs of the CSBS Certification program. The Certification portal facilitates all processes associated with the program, including certification applications, continuing education course approvals, course offering and completion reporting, and certification renewal. Certification Portal User – Set up Okta account to access Certification Portal The Certification portal, along with other CSBS applications, can be accessed through a single sign on platform called Okta, using Symantec VIP for dual authentication. The following steps outline how to set up account with Okta and set up Symantec VIP to authenticate. Note: To complete this process, you need to download and install download and install Symantec VIP Access on your mobile device or desktop. Do this now. Okta account is active. 1. Find the “Welcome to Okta” email from no-reply@sso.nmls.org. 2. Click Activate Okta Account . 3. Create a new password, forgot password question and answer, and choose a security image. Click Create My Account . Note: If you already had Okta access with previous CSBS applications, you simply need to access the Certification tile at https://csbs.appiancloud.com/. When initially set up as a new user, you are enrolled in Okta and an email is sent indicating that your

Note: Your username is the email.

Note: Your password must be at least 15 characters. Be sure to secure and maintain the password

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4. Click Setup to connect Symantec VIP.

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5. Open Symantec VIP on your computer, mobile app, or view the token.

Note: The second Symantec Security Code will display after 30 seconds.

6. Type the Credential ID and two sequential Security Codes from Symantec VIP app.

7. Click Verify to continue.

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Log into Certification via Okta After you have created your Okta account and connected Symantec VIP, follow these steps to access Certification. 1. Go to https://csbs.appiancloud.com/ 2. Click Regulator.

3. Type your Okta username . Click Next .

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4. Type your Okta password . Click Sign In .

5. Open Symantec VIP on your mobile device, computer, or view the token. Type your Symantec VIP credential. Click Verify .

Congratulations! You are now logged into the Certification portal.

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