The Banking and Professional Advice Certificate Program (level II) delivered by CUNEF aims to provide participants with specialised training that will enable them to acquire and/or consolidate the necessary knowledge and competence to professionally advise on investment matters. Participants enrolled on the program successfully passing the exams set for each course will receive the Banking and Professional Advice Certificate. The program is designed in accordance with the “Guidelines for the assessment of knowledge and competence of individuals informing and advising” published by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), and the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV).
The Banking and Professional Advice Certificate Program delivered by CUNEF aims to provide participants with specialised training that will enable them to acquire and/or consolidate the necessary knowledge and competence to professionally provide information on investment products, investment services and ancillary services. Participants enrolled on the programme successfully passing the exams set in each exam period will receive the Banking and Professional Advice Certificate. The program is designed in accordance with the “Guidelines for the assessment of knowledge and competence of individuals informing and advising” published by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), and the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV).
The program is designed to be a tool of exceptional value that permits professionals in the financial sector to obtain the training required by the national and international regulators, (the CNMV and the ESMA, respectively) in order to provide information and marketing services for financial products. Some of the objectives are as follows:
The programme is aimed at active professionals (graduates) and professionals in the financial sector with a minimum level of post secondary studies or vocational training, and in the latter case demonstrating at least two years’ experience in the financial sector.
Students satisfactorily completing and passing all the academic requirements of the programme (10 ECTS) will receive the Banking and Professional Advice Certificate Program (Professional Certificate recognised by the CNMV).
Technical sheet
| Study load | 10 credits |
| Aimed at | Graduates and active professionals with at least two years’ professional experience in the financial sector wishing to obtain the certification required by the CNMV to provide financial product information/marketing services. |
| Dedication | Compatible with professional commitments |
| Class times | Friday afternoons (4.30 pm to 9.30 pm)
Saturday mornings (9.30 am to 2.30 pm) |
| Teaching language | Spanish |
| Enrolment process | Analysis of CV and personal interview |
| Qualification | Expert in Banking and Investment Products Certificate
Qualification recognised by the CNMV since 11/05/2018 + CUNEF own postgraduate qualification |
The Banking and Professional Advice Certificate Program developed by CUNEF covers nine subjects with a study load equivalent to ten credits. The study program includes nine subjects studying the markets, products and investment instruments that financial institutions offer their clients.
| Banking and Professional Advice Certificate Program | No. of Credits |
| Macroeconomic analysis and the financial sector | 1 credit |
| Financial Markets | 1 credit |
| Investment products: fixed income | 1 credit |
| Investment products: equities | 1 credit |
| Investment products: structured products | 1 credit |
| Investment products: investment funds | 1 credit |
| Investment products: savings products | 1 credit |
| Specific regulations and regulatory compliance | 1 credit |
| Tax advice for financial operations | 2 credits |
| Total | 10 credits |
The Banking and Professional Advice Certificate Program has a study load of 10 credits. This study load is equivalent to 100 learning hours, of which 70% has a theoretical-conceptual focus and the remaining 30% a practical-applied approach. The training programme alternates synchronous class-based sessions with online sessions, with “e-Learning” training actions in which the participants interact with the various contents of each subject (technical notes, virtualised content, videos/podcasts, etc.) in a flexible manner using CUNEF’s online learning platform, which allows each participant to adapt their study time to their particular circumstances. CUNEF’s online pedagogical methodology is based on the schedule for each learning module in which the participants interact with the tools with study hours and individual work. Through different methodologies and learning approaches, participants consolidate their knowledge and competences in relation to the subjects studied.
The training program follows a sequential order allowing students to manage the study sessions (class-based and/online) as well as carry out the practical activities according to a specific schedule.
Below follows a brief description of the contents of each subject:
| Study Material | Contents |
| Macroeconomic analysis and the financial sector
10 class hours |
|
| Financial markets
10 class hours |
|
|
|
| Financial products: Equities
10 class hours |
|
| Financial products: Structured Products
10 class hours |
|
| Financial Products: Investment Funds
10 class hours |
|
| Financial Products: Savings products
10 class hours |
|
| Specific regulations and regulatory compliance
10 class hours
|
|
| Tax advice for financial operations
20 class hours |
|
The assessment system for this certificate is class-based and through objective testing (examinations). The participants are assessed, in order to obtain the certificate, using the following schema:
In both cases, the ordinary examination session and the extraordinary examination period, a pass will be awarded for an overall grade of 7 (70% correct answers) provided that a pass rate of at least 50% is obtained for each of the planned content blocks..
The ordinary and extraordinary examination periods will be duly announced (date, time, place, etc.). The examination candidates shall be identified (by showing their DNI or equivalent) when entering and exiting the examination. Likewise, it shall be recorded when the candidate finishes the test and submits the examination. CUNEF allows candidates to sit the exam with the official book of formulas (supplied by CUNEF) and their calculator.
The Banking and Professional Advice Certificate Program (own certificate) will be awarded once the test is passed.
The CUNEF Assessment Committee is responsible for preparing the examinations. The grade awarded by the Committee will be PASS or FAIL. The Committee decides the passing score for each exam session in order to receive a PASS grade, and is able to reduce the previously mentioned official 70% by a maximum of 10% depending on the difficulty of each examination, or when more than 90% of the candidates have incorrectly answered any given question.
The decision of the Assessment Committee is final, and candidates do not have the right to review the examination. The candidate will not be informed of the percentage of correct or incorrect answers.
Duration of validity
The Banking and Professional Advice Certificate Program (own certificate) is valid for two years. To maintain the validity of the certificate, it will be necessary to reliably demonstrate that a minimum of 20 hours’ annual training has been received in topics and issues related to the content of the qualification.
System for updating knowledge
CUNEF regularly offers courses, conferences and seminars that allow all certificate holders to update their knowledge, and thus maintain the validity of this certificate. Similarly, CUNEF can also positively assess[2] the participation in or development of other non-regulated conceptual initiatives, but closely related to the final objective of the qualification, as training activities for updating knowledge. For example: preparation of doctoral dissertation, end of course projects for masters, end of course projects for graduates, participation in research projects, participation as speakers in national and international forums, etc.
EEach academic year, or on an annual basis, the Assessment Committee shall publish a list of the most relevant content for certificate holders to update their knowledge accordingly, as well as the minimum number of hours required to demonstrate said process for updating knowledge. This can be through participation in courses, seminars, programs, conferences, etc. organised by CUNEF or by other institutions.
Therefore, any individual holding the certificate must demonstrate that they have participated in some of the activities organised by CUNEF every two years. Likewise, certificate holders may request that CUNEF recognise (as hours necessary to retain the certificate) the participation in other activities provided that they are duly approved by an educational institution (national or international), professional association, company from the financial sector or other equivalent institution.
CUNEF’s academic office will maintain a record of all the recognised professionals, as well as an official record of the activities for updating the knowledge of its members, in which they will be able to record the training activities for updating the knowledge of the certificate holders requesting it. Furthermore, the register also allows the CNMV or other third parties request such information, to be informed of the situation of the knowledge updating process of the professionals holding the certificate.
[1] During the extraordinary examination, participants will be tested on the entirety of the course, or the part failed in either of the two examinations during the ordinary examination session.
[2] Through the recognition process of other training activities or equivalent, not organised by CUNEF, to maintain the Expert in Banking and Financial Products Certificate.
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CUNEF’s certification programs are designed to help participants confidently face the new challenges and demands of the current professional environment, characterised by change and continuous innovation, the inevitable presence of new technologies, and global competition. The current managerial setting requires specially trained professionals, with solid capacities for economic, financial and strategic analysis, with the wisdom to measure, analyse, forecast and control risk in its infinite manifestations. With an international outlook and focus, versatile and with leadership and communication skills to mobilise and form multidisciplinary teams. Committed to the generation of economic value, while remaining involved in satisfying the expectations of their stakeholders. And lastly, with values and principles that are simple, but not always commonplace: transparency, honesty, professionalism, dedication, commitment, etc.
Below we offer some of the reasons justifying enrolling on a CUNEF professional Specialisation/Certification Program:
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