Policy

[Home]
XX

ICBA CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROCEDURES

What Does Certification Mean?

Certification is granted by an association or other non-government organization to individuals who meet predetermined qualifications. A certification program uses a certification board of professionals to review instructional materials and applies a testing instrument to measure an individual's level of competence after completing each course. Upon successfully completing all certification requirements, individuals are awarded a certification designation attesting that they have met the standards established by the board. Certification is intended to make the individuals, and the association offering the educational program, more accountable. Certification does not imply that individuals have been officially licensed to practice in the field in which they have been certified.

ICBA Certification

ICBA’s certification programs are delivered through Institutes where instruction, case studies and competency testing are performed. Upon completion of the institute and achievement of a passing score of 70% or better on the certification exam(s), the certification designation is granted. Annual Continuing Professional Education (CPE) is required to ensure knowledge is maintained in a particular subject matter area and the participant’s certification designation remains current.

ICBA offers (9) certification programs specifically designed for community bank employees in critical subject matter areas of interest:

Subject Matter

Certification Designation

Post Nominal Letters

Ongoing Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credit Requirement

Audit

Certified Community Bank Internal Auditor

CCBIA

30

Bank Security

Certified Community Bank Security Officer

CCBSO

15

BSA/AML

Certified BSA/AML Professional

CBAP

20

Compliance

Certified Community Bank Compliance Officer

CCBCO

30

Commercial Lending

Certified Commercial Loan Officer

CCLO

15

Consumer Lending

Certified Community Bank Consumer Lender

CCBCL

15

Credit Analyst

Certified Community Bank Credit Analyst

CCBCA

15

Information Technology

Certified Community Bank Technology Officer

CCBTO

30

Risk Management

Certified Community Bank Risk Specialist

CCBRS

15

ICBA Certification Board

ICBA Certification Programs are administered by the ICBA Certification Board. The purpose and duties of the Board are to establish and maintain criteria and procedures for ICBA’s certification programs. The Board is an autonomous, voluntary entity formed by the Independent Community Bankers of America ("ICBA"), a private, nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation.

The ICBA Certification Board has full authority to perform the following duties:

1.            Establish policies and requirements for the ICBA Certification Programs.

2.            Establish and maintain fee structures for the ICBA Certification Programs.

3.            Direct the establishment and implementation of ICBA Certification criteria and

                procedures to obtain an ICBA Certification.

4.            Review special requests and considerations upon submission.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

What happens immediately after I earn my certification?

  • You will receive an email from ICBA’s Community Banker University congratulating you on earning your certification and providing next steps.
  • You will receive an email from Credly, the company ICBA uses to issue digital certification credentials badge. The email provides details about how to accept and use a digital certification credentials badge.
  • You will receive a hard copy of your official certification certificate and additional information which will be sent to your organization via US mail.
  • You will have the ability to use your certification designation post nominal letters (see chart) on your email signature line, business cards, social media and as appropriate. 
  • You will be granted access to the ICBA Online Certification Portfolio.

How do I keep current and maintain my certification?

  • Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit requirements start the year following achievement of your certification. Beginning on January 1 following the year your certification was earned, you will be enrolled in a two-year certification maintenance cycle.
  • You must complete the following two components by the end of every two-year certification maintenance cycle:
  1. Complete the required Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits applicable to the certification every two years. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) information must be submitted to ICBA’s Community Banker University via your online certification portfolio no later than December 31 of the second year of the certification maintenance cycle.
  2. Pay the annual certification renewal fee of $125 each year. ICBA will send notice of certification renewal fees each year to all certified bankers.

What are reasons I could become disqualified or lose participation in the Certification Program?

  • Failure to complete and report the required number of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits by the specified deadline.
  • Failure to pay the Annual Certification Renewal Fee within the specified deadline.
  • Being found guilty of a felony by a US or State court of law.

What type of training counts as CPE credits toward my certification?

  • You must earn a minimum of half (50%) of the required CPE credits for this certification through attendance at a live, in-person or livestreamed event where there is interaction between the attendees and the ability to interact with the speaker. This can be accomplished by attending one of ICBA’s Institutes or seminars or through a live, in-person or livestreamed educationtraining program from another source provided the topic is relevant to your certification.
  • You may earn up to half (50%) of the required CPE credits for this certification through online training courses, self-study courses, and webinars covering topics relevant to your certification and where you can validate you’ve completed the course or webinar through some type of certificate or other means.
  • ICBA’s Community Banker University adheres to the NASBA Statement on Standards for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Programs. To calculate total CPE credit, determine the total number of instructional minutes and divide by 50. Fifty (50) minutes of participation in an instructed event is equal to one (1) CPE credit. CPE credit must be rounded down to the nearest whole or half only.
  • Note - Bankers who hold more than one certification cannot use the same CPE credits toward more than one certification.

How do I keep track of my CPE credits?

  • In your portfolio you will enter your CPE credits, upload copies of certificates of attendance, registrations, and agendas. This is also where you can pay the required annual certification renewal fee. We recommend that CPE credits be reported as earned or on a regular basis.

Certification programs contact information:

  • If you are unable to access your Online Certification Portfolio or if you have any other questions about your certification, please contact our certification specialist:

Julie Woida, ICBA Seminar/Certification Specialist
p: 800-422-7285, ext.7334 |d: 320-352-7334
julie.woida@icba.org
518 Lincoln Road | Sauk Centre, MN 56378