Certified Financial Services Security Professional (CFSSP)
About CFSSP | Apply | Exam Information | Exam Outline | Benefits | Maintain Certification | Advisory Board
About the CFSSP
The Certified Financial Services Security Professional certification is designed to:
- Establish a recognized standard of knowledge and competence for security professionals working in the financial services industry
- Formally recognize those who meet these standards
- Provide employers with a tool to identify skilled, knowledgeable professionals
- Support the benefits of professional continuing education and development
Who should pursue it Knowledge areas
Eligibility requirements
You must meet the following prerequisites in order to qualify to take the CFSSP certification examination:
1. Professional Experience & Education
Employment at a financial services institution with 50% of your work time dedicated to security responsibilities, or appointment by an institution's Board of Directors to be a security officer. In addition, you must meet one of the following requirements:
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One year of experience in financial services security and a bachelor's degree or
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Two years of experience in financial services security and an associate's degree or
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Three years of experience in financial services security and a high school diploma/equivalency diploma
One letter of recommendation from a senior officer attesting to your qualifications for certification, including your security experience is required. The letter must be signed and on corporate letterhead.
3. Ethics Statement
Each candidate must sign ICB's Professional Code of Ethics. Please note: you must furnish all pertinent information about any convictions or pleas of nolo contendere on the grounds of fraud, embezzlement, unfair or deceptive practices, securities law violations, misappropriation of property, fraudulent conversations or any civil or administrative action from which you have been previously found liable.
4. Fingerprint Requirement
You must submit a fingerprint card to ICB. If your institution does not process fingerprints as a normal course of business, please contact your local police department, FBI office or the American Bankers Association's Fingerprint Service.
5. Application
You must complete and submit the application. You are required to meet the eligibility requirements in place at the time that you submit your application.
Fees
| Examination Fees* | Membership Fees** | ||
| Application and Exam Fee | $425 | Annual Membership Fee | $199 |
| Exam Site Change Fee (for all exam site change requests less than 3 weeks prior to the exam date) |
$100 | Multiple Certification Discount | $350 (2 certs) $450 (3 or more) |
| Exam Retake Fee | $150 | ||
| Exam Withdrawal Fee | $125 | ||
*The Exam Fee, minus a $100 nonrefundable Application Fee, is 100% refundable upon written request prior to the published withdrawal deadline. A $125 withdrawal fee is assessed if a candidate cancels or withdraws after the published withdrawal deadline from a scheduled exam date for which the candidate is registered. However, requests for withdrawal received on or less than fourteen (14) business days prior to the exam date will not be honored and the entire exam fee will be forfeited. ICB will consider waiving the forfeiture fee in case of a medical emergency. Your request for such a waiver must be made in writing and supported by documentation from a physician, which clearly states that you are unable to appear for the exam due to personal or immediate family medical issues. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
** Membership Fee is assessed annually every year after certification has been granted.
***Applies to individuals who hold more than one certification.
Benefits and services
- ICB Certified Banker newsletter (bimonthly, delivered electronically)
Click here for more information about CFSSP benefits.
Questions? Please contact icb@aba.com for additional information.


