Professional Certification

Following the issuance of joint decision 3130/19 July 2006 (Government Gazette B 1114) of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) and the Bank of Greece (as amended by decision 258/2007), credit institutions authorised and supervised by the Bank of Greece must, when providing investment services, only employ persons holding a Professional Qualifications Certificate.

Decision 3130/19 July 2006 (Government Gazette B 1114) establishes six (6) types of Certificates (a1, a2, b, b1, c and d) and describes in detail the investment services that should be provided by certified employees.

The Bank of Greece is responsible for certifying employees and officers of the said credit institutions, in accordance with the procedures and conditions laid down in the abovementioned joint decision and detailed in Administration's Circular 29/15 November 2006.

The Bank of Greece shall grant Professional Qualification Certificates only if candidates have passed the certification examinations in specific subjects or have successfully participated in Certification seminars. Certification examinations are held at least once a year and certification seminars at least twice a year.

A three-member Examination Committee has been established, comprising one member from the Bank of Greece, one from the HCMC and a university professor as chairman. The Examination Committee has specified the examination subject matter and supervises the holding of examinations.

To participate in certification examinations and seminars, the documentation required must be submitted and all of the following conditions must be met:

a. candidates must meet minimum personal credibility requirements;
b. candidates must hold minimum qualifications, laid down in the joint decision; and
c. the bank concerned must pay the prescribed fee to the Bank of Greece.

On the basis of experience gained from professional certification examinations, the conduct of supervision by the Examination Committee and the observations submitted by the Hellenic Bank Association, it was decided to review certain provisions of decision 3130/19 July 2006 (Government Gazette B 1114), which led to amending decision 258/2007, available here.

This section provides all available information on certification examinations, certified employees and a list of other related documents.