Specialty Certification

Certified Application Specialist - Level III (CAS-III) 

(Agency Account Administrator)

Candidates for the CAS-III designation must provide evidence of the following:

  1. Completion of a minimum of two (2) years of on-the-job service and training related to processing licensing applications
  2. Satisfactory completion of the CSBS Mortgage Licensing School, Agency Account Administrator Learning Plan (see list of required courses below)
  3. Attestation of successful job performance and mastery of appropriate job-related skills by a supervisor within the candidate's organization. "Supervisor" is defined as an individual whose job classification is at the examiner-in-charge level or higher. All attestations shall be considered final once signed. Attestation as to a candidate's skill will be supported by a defined response form that outlines the necessary and appropriate skills. A high degree of reliance is placed on the attestation forms provided by the applicant's supervisor when granting certification. For that reason, the individual signing the form should be familiar with the applicant's experience, performance, and skills/abilities and confident that the applicants meet all requirements as noted on the form.

The attestation form addresses the following categories:

TECHNICAL - Provides effective organization to the application review process by:

  • Effectively reviewing and organizing applications
  • Ensuring pre-licensure documents are received and requirements are completed or places requirements or deficiencies on the company or individual
  • Processing applications efficiently and in a timely manner

CONCEPTUAL - Provides effective and accurate evaluation of the application submitted by companies:

  • Effectively follows established licensing procedures to collect and analyze data and
  • Develops correct conclusions from collected data.

LEGAL/COMPLIANCE - Provides effective and accurate evaluation of policies, procedures, laws, rules, and regulations:

  • Effectively demonstrates knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, rules and regulations and
  • Effectively follows established procedures for presenting deficient application information and recommending corrective action to applicants

HUMAN RELATIONS - Provides effective oral and written communication by:

  • Effectively and clearly communicating with applicants to obtain information
  • Effectively and clearly communicating deficiencies to supervisory personnel and/or owners/directors/individuals
  • Effectively preparing written comments that are accurate, grammatically correct, logically arranged, and factually support any conclusions drawn
  • Effectively providing licensing information to the public

Learning Plan, Mortgage School Course Listing for Agency Account Administrator

  • History of Licensing
  • NMLS, Licensing, and the State Agency
  • NMLS Account Management and System Navigation for Account Administrators
  • NMLS Resource Center and Support
  • SAFE Act Requirements
  • MLO License Applications - Industry Perspective
  • Work List Management & Assignment
  • Record Access, Relationships, and Sponsorship
  • License Item Management
  • License Statuses
  • Reviewing MLO License Applications
  • Reviewing a Criminal Background Check
  • Reviewing a Credit Report
  • Reviewing Individual Amendments
  • Company License Applications - Industry Perspectives
  • Reviewing Company License Applications
  • Company Management Oversight Responsibilities
  • Audits
  • Dedicated Resources
  • Risk Management Programs
  • Compliance Management Systems
  • Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
  • Branch License Applications - Industry Perspectives
  • Reviewing Branch License Applications
  • Reviewing Company/Branch Amendments
  • Advance Change Notice
  • State Regulatory Actions
  • Testing and Education Investigations
  • Adverse and Final License Statuses
  • License Surrender
  • Using NMLS Reports
  • NMLS Consumer Access
  • Agency Fee Invoicing
  • Agency Administration
  • Data Analytics
  • Agency Communications Library
  • Privacy, Agreements, and IT Security
     

Application Specialist Recertification:

Every three years, participants will be required to provide evidence of the successful completion of a minimum 40 hours of continuing education (CEHs); at least seven CEHs must be completed each year. CEHs must be courses or programs taught by CSBS, AARMR, NACCA, and/or a state or regional banking or other professional association. CEH may be obtained through onsite training or online training. Other programs and activities submitted will be considered on a case-by-case basis.