Specialty Certification

Certified Data Analytics Specialist (CDAS)

The objectives of this credential are to:

  1. Recognize the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities of individuals who perform data analysis for a state regulatory agency and/or provide data analysis as input to the examination process
  2. Encourage continued professional development in data analytics emerging issues, trends, and actionable insights
  3. Enhance and maintain the quality of job performance and skill level of those who provide data analytics input to the examination process and contribute to data strategy and/or governance within a state regulatory agency


Candidates for this credential must provide evidence of the following:

  • On-the-job and role experience:
    • Examination staff: Participation in at least five examinations during a minimum of one year of employment by a state regulatory agency. Candidates must demonstrate experience analyzing and presenting data to senior examiners or senior management.
    • Non-examiner staff: A minimum of one year of employment by a state regulatory agency. Candidates must demonstrate experience providing value to the examination or offsite monitoring process.
  • Core education:
    • Examination staff: Examiners who meet the one-year employment requirement above are assumed to have adequate basic financial analysis training. Examiners who are certified at the COE, CME, or CMBE level need not meet any additional core education requirements.
    • Non-examiner staff: Completion of CSBS Day 1 Examiner Training (bank safety and soundness, mortgage, and/or money service business tracks) or equivalent basic training in financial analysis, such as the FDIC Introduction to Examinations School, MTRA Beginning Examiner Operations School, and AARMR Basic Examiner Training School. Other options must comprise a minimum of 28 hours of instructor-led, live or virtual classroom training and equivalency must be established by CSBS staff before a candidate may begin the application process.
    • Candidates must detail all training completed in data analysis or related field. Undergraduate or graduate degrees in data analysis, data science, mathematics, or other pertinent fields will satisfy this requirement.
  • Active involvement in the development of data strategy and/or governance for the candidate’s agency employer.
  • Expertise in the area of data analytics must be outlined in the application and demonstrated through industry certification, core education, professional development, and/or industry experience.

* Pre-approval by the CSBS Certification Committee is recommended before application is made.

Supervisor Ratings & Attestation

A minimum rating of “meets expectations” and a detailed narrative assessment justifying the rating, indicating successful job performance and mastery of appropriate job-related skills, is required. When granting certification, a high degree of reliance is placed on the narrative assessment for each competency. For that reason, the individual providing ratings and narrative assessment to an application should be familiar with the applicant's experience, performance, and skills/abilities, and confident that the applicant meets all requirements.

The narrative assessment section of the application must address requirements 1 and 2 above, and the candidate’s performance in the following competencies:

TECHNICAL

  • Applies best practices to the development of agency policy on data analysis and its use in the examination process
  • Establishes clear objectives in the use of available data
  • Utilizes data analytics and reporting to identify risk indicators at subject financial institutions
  • Identifies and predicts high risk relative to the portfolio for all license types (ongoing quarterly or other regularly scheduled analysis) and as part of pre-examination planning
  • Resolves resource constraints with innovative solutions
  • Possesses core skills to independently design and create visual interactive reports.
  • Experienced in the use of one or more of the following categories of data tools:
    • Business intelligence, especially the advanced functions in Excel
    • Statistical programming languages/methods
    • Data visualization
    • Machine learning, artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics

CONCEPTUAL

  • Uses data analytics and exploration to uncover relevant trends and relationships to assist in the examination process and caseload balancing for a portfolio of license types
  • Asks the questions necessary to uncover and synthesize connections that are not always clear
  • Understands the benefits of and skilled at using charts, graphs, dashboards, and other reporting mechanisms to visually present key data
  • Develops correct conclusions from collected data
  • Encourages others within the agency to use available data to make key decisions

HUMAN RELATIONS and COMMUNICATIONS

  • Strong interpersonal communication skills
    • Communicates the relevance of data presented and explains complex topics to non-technical staff in clear, direct, and easily understood terms
    • Works with stakeholders to understand the output requirements
    • Prepares written comments which are accurate, grammatically correct, logically arranged, and factually support any conclusions drawn

LEGAL/COMPLIANCE

  • Effectively demonstrates and applies knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, rules, and regulations.

RECERTIFICATION

Successful candidates are required to submit 40 continuing education hours (CEHs) during the three-year term of certification in order to be recertified. If the CEH requirement is exceeded, up to 14 hours may be carried over into the new three-year term. Continuing education should be selected with the goal of maintaining, improving, or expanding the candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities in mind. The following is a list of suggested continuing education options:

  • MicroStrategy training for analysts, data scientists, architects, and developers (learn more here)
  • Microsoft training in analytics and data science (learn more here)
  • CSBS Day 1 (under development) and Advanced Data Analytics training
  • Local universities and community colleges offer live, online, and hybrid courses – check your local educational facilities for appropriate training options

ACCEPTANCE OF EQUIVALENT CERTIFICATION

Examiners who have attained certification from another state or federal agency and/or associations in related skills may apply for consideration of equivalent certification in the CSBS Examiner Certification Program by contacting  [email protected].

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