The Investment Dealers Association of Canada said yesterday that individuals may extend the validity of the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and Conduct and Practices Handbook Exam (CPH) for the purposes of applying or re-applying for registration, beyond the time limits set out in IDA policy, by voluntarily participating in the IDA’s continuing education program.

For individuals who have never been approved with an IDA member, these time limits are: three years for the CSC, and two years for all other courses. For individuals who have left an IDA member firm, all courses remain valid for a three year period following the date of termination, provided the individual was registered in a category that required the course.

Voluntary participation in continuing education requires the completion of a compliance course and professional development course within each continuing education cycle, irrespective of the position the individual will apply for, and is restricted to those courses recognized by the IDA as qualifying for voluntary participation, the IDA said in a notice.

In order to be kept valid, the CSC and/or CPH must have been either passed by an individual within the three years prior to the start of the continuing education cycle, or the individual must have been registered with an IDA member firm within the three years prior to the start of the continuing education cycle. Voluntary participation will extend the course validity period for one year after the end of the relevant continuing education cycle.