The Investment Dealers Association of Canada’s board of directors has approved policy amendments related to proficiency requirements.

The amendments, which are effective immediately, provide for automatic exemptions from re-writing basic proficiency courses for those who have completed more advanced courses within the validity periods specified in the policy. These exemptions include: exemptions from re-writing the Canadian Securities Course, from re-writing the Derivatives Fundamentals Course, the Futures Licensing Course and the Professional Financial Planning Course.

Also, there is no longer a requirement to re-write the Investment Management Techniques course if the course was completed more than three years ago; and, the New Entrants Course and the 30- and 90-day training programs now have an expiry time limit of three years.

These amendments were originally passed in 2004 and have been waiting for final approval from the securities commissions. Some have been superseded by the amendments announced in other bulletins.