Target Audience of the EIMF CySEC AML Certification Examination 

The exam is addressed to all individuals who are interested in being appointed as AML compliance officers at CySEC-regulated legal entities. 

Preparation Material 

All participants will receive the EIMF preparation booklets that include the presentation notes, glossary of all major terms, revision questions with answers and 5 online mock examinations. 

Course Content and Examinations (Revised Exam Syllabus)

The assessment structure of the CySEC AML Certification Examination is a 60-minute examination consisting of 40 multiple choice questions and covers the following elements: 

Chapter 1: Introductory Provisions 

• References used in the manual 
• The Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission 
• Becoming an AML certified compliance officer 
• The objectives of the CySEC AML Certification 
• Workbook for the AML Certification Examination 

Chapter 2: Understanding Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Sanctions 

• What is Money Laundering (ML)? 
• The 3 (three) stages of ML 
• ML threats and vulnerabilities in accordance with the NRA and methods of ML 
• Terrorist Financing (TF) and TF Criminalization 
• Sanctions 

Chapter 3: Legal and Regulatory Requirements 

• Unit for Combating Money Laundering 
• The Supervisory Authority 
• Main provisions of the AML/CFT Law with regard to criminal liability, offences and penalties 
• European Directives 
• FATF 
• High Risk Third Countries 
• MONEYVAL 
• The Anti-Terrorism and Victims Protection Acts of 2019 and 2022The United Nations Security Council Resolutions and Decisions (Sanctions) and the Council of the European Union (Restrictive Measures) Law of 2016 (58(I)/2016)

Chapter 4: The AML Compliance Culture 

• Basic elements of a strong compliance culture 
• Internal Policies, Controls and Procedures 
• The Role of the BoD 
• The role and duties of the Compliance Officer, the Alternate Compliance Officer and Assistants 
• The establishment and role of an Internal Audit function 
• Employees obligations, education and training 

Chapter 5: Assessing and Managing Risks 

• Risk-Based Approach (RBA) 
• Identifying ML and TF risks 
• Factors to determine risks 
• Assessing ML/TF Risks 
• On-going monitoring of the risk assessment and record keeping 

Chapter 6: Know your Customer (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) 

• Procedures for the prevention of ML and TF 
• Customer Identification and Due Diligence procedures 
• Simplified Customer Due Diligence (SDD) 
• Enhanced Customer Due Diligence (EDD) 
• Sectoral guidelines for application of Customer Due Diligence measures 
• Ongoing Monitoring 
• Beneficial Ownership information 
• Reliance on third parties 
• CDD in case of networking of Obliged Entities or groups 
• Prohibition of cooperation with shell banks 
• Processing of personal data 

Chapter 7: Transaction Monitoring and Suspicious Reporting 

• Internal reporting procedures and external reporting to MOKAS
• Examples of suspicious transactions and activities related to ML and TF

Chapter 8: Crypto Asset Service Providers

• Registration Procedure for Crypto Asset Service Providers
• Organizational and Operating Requirements for CASPs

CPD Recognition

This programme may be approved for up to 16 CPD units in AML and Financial Regulation. Eligibility criteria and CPD Units are verified directly by your association, regulator or other bodies which you hold membership.

This training course may be approved as an external activity under the new ACAMS recertification category ”non-ACAMS credits” for up to 16 CPD units. Eligibility criteria and CPD Units are verified directly by the Association of Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS). To read more about the non-ACAMS credits policies and eligibility criteria please click here

Registration and Re-registration Procedure for Examinations and Registry

In order to register for the CySEC examinations, prospective candidates are required to complete the online CySEC application. After registering, an automatic payment receipt will be sent to the candidates. In the event that a candidate wishes to make any changes to their exam application or cancel their participation in the exam, they may do so only eight (8) working days prior to the exam date and after paying the relevant fee. Successful candidates may register in the AML compliance officers register within four (4) weeks of receiving the relevant email notification by CySEC.  

In case candidates fail the exam, they are obliged to apply to take the next examination in a period of twelve (12) months. The twelve-month period starts from the initial start date of the examination. In case an individual fails the exam in the twelve month-period, then their appointment as AML compliance officer shall not resume until they have managed to pass the exam. 

In case you have any queries regarding the examinations, you are kindly requested to forward them to the following email: [email protected].  

Examination Fees

The examination fee is €300.00 and is payable directly to CySEC upon registration to the exam. 

CPD Educational Requirements and Annual Renewal Fee

To maintain registration in the CySEC public register for AML Compliance Officers, successful holders of the CySEC AML Certification Licence need to take 10 hours of related CPD training for each calendar year and pay to the Commission an annual renewal fee of €80. 

For further information about the CySEC Examinations, please visit https://www.cysec.gov.cy/en-GB/public-info/certifications-and-seminars/certifications/.