CAMLI is a Canadian compliance education and resource forum for anti-money laundering compliance professionals. CAMLI develops and recognizes through professional designations the knowledge, skills, and leadership required to manage money laundering and terrorist financing risks.

CAMLI and CGA-Canada have partnered to give CGAs a fast-track to the CAMLI designation. In recognition of the high professional standards required to attain the CGA designation, CAMLI is pleased to waive the two years’ experience in AML/CTF normally required to apply for the Practicing Associate (CAMLI-PA) designation.

Under the agreement, all CGAs in good standing can formalize their understanding and application of compliance controls under Canada’s AML/CTF legislation. CGAs can access CAMLI’s training programs and the CAMLI-Practicing Associate (CAMLI-PA) designation, which recognizes professionals qualified to ensure that a reporting entity meets its legal responsibilities.

CAMLI-PA Designation
At this first level, CAMLI will assess AML/TF compliance professionals on the basic compliance responsibilities to ensure that a reporting entity meets its legislated responsibilities. These include

• knowledge and understanding of money laundering and terrorist financing
• understanding of the five elements of an AML compliance regime and its delivery within the reporting entity environment
• knowledge concerning the identification and reporting of designated transactions to FINTRAC
• steps in responding to a Compliance Regime examination/audit by a designated Regulatory Authority, FINTRAC or otherwise
• maintenance of a training program for company employees subject to legislated compliance responsibilities
• ongoing maintenance of the current application of the company compliance regime

CAMLI-PA Designation Checklist
The CAMLI designation application fee is non-refundable; please ensure that you can check off ALL* the following points before applying for the Practicing Associate designation:

• I am a current member of CAMLI.
• I have a high school diploma.
• I have completed the designation questionnaire with a minimum score of 50.
• I can provide one professional reference.
• I am confident that I can successfully complete the CAMLI Practicing Associate examination.

*Note that the requirement for a minimum two years’ experience working in AML compliance is waived for CGA applicants.

How do I apply?
To apply for any CAMLI designation, you must be a member of CAMLI. To become a member, please submit the CAMLI membership application form.

Once you are a member, you may sign in to the CAMLI members’ only website to apply for the CAMLI-PA designation.

1. Click on the “services” button on the toolbar at the top.
2. Click the “add to cart” button under the CAMLI-PA designation.
3. Check out using the PayPal service.
4. If you prefer to be invoiced or pay via cheque, submit the CAMLI-PA application form.
5. Once payment has been finalized, submit the applicant questionnaire and professional reference form. When these forms have been received, the final exam will be enabled.

Once the application fee is processed, you will be asked to submit the following:

• CAMLI-PA designation questionnaire for CGA applicants
• One professional reference

Once these are submitted and reviewed the online examination will be enabled.

Online Examination
One of the key elements of the CAMLI designation application process is the online exam. This final step of the process is permitted only after all other steps have been completed.

How do I take the exam?
The exam is completed online via the CAMLI website. You will be required to have a supervisor or management team member from your organization witness that you complete the exam independently. You will have one opportunity to pass the exam. A passing grade is 75%.

The exam covers the basic knowledge required by an individual who is acting in the role of a compliance officer.

The designation process evaluates knowledge in the following areas:

• Understanding money laundering
• Understanding terrorist financing
• Implementing a compliance regime
• Suspicious transaction indicators
• Reporting requirements
• Client identification requirements
• Record keeping requirements
• Global anti-money laundering organizations and initiatives

If you are unsure of your knowledge in any of these areas, CAMLI strongly recommends studying and researching that area prior to taking the exam as you will only be able to take the exam once.

What happens if I fail the exam?
If you do not pass the examination, you have two options:

1. Wait six months and reapply for the designation. This will allow you time to study and update your knowledge. A new application fee will apply.
2. You may enroll in CAMLI’s Compliance Officer 101 Training Program. Upon successful completion of that course, you may retake the designation exam immediately and for free.