Certified Bank Auditor® (CBA)

Continuing Education and Renewal Fee

In order to ensure the quality and standards of the Certified Bank Auditor, there is a requirement of 30 CPE hours that must be taken over a one-year period, which starts the January after the candidate is notified of becoming a CBA. Content of the CPE courses must be applicable to the auditing environment. A current annual renewal fee of $100 for members and $125 for non-members will be assessed after receiving your 1st year free. This year's renewal fees will be due in March. Renewal notices will be mailed end of January.

Download the CBA/CRP CPE Reporting Form (pdf)

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Program Guidelines

Program Purpose

The purpose of BAI Center for Certification - Certified Bank Auditor® (CBA) Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Program is to promote professional development and to provide a means for recognizing CBAs to keep current with industry changes or furthering their own development in banking, technology, auditing, or other disciplines that contribute to a CBA?s growth and development. This program is designed to ensure that the skills, knowledge and expertise originally required to become a CBA, are maintained on a continuing basis.

Administration

BAI Center for Certification developed the CBA Examination and is the sole sponsor of the CBA Continuing Professional Education Program which maintains and processes CPE records and collects all annual certification renewal fees. BAI Center for Certification also establishes, monitors and approves CPE hours.

Program Requirements

Active Status
CBAs must meet the following 3 program requirements to remain on active status. If these requirements are not met, you will be moved to inactive status.

1. Maintain Continuing Professional Education
   CBAs must acquire and report a minimum of 30 contact hours of qualifying CPE activity within a one-year re-certification period which starts the January after successfully completing the CBA examination.
   
   
2. Comply with the CBA Code of Ethics.
   
   
3. Pay the annual CBA certification renewal fee, which will be due in April after completing the CBA exam, and every Jan 31st thereafter. Please call BAI at 800-224-9889 if you do not receive an invoice by mid-February. You are responsible for address updates and payment of dues regardless of receiving an invoice.

CBAs are automatically placed on inactive status when they fail to meet the established annual CPE requirements. CBAs also become inactive if they fail to pay the required annual renewal fee. CBAs in the inactive status may not use the CBA designation. To Reactivate: A reactivation fee plus the Active fee($75 + $100 for members and $75 + $125 for non-members) will be assessed at the time of the request. At the time of reactivation, CBAs must report the required CPE hours for the prior year.

NOT ENOUGH CPE HOURS-If you do not have the required CPE hours, you are recorded as inactive and you may not use your CBA designation. You must then submit the annual reactivation fee once you have obtained 15 CPE hours for the previous 12 months, which you should then submit with your payment.

Qualifying Activities

Activities and training designed to meet the educational needs of internal or external auditors will satisfy CPE program requirements. These activities must demonstrate a progressive course of action that continues to build technical and managerial skills relevant to a CBAs professional competence.

CBAs are encouraged to participate in continuing professional education that address a diverse array of subject areas relevant to the audit profession. For example, if a CBA has 30 CPE hours all addressing PC software training, it is not acceptable.

BAI Center for Certification requires that CBAs report their continuing education activities, but proof of completion is not required to be submitted with the form. BAI Center for Certifications does retain the right to audit an individual's continuing education report and will conduct random audits each year.

Activities that qualify for continuing education credit include but are not limited to:

• Conferences
• Seminars/workshops/webcasts
• Professional designation exam review courses
• BAI graduate schools or other schools
• Self-study programs
• On-line training
• In-house training courses
• Professional and trade association meetings

The following restrictions apply:

1. SELF-STUDY PROGRAMS: A maximum of 8 contact hours per year will be accepted for self-study programs that contribute to a CBAs professional competence. Contact hours for self-study courses should be based on the average completion time determined by the sponsor. It is recommended that the CBA keep the completion certificate or final exam grade on file.
   
   
2. ON-LINE TRAINING: (not including webcast) A maximum of 8 contact hours per year will be accepted for e-learning courses which contribute to a CBAs professional competence. Contact hours for online training should be based on the average completion time determined by the sponsor. It is recommended that the CBA keep the completion certificate or final exam grade on file.
   
   
3. IN-HOUSE TRAINING COURSES: A maximum of 8 contact hours per year will be accepted for formal in-house training programs that contribute to a CBAs professional competence. In-house courses that focus on specific policies, procedures and/or systems of a specific institution/company will not qualify unless specific and identifiable auditing content is covered. The following documentation must be kept by the CBA as evidence of proper completion of in-house training: program name, topic outline, sponsor, contact hours, program agenda and speaker's biography.
   
   
4. COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY COURSES: Relevant to the audit profession will be accepted and awarded CPE contact hours as follows: 1 semester hour = 15 CPE contact hours; 1 quarter hour = 10 CPE contact hours. The CBA needs to keep a current transcript on file.
   
   
5. PASSING OTHER RELATED PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION EXAMS: 5 CPE contact hours are awarded for each exam that a CBA actually sits for and successfully passes on a professional exam related to auditing (for example Certified Public Accountant, CPA or Certified Information Systems Auditor, CISA). This includes successful completion of any related written exam completed after the initial Certified Bank Auditor designation is awarded. A copy of the designation's certificate and/or a sponsor letter acknowledging successful completion of all exam parts must be kept by the CBA as evidence of proper completion of CPE hours. Questions as to whether another professional designation exam would qualify should be directed to BAI Center for Certification, CBA Certification Manager.
   
   
6. TESTS IN PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS: A maximum of 5 CPE credits can be earned annually by successfully completing tests based on articles on auditing in related professional publications. Documentation must be maintained evidencing successful completion.

Teaching/Lecturing

Teaching/lecturing/presentations given at qualified programs or meetings as listed previously, may be awarded CPE credit. CPE credit will be awarded for twice the contact hours of actual participation for initial courses or presentations only. Documentation must be submitted in order to receive credit.

If you proctor 2 calendar exams, you may be eligible for 15 CPEs.

Authorship/Research

Books, monographs, articles and research studies that are published may be awarded CPE credit. Credit, up to a maximum of 20 contact hours per year will be awarded to the authorship. Details to be kept by the CBA include the date or edition of the publication, the periodical in which it appeared or the publishing house, and the title of the book, article or research paper. In addition, a copy of the work must be submitted for evaluation in order to award the appropriate number of credits.

Professional Participation

Participation as chapter officer or director, or as a member of an advisory group can earn CPE credit. Participation must be with a professional or industry-related organization. A maximum of 15 contact hours can be earned annually in this manner. Documentation must be submitted to BAI Center for Certification for evaluation.

Contact Hours Calculation

Contact hours are the actual hours spent in connection with an activity. One contact hour represents one hour of active involvement in an educational activity. Time spent in breaks or at lunch do not qualify as contact hours unless further educational activity is provided (e.g., luncheon speaker). One contact hour is equivalent to one CPE credit hour, unless otherwise stated by a continuing education sponsor.

Reporting

In all cases, BAI Center for Certification will not collect or maintain specific documentation on CPE courses or activities to evidence completion of an individuals CPE requirements. This means the CBA must maintain his or her own documentation for each CPE activity. Each CBA is responsible for reporting the number and type of activities (e.g. programs/meetings, teaching/lecturing, etc.) of CPE hours earned for the annual certification renewal period ending December 31. The CPE hours obtained should be reported to BAI Center for Certification on or before January 31, of the following year.

Download the CBA/CRP CPE Reporting Form (pdf)

Correspondence of any related issues should be sent to:

BAI Center for Certification
ATTN: Certified Bank Auditor Program
115 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 3300
Chicago, IL 60603-3801

Address Updates

Please contact BAI Center for Certification Customer Service at 800-224-9889 (312-683-2464) or BAICenter@bai.org to update your address or telephone numbers.

Responsibility for Recordkeeping

Every CBA is responsible for honestly and accurately reporting the number of CPE credits obtained each year to BAI Center for Certification. The CBA must also be able to present upon request written verification of completion of educational activities to BAI Center for Certification. At a minimum, records should include:

• Name and date of activity
• Sponsoring organization
• Record of registration
• Topic outline
• Speaker qualifications
• Number of CPE hours reported

This information should be maintained for a minimum of two years.

back to top