FINRA Online Learning Courses - Advanced Arbitrator Training
The following courses require registration at FINRA's Learning Management System. Once you are logged in, go to the Learning Catalog and select the course you wish to take. It will be added to the My Plan page.
After you register for a course, you will be able to immediately access it. If you have any questions, please email us or call the FINRA Support Center at (800) 321-6273.
Course Descriptions
- Civility in Arbitration: This voluntary, online course presents scenarios that demonstrate how arbitrators should maintain civility during an arbitration hearing. Specifically, the course helps arbitrators evaluate their obligations before and during service on a case, and set a proper tone for conducting fair and efficient hearings. There is an online assessment at the end of the course, which must be completed to receive credit. The course takes approximately one hour to complete.
- UPDATED Chairperson Training: This course instructs arbitrators on the added responsibilities of arbitrators assuming the important role of Chairperson. The course modules must be completed in order. There is an online assessment at the end of the course and a passing grade of 80 percent or greater is required to pass the course. The course takes approximately four hours to complete.
- NEW Enhanced Expungement Training: The Enhanced Expungement Training provides an overview of revisions to the Codes of Arbitration Procedure to modify the process relating to the expungement of customer dispute information. The amendments become effective on October 16, 2023.
The revised rules require that expungement requests filed under the Industry Code be decided by a three-person panel randomly selected from a Special Arbitrator Roster. To be eligible for the Special Arbitrator Roster, an arbitrator must:- be a public arbitrator eligible for the chairperson roster;
- evidence successful completion of, and agreement with, enhanced expungement training provided by DRS;
- have served as an arbitrator through award on at least four customer arbitrations administered by FINRA or another self-regulatory organization in which a hearing was held (excluding hearings held as part of a special proceeding).
The revised rules also require that expungement requests filed during simplified customer arbitrations be considered by public chair arbitrators who evidence successful completion of, and agreement with, the enhanced expungement training. Reviewing the Check Your Knowledge Quiz and Reference Guide is optional. There is a statement at the conclusion of the training, which must be agreed to in order to complete the training. The course takes approximately one hour to complete.
- Your Duty to Disclose: This voluntary, online course focuses on arbitrators' obligations to disclose information to FINRA, parties and co-arbitrators. The course describes FINRA's disclosure requirements, explains the necessity for complete disclosure and its importance to the neutrality of the process, instructs arbitrators on how to correctly make a disclosure and reinforces the need for arbitrators to meet their continuing disclosure obligations. There is an online assessment at the end of the course, which must be completed to receive credit. The course takes approximately one hour to complete.
- Discovery, Abuses and Sanctions: This voluntary, online course focuses on the respective duties of arbitrators and parties in the discovery process. The course explains the Discovery Guide; discusses the need for orders of confidentiality; helps arbitrators recognize and address discovery abuses; and reviews possible sanctions if they become necessary. There is an online assessment at the end of the course, which must be completed to receive credit. The course takes approximately one hour to complete.
- Understanding the Prehearing Stage: Initial Prehearing Conference: This voluntary, online course helps arbitrators manage the Initial Prehearing Conference. The course also assists arbitrators in organizing the Conference, keeping the parties focused on the tasks at hand-of which scheduling hearing dates is primary, and providing practical guidance on other preliminary issues that may arise during the Conference. There is an online assessment at the end of the course, which must be completed to receive credit. The course takes approximately one hour to complete.