Amendment To The Policy For Granting Foreign Deferrals Of The Regulatory Element - New VUE Center In Singapore

INFORMATIONAL

Continuing Education

Executive Summary

With the opening in October of a VUE-authorized testing and training center (VUE center) in Singapore, NASD Regulation, Inc. will no longer grant foreign deferrals to registered persons residing approximately 350 miles or less from the site. This area includes Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Questions/Further Information

Questions concerning this Notice may be directed to John Linnehan, Director, Continuing Education, NASD Regulation, Inc., at (240) 386-4684; or Heather Bevans, Continuing Education Communications Coordinator, NASD Regulation, Inc., at (240) 386-4685.

Background

A foreign deferral from the Continuing Education Regulatory Element prevents a registered person from becoming CE Inactive for failing to satisfy his or her Regulatory Element requirement, and is valid until the person's next anniversary requirement. NASD Notice to Members 01-50 (August 2001) amended NASD Regulation's policy on granting foreign deferrals in light of the VUE centers opened outside the United States and Canada.

Now that there is a VUE center operating in Singapore, NASD Regulation will no longer grant foreign deferrals of Regulatory Element requirements for registered persons residing within approximately 350 miles of the VUE center.¹

Importantly, principals and supervisors who reside within 350 miles of Singapore will be given 120-day extensions to their anniversary requirement windows until the S201 Principal Session becomes available internationally. Firms must alert NASD Regulation's Field Support Services to request extensions for their principals residing within 350 miles of Singapore. To reach Field Support Services, call (800) 999-6647 and select Option 1.

Below is a listing of the locations where foreign deferrals will no longer be granted for S101 Registered Representative Sessions or S106 Series 6 Investment Representative Sessions.

Locations Not Eligible For A Foreign Deferral Of The Regulatory Element

Asia:

• Hong Kong



• Japan



• Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia



• South Korea

Australia:

• Sydney
  (and all locations within 350 miles of Sydney)

Europe:

• Belgium



• France
  (all locations within 350 miles of Paris)



• Germany



• Holland



• Ireland



• Luxembourg



• Switzerland



• United Kingdom

North America:

• Canada



• United States

Any questions about distances to a VUE center or whether a particular location entitles a registered person to a foreign deferral of the Regulatory Element should be referred to Heather Bevans at (240) 386-4685. To view an updated list of VUE centers and phone numbers, please see the Exam Location Web Page located on the NASD Regulation Web Site at www.nasdr.com/exam/userlistlocations.asp.

Endnote

¹ The center is located at: NTUC Computer Training Centre 10 Anson Road 06-18 International Plaza Singapore 079903