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Activity-Exam-Form Cross-Reference Mapping

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Overview

This document provides a consolidated mapping between regulated activities under the Securities and Futures Act (SFA) and Financial Advisers Act (FAA), their required CMFAS examination modules, the applicable appointment form, and the key regulatory notice reference. It is intended as a quick-reference guide for compliance officers processing representative appointments.

Regime change effective 1 April 2024: MAS Notice SFA 04-N09 was superseded by SFA 04-N22 on 1 April 2024. The CMFAS examination series was simultaneously restructured — old M-series modules (M1A, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M6A, M8, M8A, M9, M9A, M10) were retired and replaced by new RES, CM, and RESP module codes. Representatives who passed old M-series modules before 1 April 2024 are grandfathered — those passes remain valid for their corresponding activities. New appointees from 1 April 2024 onward must pass the corresponding new-regime modules. Both columns are shown below for reference.

SFA Regulated Activities (CMS Licensees)

# SFA Activity New Module (from 1 Apr 2024) Old Module (retired, grandfathered) Form Type Key Notice Reference
1 Dealing in Securities (exchange-traded) RES-1A + CM-EIP M1A + (M6 or M6A) Form 3A (appointed), 3B (provisional), 3C (temporary) SFA04-N22 (superseded SFA04-N09 on 1 April 2024)
2 Dealing in Securities (non-exchange-traded derivatives) RES-1B + CM-EIP M1A + (M6 or M6A) Form 3A / 3B / 3C SFA04-N22
3 Trading in Futures Contracts RES-2A + CM-EIP M2 + (M6 or M6A) Form 3A / 3B / 3C SFA04-N22
4 Leveraged Foreign Exchange Trading RES-2B + CM-EIP M3 + (M6 or M6A) Form 3A / 3B / 3C SFA04-N22
5 Advising on Corporate Finance RES-4 + CM-EIP M4 + (M6 or M6A) Form 3A / 3B / 3C SFA04-N22
6 Fund Management RES-3 + CM-EIP M5 + (M6 or M6A) Form 3A / 3B / 3C SFA04-N22
7 REIT Management RESP-10 (M6 or M6A) + (M8 or M8A) Form 3A / 3B / 3C SFA04-N22
8 Securities Financing RES-1A + CM-EIP M1A + (M6 or M6A) Form 3A / 3B / 3C SFA04-N22
9 Providing Custodial Services No CMFAS exam required M1A (old regime, no longer required) Form 3A / 3B / 3C SFA04-N22 (custodial services not listed in para 4.2 applicable activities)

FAA Regulated Activities (Licensed Financial Advisers)

# FAA Activity New Module (from 1 Apr 2024) Old Module (retired, grandfathered) Form Type Key Notice Reference
1 Advising on Securities (Excluded Investment Products) RES-5 + CM-EIP M5 + M6 Form 3A / 3B / 3C FAA-N26 (superseded FAA-N13 on 1 April 2024)
2a Advising on Securities (Specified Investment Products) RES-5 + CM-SIP M5 + M6A Form 3A / 3B / 3C FAA-N26
2 Advising on Life Insurance RES-5 + CM-LIP M5 + (M9 or M9A) Form 3A / 3B / 3C FAA-N26
3 Advising on Collective Investment Schemes RES-5 + CM-CIS M5 + (M8 or M8A) Form 3A / 3B / 3C FAA-N26
4 Marketing Collective Investment Schemes RES-5 + CM-CIS M5 + (M8 or M8A) Form 3A / 3B / 3C FAA-N26
5 Arranging Insurance RES-5 + CM-LIC M5 + (M9 or M9A) + (M8 or M8A) Form 3A / 3B / 3C FAA-N26

Form Selection Guide

Form When to Use CMFAS Timing Experience Requirement
Form 3A Standard appointment -- representative has passed all required CMFAS modules Before appointment None (exams suffice)
Form 3B Provisional -- representative relocating to Singapore, needs time to sit exams Within 3 months of appointment 3 years in home jurisdiction
Form 3C Temporary -- overseas employee conducting activities in Singapore temporarily May be waived (equivalent overseas qualifications) 5 years relevant experience

CMFAS Module Quick Reference

Current Modules (effective 1 April 2024, per SFA04-N22 / FAA-N26)

Module Full Name Replaces
RES-1A Regulations for Dealing in Securities (Exchange-Traded) M1A
RES-1B Regulations for Dealing in Securities (Non-Exchange-Traded Derivatives) — (new)
RES-2A Regulations for Trading in Futures Contracts M2
RES-2B Regulations for Leveraged Foreign Exchange Trading M3
RES-3 Regulations for Fund Management M5 (partial)
RES-4 Regulations for Advising on Corporate Finance M4
RES-5 Regulations for Financial Advisory Services M5
CM-EIP Capital Markets Products — Excluded Investment Products M6 / M6A
CM-SIP Capital Markets Products — Specified Investment Products M6A (partial)
CM-CIS Capital Markets Products — Collective Investment Schemes M8 / M8A
CM-LIP Capital Markets Products — Life Insurance Products M9
CM-LIC Capital Markets Products — Life Insurance, ILPs and Collective Investment Schemes (combined M8+M8A+M9+M9A) M8+M8A+M9+M9A
RESP-10 REIT Management with Product Knowledge M10 / M6A + M8A
PGI Principles of General Insurance — (insurance sector)

Retired Modules (pre-1 April 2024 — passes remain valid for grandfathered appointees)

Module Full Name Succeeded By
M1A Rules and Regulations for Dealing in Securities RES-1A
M2 Rules and Regulations for Trading in Futures Contracts RES-2A
M3 Rules and Regulations for Leveraged Foreign Exchange Trading RES-2B
M4 Rules and Regulations for Advising on Corporate Finance RES-4
M5 Rules and Regulations for Financial Advisory Services RES-5
M6 Securities Products Knowledge (Basic) CM-EIP
M6A Securities and Futures Product Knowledge CM-EIP / CM-SIP
M8 Collective Investment Schemes CM-CIS
M8A Product Knowledge for CIS CM-CIS
M9 Life Insurance and Investment-Linked Policies CM-LIP
M9A Product Knowledge for Life Insurance and ILPs CM-LIC
M10 Securities and Futures Compliance RESP-10

Common Multi-Activity Combinations

Representatives often conduct multiple regulated activities. The combined exam requirements are:

Combination New Modules (from 1 Apr 2024) Old Modules (grandfathered)
Dealing in Securities + Futures Trading RES-1A + RES-2A + CM-EIP M1A + M2 + (M6 or M6A)
Dealing in Securities + Leveraged FX RES-1A + RES-2B + CM-EIP M1A + M3 + (M6 or M6A)
Fund Management + Advising on CIS (FAA) RES-3 + CM-EIP + CM-CIS M5 + (M6 or M6A) + (M8 or M8A)
FA advising on Securities + Life Insurance RES-5 + CM-SIP + CM-LIP M5 + (M6 or M6A) + (M9 or M9A)
Full FA scope (Securities + Insurance + CIS) RES-5 + CM-SIP + CM-CIS + CM-LIP M5 + (M6 or M6A) + (M8 or M8A) + (M9 or M9A)

Exemptions and Special Cases

  • Existing representatives continuously appointed before SFA04-N09 effective date (8 Oct 2010) are exempt from additional exams for the same activity
  • April 2024 grandfathering: Representatives who passed M-series modules before 1 April 2024 are grandfathered — those passes remain valid for their corresponding regulated activities under SFA04-N22
  • Equivalent qualifications may be accepted by MAS on application (SFA04-N22, Para 6; previously SFA04-N09, Para 6)
  • Form 3B provisional reps must pass all required modules within 3 months; failure results in automatic cessation
  • Form 3C temporary reps may have CMFAS waived entirely based on overseas qualifications and 5+ years experience
  • EFI representatives (banks, merchant banks, insurers) follow the same exam requirements but submit via the EFI notification channel

Source Documents

  • MAS Notice SFA04-N22 (Minimum Entry and Examination Requirements for Representatives of Holders of CMS Licences and Exempt FIs), effective 1 April 2024 — superseded SFA04-N09
  • MAS Notice FAA-N26 (Competency Requirements for Representatives of Licensed Financial Advisers and Exempt Financial Advisers), effective 1 April 2024 — superseded FAA-N13
  • Securities and Futures Act 2001, Second Schedule (Regulated Activities)
  • Financial Advisers Act, Chapter 110, Part III
  • Last updated: 2026-05-02

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