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Regime change effective 1 April 2024: MAS Notice SFA 04-N09 was superseded by SFA 04-N22 on 1 April 2024.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.
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
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and Examination Requirements for Representatives of Holders of CMS Licences and Exempt FIs), effective 1 April 2024 — superseded SFA04-N09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for Representatives of Licensed Financial Advisers and Exempt Financial Advisers), effective 1 April 2024 — superseded FAA-N13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)