NISM Certification: Everything You Need to Know

The Securities and Exchange Board of India, or SEBI, India’s capital market regulator, formed the National Institute of Securities Markets, or NISM, in 2006. The NISM was established to improve the skills of people participating in the securities markets in India through educational initiatives and certification examinations.

The NISM offers mandatory certification examinations and continuing professional education programmes for securities market intermediaries. These courses are meant for various market participants, including traders, analysts, and regulatory staff, and cover a wide range of subjects such as currency and equity derivatives, compliance, investment advisory, basics of securities market, and even fixed income securities.

Essentially, the NISM is a public trust with a mandate to carry out a wide range of capacity building activities at various levels aimed at enhancing the quality standards in securities markets.

The institute also has six schools of excellence and a 72-acre campus at Patalganga (near Mumbai-Pune Expressway) for full-time residential academic programmes for postgraduate students, short-term training programmes and faculty development programmes for market participants.

What is NISM Certification? 

If someone is interested in pursuing a job or developing skills related to the securities market—stocks, derivatives, currency, mutual funds, advisory services, regulatory compliance etc—the certification courses of the NISM is a great place to start with.

While in many places, these certificates may be must for a job, they also provide skills in case you want to dabble in the securities market on your own. The certificates also add weight to your CV even if they may not be mandatory for any position that you are interested in.

The certificates given by the NISM are widely recognised and appreciated not just in the securities market but also in many associated fields.  

List of NISM Certification and Exams

NISM offers certification examinations and continuing professional education programmes that are offered both in a classroom format and in online mode (eCPE).

Here is a comprehensive list of the certification examinations offered by the NISM.

The NISM also provides many continuing professional education programmes. Here is the list.

Eligibility for NISM Certification

The best part of the NISM certification is that it doesn’t make past education or experience mandatory. Anyone who is above 18 years of age can apply for the certificate exams.

This helps someone get an early entry into security markets and then if someone wants to join late it is still an avenue.

NISM has categorized itself into six schools:

1) School for Securities Education (SSE)

2) School for Certification of Intermediaries (SCI)

3) School for Regulatory Studies and Supervision (SRSS)

4) School for Investor Education and Financial Literacy (SIEFL)

5) School for Corporate Governance (SCG)

6) School for Securities Information and Research (SSIR)

How to Register for NISM Certification Exam? 

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to register and enrol for NISM certification examination:

1) log on to https://certifications.nism.ac.in

2) Create an account

3)  Login using your account

4) Select exam, date, test centre, slot

5) Make payment

6) Download study material

7) Don’t forget to print your admit card as well

8) Carry your admit card, original identity proof – PAN Card/Aadhaar card/Passport/ Driving Licence- to the exam centre

9) Reach exam centre 30 minutes before the scheduled time

10) Download NISM certificate within 15 days of the exam

Benefits of NISM Certification Exam

The NISM certification provides a definite edge in job hunting, career advancement as well as in setting up own business. Here are some of the benefits of NISM Certification:

Creating job opportunity: NISM certification can help open up career opportunities in the securities market, as firms working in the sector give a lot of weight to people who have passed these exams.

Job advancement: For a person who may already be employed in the securities market, NISM certification offers a chance to move up the ladder.

Entrepreneurship: NISM exams ensure in-depth knowledge and understanding of various aspects of the securities markets, helping anyone set up own business in the sector or to simply help trade.

Regulatory jobs: SEBI regulations make it NISM certifications must for individuals engaged in specific roles in the securities market to ensure correct compliance with legal requirements.

Conclusion

While NISM certifications and exams are not must to get into securities market, but the in-depth knowledge needed to get these certificates ensures that one will be well versed will all the intricacies of the trade. Also, it helps a firm ensure compliance with regulatory rigour.