[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59759-59761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24734]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-65376; File No. SR-FINRA-2011-046]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of 
Proposed Rule Change To Revise the Series 17 Examination Program

September 21, 2011.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on September 7, 2011, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. 
(``FINRA'') (f/k/a National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. 
(``NASD'')) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' 
or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and 
II below, which Items have been prepared by FINRA. FINRA has designated 
the proposed rule change as ``constituting a stated policy, practice, 
or interpretation with respect to the meaning, administration, or 
enforcement of an existing rule'' under Section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the 
Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(1) thereunder,\4\ which renders the proposal 
effective upon receipt of this filing by the Commission. The Commission 
is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule 
change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(1).
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Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of 
the Proposed Rule Change

    FINRA is filing revisions to the content outline and selection 
specifications for the United Kingdom Securities Representative (Series 
17) examination program.\5\ The proposed revisions update the material 
to reflect changes to the laws, rules and regulations covered by the 
examination and to better reflect the functions and associated tasks 
performed by a United Kingdom Securities Representative and the 
relationships between the different components of the outline. FINRA is 
not proposing any textual changes to the By-Laws, Schedules to the By-
Laws, or Rules of FINRA.
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    \5\ FINRA also is proposing corresponding revisions to the 
Series 17 question bank, but based upon instruction from the 
Commission staff, FINRA is submitting SR-FINRA-2011-046 for 
immediate effectiveness pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 
and Rule 19b-4(f)(1) thereunder, and is not filing the question bank 
for Commission review. See Letter to Alden S. Adkins, Senior Vice 
President and General Counsel, NASD Regulation, from Belinda Blaine, 
Associate Director, Division of Market Regulation, SEC, dated July 
24, 2000. The question bank is available for Commission review.
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    The revised content outline is attached.\6\ The Series 17 selection 
specifications have been submitted to the Commission under separate 
cover with a request for confidential treatment pursuant to SEA Rule 
24b-2.\7\
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    \6\ The Commission notes that the content outline is attached to 
the filing, not to this Notice.
    \7\ 17 CFR 240.24b-2.
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available on FINRA's Web 
site at http://www.finra.org, at the principal office of FINRA and at 
the Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, FINRA included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and 
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The 
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in 
Item IV below. FINRA has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, 
B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    Section 15A(g)(3) of the Act \8\ authorizes FINRA to prescribe 
standards of training, experience, and competence for persons 
associated with FINRA members. In accordance with that provision, FINRA 
has developed examinations that are designed to establish that persons 
associated with FINRA members have attained specified levels of 
competence and knowledge, consistent with applicable registration 
requirements under FINRA Rules. FINRA periodically reviews the content 
of the examinations to determine whether revisions are necessary or 
appropriate in view of changes pertaining to the subject matter covered 
by the examinations.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(g)(3).
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    NASD Rules and the rules incorporated from NYSE \9\ require that a

[[Page 59760]]

``representative,'' as defined in the respective rules,\10\ register 
and qualify as a General Securities Representative,\11\ subject to 
certain exceptions. For those representatives who are not engaged in 
municipal securities activities, the NASD and NYSE Rules provide that 
registration and qualification as a United Kingdom Securities 
Representative is equivalent to registration and qualification as a 
General Securities Representative.\12\
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    \9\ The current FINRA rulebook consists of (1) FINRA Rules; (2) 
NASD Rules; and (3) rules incorporated from NYSE (``Incorporated 
NYSE Rules'') (together, the NASD Rules and Incorporated NYSE Rules 
are referred to as the ``Transitional Rulebook''). While the NASD 
Rules generally apply to all FINRA members, the Incorporated NYSE 
Rules apply only to those members of FINRA that are also members of 
the NYSE (``Dual Members''). The FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA 
members, unless such rules have a more limited application by their 
terms. For more information about the rulebook consolidation 
process, see Information Notice, March 12, 2008 (Rulebook 
Consolidation Process). For convenience, the Incorporated NYSE Rules 
are referred to as the NYSE Rules.
    \10\ See NASD Rule 1031(b) and NYSE Rule 10.
    \11\ See NASD Rules 1031(a) and 1032(a); NYSE Rules 345.10 and 
345.15(2); and NYSE Rule Interpretation 345.15/02.
    \12\ See NASD Rule 1032(a)(2)(B) and NYSE Information Memorandum 
91-09 (March 1991). FINRA is filing proposed revisions to the Series 
7 examination program in conjunction with this filing. See SR-FINRA-
2011-045.
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    The Series 17 examination is the FINRA examination that qualifies 
an individual to function as a United Kingdom Securities 
Representative.\13\
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    \13\ Candidates must also satisfy certain prerequisite training 
and competence requirements of the United Kingdom's Financial 
Services Authority (``FSA'') and be registered and in good standing 
with the FSA. More information regarding the prerequisite 
requirements is available on FINRA's Web site at: http://www.finra.org/Industry/Compliance/Registration/QualificationsExams/RegisteredReps/Qualifications/P121264.
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    A committee of industry representatives, together with FINRA staff, 
recently undertook a review of the Series 17 examination program. As a 
result of this review, FINRA is proposing to make revisions to the 
content outline to reflect changes to the laws, rules and regulations 
covered by the examination and to better reflect the functions and 
associated tasks performed by a United Kingdom Securities 
Representative and the relationship between the different components of 
the content outline.
Current Outline
    The current Series 17 content outline is divided into five critical 
functions performed by a United Kingdom Securities Representative. The 
following are the number of questions associated with each of the five 
functions, denoted 1 through 5:

1: 8 questions.
2: 28 questions.
3: 24 questions.
4: 33 questions.
5: 7 questions.

    Each function also includes the tasks associated with performing 
that function. Further, the outline includes a section listing the 
applicable laws, rules and regulations with cross-references to the 
related functions and associated tasks.
Proposed Revisions
    FINRA is proposing to divide the Series 17 content outline into 
five major job functions performed by a United Kingdom Securities 
Representative. The following are the five major job functions, denoted 
F1 through F5, and the number of questions associated with each of the 
five functions:

    F1: Seeks Business for the Broker-Dealer through Customers and 
Potential Customers, 20 questions;
    F2: Evaluates Customers' Other Security Holdings, Financial 
Situation and Needs, Financial Status, Tax Status, and Investment 
Objectives, 15 questions;
    F3: Opens Accounts, Transfers Assets, and Maintains Appropriate 
Account Records, 25 questions;
    F4: Provides Customers with Information on Investments and Makes 
Suitable Recommendations, 20 questions; and
    F5: Obtains and Verifies Customer's Purchase and Sales 
Instructions, Enters Orders, and Follows Up, 20 questions.
    Additionally, each job function includes certain tasks describing 
activities associated with performing that function. FINRA is proposing 
to revise the outline to better reflect the functions and associated 
tasks performed by a United Kingdom Securities Representative.
    The revised content outline also includes a knowledge section 
describing the underlying knowledge required to perform the major job 
functions and associated tasks and a rule section listing the laws, 
rules and regulations related to the job functions, associated tasks 
and knowledge statements. There are cross-references within each 
section to the other applicable sections.
    As noted above, FINRA also is proposing to revise the content 
outline to reflect changes to the laws, rules and regulations covered 
by the examination. Among other revisions, FINRA is proposing to revise 
the content outline to reflect the adoption of rules in the 
consolidated FINRA rulebook (e.g., FINRA Rule 3240 (Borrowing From or 
Lending to Customers)).
    FINRA is proposing similar changes to the Series 17 selection 
specifications and question bank. The number of questions on the Series 
17 examination will remain at 100 multiple-choice questions. However, 
candidates will have 150 minutes (2\1/2\ hours) to complete the 
examination, whereas today they have two hours to complete the 
examination.
    Currently, a score of 70 percent is required to pass the 
examination. A score of 72 percent will be required to pass the revised 
examination.
Availability of Content Outlines
    The revised Series 17 content outline will be available on FINRA's 
Web site, at http://www.finra.org/brokerqualifications/exams.
    FINRA is filing the proposed rule change for immediate 
effectiveness. FINRA proposes to implement the revised Series 17 
examination program on November 7, 2011. FINRA will announce the 
proposed rule change and the implementation date in a Regulatory 
Notice.
2. Statutory Basis
    FINRA believes that the proposed revisions to the Series 17 
examination program are consistent with the provisions of Section 
15A(b)(6) of the Act,\14\ which requires, among other things, that 
FINRA rules must be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative 
acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, 
and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest, and 
Section 15A(g)(3) of the Act,\15\ which authorizes FINRA to prescribe 
standards of training, experience, and competence for persons 
associated with FINRA members. FINRA believes that the proposed 
revisions will further these purposes by updating the examination 
program to reflect changes to the laws, rules and regulations covered 
by the examination and to better reflect the functions and associated 
tasks performed by a United Kingdom Securities Representative.
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    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(g)(3).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    FINRA does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in 
any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

[[Page 59761]]

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \16\ and paragraph (f)(1) of Rule 19b-4 
thereunder.\17\ FINRA proposes to implement the revised Series 17 
examination program on November 7, 2011. FINRA will announce the 
implementation date in a Regulatory Notice.
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    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \17\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(1).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to 
determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an e-mail to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-FINRA-2011-046 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20549.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2011-046. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. 
To help the Commission process and review your comments more 
efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all 
comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, 
all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that 
are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating 
to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, 
other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance 
with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site 
viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between 
the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be 
available for inspection and copying at the principal office of FINRA. 
All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission 
does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You 
should submit only information that you wish to make available 
publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2011-046 
and should be submitted on or before October 18, 2011.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\18\

    \18\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-24734 Filed 9-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P