Thread Options
|
#634575 - 11/06/06 06:44 PM
ACAMS question
|
Gold Star
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 260
MS
|
I am now a member (non-certifed) of ACAMS. If you have become certified, please let me know if it is of any extra benefit to attend a preparation seminar versus just ordering the study guide & then taking the exam.
Thanks !
_________________________
]
|
Return to Top
|
|
|
|
#634576 - 11/06/06 06:48 PM
Re: ACAMS question
|
Power Poster
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,659
Kennel
|
I thought the prep seminar was good. They covered alot of what will be on the exam, the types of questions and study hints to help pass the exam. If you are good at reading comprehension, you could probably do fine by studying the exam guide.
I am sure you will get answers both ways, so it is really what is best for you.
Good Luck!
Big-Dog CAMS
_________________________
CAMS, AMLP, AKC, K-9
|
Return to Top
|
|
|
|
#634577 - 11/07/06 08:37 PM
Re: ACAMS question
|
Gold Star
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 284
California
|
I took the prep seminar and did not find it very helpful, but that is just me, you may find great benefit from it. When you sign up for the exam they send you a study guide. Everything you need to pass is in the guide, but experience is a big plus.
|
Return to Top
|
|
|
|
#634579 - 11/08/06 01:57 AM
Re: ACAMS question
|
Gold Star
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 346
Mid-Atlantic
|
For those who have taken the exam...are the questions more international or U.S. oriented? I'm sure that there will be international banking questions asked but just wondering for a feeling on the content. I work for a small bank ($350M) and have tossed back and forth whether or not to become offically certified. I've been a non-certified member for the past 3 years. My location in the U.S. isn't really prone to international money laundering or much international activity for that matter and wondered about the orientation of the exam, whether primarily focused on U.S. AML, Internation AML or a mix. Thanks!
|
Return to Top
|
|
|
|
#634580 - 11/08/06 12:35 PM
Re: ACAMS question
|
10K Club
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,395
Jersey Shore
|
I'm not sure what you mean by U.S. vs international...but the questions fall into a couple of broad categories; principles, scenarios, and process.
If you understand the FATF 40 recommendations, the Wolfsberg principles and how to apply them, that's good. (As a side note, ACAMS has a very specific definition of the Black Market Peso Exchange, there are questions that hinge on *their* definition).
If you can work your way through the cases offered as scenarios, think them through carefully, you'll be alright.
Finally, many of the scenarios turn into questions on best-practice processes; what would you do if... sorts of things. Like any multiple choice tests, there are obviously wrong, though tempting answers, and a couple that are close. Think about best practices and the FATF 40 principles and pick the one that makes you think, "Sure, in a perfect I'd do...."
Scenario: Large amounts of cash are deposited to an account by a stream of small children. You: A. Close the account, file a SAR, burn the house of the account-holder and salt the earth on which it stood. B. Think its cute that Girl Scout cookie sales are apparently so popular. C. Ask a few questions on your own about the account and its history, come to your own conclusion and drop the matter. D. Refer the matter to your FIU with a description of the activity, some data on account transactional history, the account holder and why you thought it suspicious.
Stuff like that.
|
Return to Top
|
|
|
|
#634582 - 11/08/06 09:10 PM
Re: ACAMS question
|
Gold Star
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 284
California
|
Banker 1976, my bank does not do any international transactions and I was also worried about that part of the exam, but it was the section that I actually did the best on. Have no fear, study the guide, you should be fine. CAMS certified and proud of it.
|
Return to Top
|
|
|
|
#634583 - 11/09/06 03:35 PM
Re: ACAMS question
|
Gold Star
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 451
Everywhere, USA
|
I recently attended the prep seminar. Even with all my examining experience, I found the seminar useful. They let you know what topics are more prevalent on the test than others. They also give you sample test questions, some of which are also in the study guide, but others aren't. So you get a few more sample questions, which gives you an idea of the structure of the test, if not an idea about areas you need to study if you don't already know the answers.
One observation about the seminar, as useful as I found it, is that it's a real challenge for the instructors to stay on point, which is about taking the CAMS test vs. turning the seminar into a how-to-do-BSA/AML seminar. Some attendees asked technical questions that got them off track at times.
That notwithstanding, I'd recommend the seminar. AR.
|
Return to Top
|
|
|
|
|
|