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CDCS Qualification-Specification

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Page2of15 TableofContentsPURPOSEOFTHEQUALIFICATION 3WHYSTUDYTHELIBFLEVEL4CERTIFICATEFORDOCUMENTARYCREDITSPECIALISTS(CDCS®)? 3OBJECTIVE 3KEYCONTENTAREAS 3LEARNINGOUTCOMES 3KEYSKILLSDEVELOPED 3ENTRYREQUIREMENTS 4RECOGNITIONOFPRIORLEARNING4PROGRESSIONANDPREPARATIONFORFURTHERSTUDY4APPRENTICESHIPS 5PREPARATIONFOREMPLOYMENT5STRUCTURE 5TOTALQUALIFICATIONTIME(TQT) 6LEARNINGRESOURCES 6WHATTODOBEFORETHEASSESSMENT6ASSESSMENT 7QUALIFICATIONGRADING7RE‐SITATTEMPTS 7APPENDICES 8APPENDIX1–REGULATIONDETAIL8APPENDIX2–UNIT1–PRINCIPLESANDPRACTICESOFDOCUMENTARYCREDITTRANSACTIONS(PDT) 9 Pleasenote:Thisdocumentisuncontrolledwhenprinted.Pleasealwaysreviewthelatestdocumentavailablethroughthewebsite  

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Page3of15PurposeofthequalificationWhystudytheLIBFLevel4CertificateforDocumentaryCreditSpecialists(CDCS®)?TheCertificateforDocumentaryCreditSpecialists(CDCS®)isaprofessionalqualificationrecognisedworldwideasthebenchmarkofcompetenceforinternationalpractitioners;itwasprimarilydesignedforstudentswithatleastthreeyearsexperienceworkingwithdocumentarycredits.Itspurposeistoenabledocumentarycreditpractitionerstodemonstratepracticalknowledgeandunderstandingofthecomplexissuesassociatedwithdocumentarycreditpractice.CDCS®developstheknowledgeandskillsrequiredtoaccuratelycheckdocumentsandmanagedocumentarycredittransactions.Withinthis,itprovidesacoreunderstandingofdocumentarycreditsandtheproducts,parties,processesandrulesthatunderpintransactions.Aswellasdevelopingtheabilitytoidentifyirregularitiesandrisks.ObjectiveTheCDCS®willenableyouasadocumentarycreditpractitionertogainapracticalknowledgeandunderstandingofthecomplexissuesassociatedwithdocumentarycreditpractice.Keycontentareas Types,characteristicsandusesofdocumentarycreditandstandbylettersofcredit. Rulesandtradeterms. Partiestodocumentarycredittransactionsandtheirrolesandobligations. Typesandmethodsofpayment/creditusedindocumentarycredittransactions. Typesoftransport,commercialandfinancialdocumentsusedindocumentarycredittransactions. Relatedproductsincludinglettersifindemnity. Implicationsofbreachingrulesincludingmoneylaunderingandterroristfinancing.LearningoutcomesLO1 Beabletoutilisetherulesrelatingtodocumentarycreditsandunderstandthefeatures,documents,lifecycle,andtherolesofthevariouspartiestoacredit.LO2 Beabletomanagedocumentarycredittransactionsandassociatedrisks.KeyskillsdevelopedThequalificationwillencourageyouto:

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Page4of15 analysedocumentarycreditproductsandreflectupontheirdesirabilityandeffectivenessinavarietyofscenarios; applyappropriaterulesandguidelinestoavarietyofdocumentarycredittransactionscenarios; developanunderstandingofcurrenttechnicallanguage,methodsandpracticesofdocumentarycredittransactions; selectandanalyseappropriatedataandinformationfromarangeofsources;and, increaseyourabilitytoworkandlearnindependently.EntryrequirementsTherearenospecifiedentryrequirements.However,youneedtobesatisfiedofyourabilitytostudyinEnglishatLevel4.RecognitionofpriorlearningInlinewiththeLondonInstituteofBanking&Financeregulations,asCDCS®isasingleunitqualification,recognitionofpriorlearningdoesnotapply.ProgressionandpreparationforfurtherstudyProfessionalrecertificationWhenyouhavesuccessfullycompletedtheCDCS®qualification,theCDCS®designationremainsvalidforthreeyears.Toretainthedesignationafterthisperiod,youarerequiredtoeithercontinuingprofessionaldevelopment(CPD)inordertorecertify,orre‐takeandpasstheexamination.1. Forthoserecertifyinguptoandincludingthe31October2019‐24CPDLearninghours/PDUsarerequiredtorecertify.2. Thoserecertifyingat30April2020andbeyondwillberequiredtosubmit36CPDLearninghours/PDUstorecertifysuccessfully.TherecertificationprogrammeallowsyoutodemonstratehowyouhavecarriedoutlearningactivitieswhichhaveenhancedyourpriorknowledgeandskillsintheareaofInternationalTradeFinance.SuchactivitiesareknownasCPD‐ContinuingProfessionalDevelopment‐andincludeparticipationineventssuchas:workshops;courses;seminars;webinarsaswellase‐learningandselfdirectedresearch.CPDisvitalinensuringyourknowledgeofInternationalTradeFinanceisalwaysuptodate.Moreinformationabouttherecertificationprogrammecanbefoundonthecoursewebsite.

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Page5of15Further/additionalstudyIfyouwishtodevelopawiderunderstandingofinternationaltradeandfinancetheCertificateinInternationalTradeandFinance(CITF®)isdesignedtoenabletrade,exportandcommodityexecutivestogainathorough(introductory)understandingofkeyprocedures,practicesandlegislationintradefinanceonaninternationallevel.Ifyouwishtodevelopyourprofessional/specialistknowledgefurthertheCertificateforSpecialistsinDemandGuarantees(CSDG®)hasbeendesignedforprofessionalsthatusedemandguaranteesineverydaywork.Thecertificateprovidesthekeyknowledgeandskillsneededtooperateeffectivelyinahighlytechnicalareaofinternationaltrade.ApprenticeshipsCDCS®isnotcurrentlyavailablethroughanapprenticeshipframeworkorstandard.PreparationforemploymentIfyouarealreadyworkingwithdocumentarycreditsthenthisqualificationisdesignedforyou;youwouldbeexpectedtohavealreadygainedthreeyearsindustryexperiencepriortocommencingyourstudies.CDCS®isaprofessionalqualificationrecognisedworldwideasthebenchmarkofcompetenceforinternationalpractitioners.Assuchitdoesnotprepareyouforemployment.Whileitisintendedforexperiencedpractitioners,thequalificationcouldalsobeusedtogainwiderexperience/knowledgeinthissector,totransferintothesectorandforcontinuingprofessionaldevelopment(CPD)purposeswhichcouldthereforequalifyyoutoworkinanotherfield.StructureCDCS®ismadeupofonemandatoryunitwhichmustbesuccessfullycompletedinorderforyoutoachievethecertificate:ThedetailedunitprofileisavailableatAppendix2tothisdocumentandlatestversionsarealwaysavailablethroughourcoursewebsite.CertificateforDocumentaryCreditSpecialists(CDCS®)Unit1–PrinciplesandPracticesofDocumentaryCreditTransactions(PDT)

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Page6of15TotalQualificationTime(TQT)TotalQualificationTime(TQT)isapredictionofthetotaltimeastudentwithnopriorknowledgemightneedtocompletethecourse.TQTconsistsoftwoelements,GuidedLearning(GL)andallotherhours: GListimespentstudyingundertheimmediateguidanceofsupervisionofateacher. Allotherhoursincludehoursspentunsupervisedinresearch,learning,e‐learning,e‐assessment,completingcoursework,completinghomework,exampreparation,andformalassessments.CDCS®isprimarilyconsideredasaselfdirectedstudyqualificationwithplannedexaminationsessions.GuidedLearningHours    3hoursOtherhours     289hoursTotalQualificationTime292hoursLearningresourcesYouwillbeprovidedwiththefollowinglearningresources: onlineaccessviaMyLIBF‐www.myLIBF.comtolearningmaterialsandtoKnowledgeBank(virtuallibrary); unitsyllabus; studytext; e‐quiz; specimenpaper;and, student‐ledforum.WhattodobeforetheassessmentUponregistration,youareautomaticallyregisteredforaspecificexaminationsession.Topreparefortheassessment,youshouldmakeuseofalllearningresourcesaspartofyourrevisionforthecourseexam.

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Page7of15AssessmentTheunitisassessedthroughasinglethreehourand15minuteexaminationconsistingofacombinationofMultipleChoiceQuestions(PartA)anddocumentcheckingexercises(PartB).Atotalof100marksareavailable.Thepassmarkfortheexaminationis70%oftheavailablemarks;youmustalsoachieve60%ofthemarksavailableinsectionBtopassthequalification.Thestructureoftheassessmentensuresthatallaspectsofthecoursecontentaresubjecttoexternalexaminationunderstrictexaminationconditions.QualificationgradingTheoverallqualificationwillbegradedPass/Distinction.Youmustachieveamarkof70%overall(and60%forSectionB).Thequalificationgradeboundariesareasfollows:Grade RawmarkPass 70–94Distinction 95–100Gradeclassificationsarepre‐determinedandaligntothepublishedgradedescriptorsavailabletolearners.However,thegradeclassificationsmaybesubjecttochangeunderthejurisdictionoftheassessmentboardwherethisisnecessarytomaintainstandardsofvalidity.Re‐sitattemptsYouareallowedtoresittheunitinaccordancewiththepublishedLondonInstituteofBanking&Financepolicies.Fulltermsandconditionsareavailableonourwebsite. 

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Page8of15AppendicesAppendix1–RegulationdetailThisdocumentdescribestheregulationdetailthatisapplicabletothequalification.QualificationtitleLevel4CertificateforDocumentaryCreditSpecialists(CDCS®)Ofqualqualificationnumber 601/1159/8Qualificationlevel 4EuropeanQualificationsFramework(EQF)level5QualificationType OccupationalQualificationRegulationstartdate 29August2014Operationalstartdate 01October2014Regulatedin EnglandandNorthernIrelandOffered InternationallyAssessmentavailableinEnglish YesAssessmentavailableinWelsh NoAssessmentavailableinIrish NoSectorsubjectarea 15.1AccountingandFinancePurposeD.Confirmoccupationalcompetenceand/or‘licencetopractice’Sub‐purposeD1.ConfirmcompetenceinanoccupationalroletothestandardsrequiredTotalcredits 29Minimumcreditsat/abovelevel 29Guidedlearninghours 3Totalqualificationtime 292Overallgradingtype Pass/DistinctionAssessmentmethods Multiple‐choiceexaminationQualificationdescriptionTheCertificateforDocumentaryCreditSpecialistsconsistsofonemandatoryunit.Ageranges 16–18;19+

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Page9of15Appendix2–Unit1–PrinciplesandPracticesofDocumentaryCreditTransactions(PDT)AdescriptionofUnit1(PDT)thatprovidesdetailonsyllabuscontent,learningoutcomesandassessmentcriteria,andspecificunitleveldescriptors.PrinciplesandPracticesofDocumentaryCreditTransactions(unit1)UnitnarrativeThisunithighlightstheimportanceofrules,standardsandguidelinesfordocumentarycredittransactionsandtheproductsavailabletoassistthesetransactions.Youwillbeintroducedtodocumentarycredittransactionsbyfocusingonthetypes,productsandprocessesusedindocumentarycredittransactions.Youwillgainanappreciationofthecommonlyuseddocumentsandtradeterms.Youwillunderstandtheroles,obligationsandrelationshipsbetweenpartiestodocumentarycreditsandbeabletomanagedocumentarycredittransactionsandtherelationshipbetweenpartiestothetransactions.Theunitwillalsocoverhowtherulesandguidelinescanbebreached,theimplicationsofsuchbreaches,therisksinvolvedindocumentarycredittransactionsandhowtomanagethoserisks.StudyingPDTyouwillneedtoapplytheknowledgegainedtopracticalexercisesdesignedtotestyourabilitytochecktheaccuracyofdocumentstoenabletheircorrectusageindocumentarycredittransactions.UnitprofileUnittitle Unit1:PrinciplesandPracticesofDocumentaryCreditTransactions(PDT)OfqualunitreferencenumberK/506/0499Unitlevel 4Unitcreditvalue 29Typicalstudyhours 292

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Page10of15Unit1assessmentmethodologyi. TheassessmentofUnit1willhavetwocomponents:a. PartA–60multiple‐choicequestions.Thiscomponentoftheexaminationisworth60marks.b. PartB–Thiscomponentoftheexaminationisworth40marks.i. 10multiple‐choicequestions,withonemarkavailableforeachcorrectanswerii. threesimulationdocument‐checkingexercises,youmustidentifyfivediscrepanciesfromachoiceof10.Eachdiscrepancycorrectlyidentifiedisworthtwomarks.Atotaloftenmarksareavailableforeachsimulationexercise.c. Theexaminationwillbeworthatotalof100marks.ii. Toachieveanoverallpass,youmustachieveamarkof70%overall(and60%forSectionB).Creditcannotbeclaimedforgaining60%inSectionBbutfailingtogain70%overall,onlyoverallachievementisgraded.Unit1learningoutcomes/assessmentcriteriaLearningoutcome(LO)Thelearnerwhenawardedcreditforthisunitwill:Assessmentcriteria(AC)AssessmentoftheLOswillrequirealearnertodemonstratethattheycan:Beabletoutilisetherulesrelatingtodocumentarycreditsandunderstandthefeatures,documents,lifecycle,andtherolesofthevariouspartiestoacredit.1.1 Distinguishbetweenthedifferenttypesofpaymentmethodandcredit,therolesandobligationsofpartiesinvolvedandthedocumentsandrelatedproductsusedindocumentarycredittransactions.1.2 Applytherules,standards,guidelinesandtradetermsusedinandidentifytherisksandproblemsthatcanaffectdocumentarycredittransactions.Beabletomanagedocumentarycredittransactionsandassociatedrisks.2.1 Applyappropriaterulesandtradetermstothemanagementofdocumentarycredittransactions.2.2 Checktheaccuracyofdocumentsusedindocumentarycredittransactions.

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Page11of15Unit1syllabusUNIT1SYLLABUSLOs/ACsLO1:Beabletoutilisetherulesrelatingtodocumentarycreditsandunderstandthefeatures,documents,lifecycle,andtherolesofthevariouspartiestoacredit.AC1.1Maintypes,characteristicsandusesofdocumentarycredits: Understandingofthetermdocumentarycredit Abasicdocumentarycredittransaction(includinggenericflowchartofthisprocess) Typesofdocumentarycredit Primarycharacteristicsofdocumentarycredits Secondarycharacteristicsofdocumentarycredits:- Revolvingcredits- Instalment- Advancepayments- Transferable- Evergreen- Clean- Directpay Categorisationofdocumentarycreditbytypeandcharacteristic Commercialdocumentarycredits StandbylettersofcreditRolesandobligationsofthepartiestodocumentarycredittransactionsandtherelationshipsbetweenthem: Partiestodocumentarycreditsrolesandresponsibilities:- Issuingbank- Beneficiary- Applicant- Non‐bankissuers- Confirmingbank- Advisingbank- Negotiatingbank- Payingbank- Acceptingbank- Reimbursingbank- Transferringbank

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Page12of15- Nominatedbank- Presentingbank Banksrolesandobligations:- Issuingbank- Confirmingbank- Advisingbank- Negotiatingbank- Payingbank- Acceptingbank- Reimbursingbank- Transferringbank- Nominatedbank- Presentingbank- Beneficiary Relationshipofpartiesinrespectofpaymentofconformingdocumentsandnon‐paymentofnon‐conformingdocuments RolesandresponsibilitiesinreimbursementTypesoftransport,commercialandfinancialdocumentsusedindocumentarycredittransactionsandtheirrequirementsunderICCrules: Characteristics,processingandrulesthatapplytotransportdocuments:- BillofLading- CharterPartyBillofLading- Non‐negotiableSeawayBill- MultimodalTransportDocument- AirTransportDocument- Road,RailorInlandWaterwayTransportDocument- Forwarder’sCargoreceipt,Mate’sReceiptandConsolidator’sReceipt- PostReceiptorCertificateofPosting- CourierorExpeditedDeliveryServiceDocument FinancialandCommercialdocuments:- Draft/billofexchange- CommercialInvoice- InsuranceDocument- WeightCertificate- CertificateofOrigin

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Page13of15- PackingLists- InspectionCertificate DocumentsforofficialpurposesandcheckingmechanismsTherelatedproductsusedindocumentarycredittransactions: LetterofIndemnity AirWayRelease ShippingGuarantee AssignmentofProceeds ParticipationandSyndication RefinanceCredits ReimbursementundertakingAC1.2Industryrules,standards,guidelinesandtradetermsthatgovernthedeliveryofdocumentarycredittransactions: Incoterms2010® UCP600–UniformCustomsandPracticeforDocumentaryCredits ISP98–InternationalStandbyPractices URR725–UniformRulesforbank‐to‐bankreimbursementunderdocumentarycredits ICCdecisiononoriginaldocuments(AppendixtoICCpublication645–ISBP) ISBP745 eUCPThewaysinwhichdocumentarycredittransactionrulesandregulationscanbebreachedandtheimplicationsofsuchbreaches.Including: MoneyLaundering Sanctions TerroristFinancingTheprocessesandchallengesinvolvedindocumentarycredittransactions: Processesandactivitiesassociatedwith:- Salesagreement/contractofsale- Issue- Pre‐advise- Advise- Confirm- Amend

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Page14of15- Transfer‐Present‐Examine‐Pay/Reject‐Claim‐ReimburseFunds‐Cancel Presentation,ExaminationandSettlement/Rejection Identifyingandhandlingdiscrepantdocuments Electronicpresentations ProblemsthatcanariseduringthedocumentarycredittransactionprocessTherisksinvolvedindocumentarycredittransactions. TypesofRisk- Operational/UCP600- Credit- ForeignExchange- Fraud- Legal- Political Otherrisks/considerations- MoneyLaundering- Sanctions- TerroristFinancing- CreditRiskAssessment/Management Riskstothepartiestodocumentarycredits:- applicant- issuingbank- beneficiary- advisingbank- nominatedbank- confirmingbank- reimbursingbank Howriskscanbecontrolled

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Page15of15LO2: Beabletomanagedocumentarycredittransactionsandassociatedrisks.AC2.1 Applyappropriaterulesandtradetermstodocumentarycredittransactions: Forexample‐Incoterms,UCP600,ISBP745,ISP98,URR725AC2.2 Checktheaccuracyofdocumentsusedindocumentarycredittransactions: Applyandanalysethetransport,commercialandfinancialdocumentsusedindocumentarycredittransactionsinordertorecommendappropriatecoursesofactionandmanagedocumentarycredittransactions.