NISM Series II-A Eligibility: Who Needs It?
NISM certifications have no degree requirement. What matters is the role you hold. Here is who Series II-A is mandatory for.
NISM Series II-A is for people who work at a Registrar to an Issue and Share Transfer Agent (RTA) and service listed companies. NISM describes it as a common minimum knowledge benchmark for associated persons of RTAs who deal with investors and issuers, process applications, handle corporate actions, resolve grievances, or work in control and compliance.
There is no entry requirement to sit it. NISM publishes no minimum educational qualification, so a graduate, a student or someone changing careers can register and take the exam on the same terms.
NISM runs this certification under the SEBI (Certification of Associated Persons in the Securities Markets) Regulations, 2007, which exist so that people in specific functions meet a minimum knowledge benchmark. Whether your role must hold it is set by those rules and applied by your RTA's compliance team.
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The functions the certification covers
From the workbook. Series II-A is aimed at associated persons of an RTA performing any of these functions for listed companies:
- checkDealing or interacting with investors or issuers
- checkDealing with, collecting or processing applications from applicants
- checkDealing with corporate actions, refunds or redemptions, repurchase of securities and similar matters
- checkHandling redressal of investors' grievances
- checkInternal control and risk management
- checkCompliance with securities laws
- checkAny other activity performed under SEBI's regulations for Registrars to an Issue and Share Transfer Agents
Typical roles and where they fit
Illustrative only. Whether a specific role needs the certificate is your employer's compliance call.
| Role at an RTA | Function it falls under |
|---|---|
| Investor service desk and issuer relationship staff | Dealing or interacting with investors or issuers |
| IPO and public issue processing teams | Collecting or processing applications |
| Corporate action teams handling dividends, bonus, splits, buy backs and redemptions | Corporate actions, refunds, redemptions, repurchase |
| Complaint handling staff | Redressal of investors' grievances |
| Risk, audit and internal control staff | Internal control and risk management |
| Compliance officers | Compliance with securities laws |
Who else takes it
- check_circleJob seekers aiming for operations roles at RTAs, who want the certificate before they apply
- check_circleCompany secretarial and investor relations staff at listed companies who work closely with their RTA
- check_circleStudents of commerce, finance and company law who want a structured view of how shares are issued, transferred and serviced
- check_circleAnyone who wants to understand the RTA's role: the exam is open to all
Free account, this exam preselected.
Experience and background
No work experience is needed. What helps is a working idea of how an investor holds shares: in a demat account or as physical certificates, receiving dividends, applying in an IPO. The workbook explains these events from the RTA's side, so if you have seen them as an investor, much of it will make sense quickly.
If you are new to markets, the first five chapters introduce equity, debt, other securities and mutual funds. They are enough to get started; you do not need another NISM certificate first.
Eligibility questions
Is there an education requirement for NISM Series II-A?expand_more
NISM publishes no minimum educational qualification for Series II-A. You register on NISM's certification portal and book a slot.
Do I need to be employed at an RTA to take Series II-A?expand_more
No. The certification is aimed at RTA staff, but anyone can register and sit the exam.
Is Series II-A the same as Series II-B?expand_more
No. Series II-A covers RTAs servicing listed companies (corporate). Series II-B is NISM's separate exam for RTAs servicing mutual funds.
How long is the certificate valid?expand_more
3 years. To stay certified, you either re-take the exam or check NISM's CPE options before the certificate expires.
Check with your employer
This page describes who the certification is aimed at. Whether your particular role must hold it is decided by your RTA's compliance team, so ask them before you assume either way.
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