Summary of the

MLTI Certification Program

The Missouri Land Title Institute Professional Certification Program operates as an independently governed standing committee of the Missouri Land Title Association. The Program has its own officers (the Executive Council) and its own by-laws (the Standing Rules, Administrative Rules and Operating Policies and Procedures).The MLTA Board of Directors appoints one voting member of the seven-member Executive Council, while the Executive Council of the Certification Program appoints one ex-officio, non-voting member to the MLTA Board. The Board of the MLTA also has administrative control of the Certification Program and can implement changes in the Program. The Certification Program has the right to require reconsideration by the MLTA Board at any time of any such administrative change mandated by the MLTA Board. Further, the MLTA Board may not modify the Certification Program by requiring that any individual or group of individuals be certified or denied certification status. Nor may the MLTA Board lower the prerequisites for certification eligibility for any specific individual or group of individuals. The MLTA Board is also prohibited from mandating the imposition of sanctions against certified individuals through the medium of the Certification Program and from altering the appeals process for any pending sanctions against a certified member. Through these safeguards, the Missouri Land Title Institute Professional Certification Program is able to maintain its independence and protect the integrity of the certification process from potential inroads made on the basis of MLTA politics.

The MLTI Professional Participation Program sponsors six different certification designations:

¨ Introductory Title Professional (ITP)

¨ Introductory Escrow Professional (IEP)

¨ Advanced Title Professional (ATP)

¨ Advanced Escrow Professional (AEP)

¨ Master Title Professional (MTP)

¨ Master Escrow Professional (MEP).

The rationale behind the creation of these various certification levels is shown on the following table:

CERTIFICATION LEVELS CHART
Name	Rationale
LEVEL 1: Introductory Title Professional (ITP) Introductory Escrow Professional (IEP)	¨Motivates new employees ¨Provides employers with a qualification factor for new hires ¨Increases the number of individuals who may become certified ¨ Avoids perception of certification program as part of MLTA’s “good ol’ boys club”
LEVEL 2: Advanced Title Professional (ATP) Advanced Escrow Professional (AEP)	¨Allows more experienced people the opportunity to obtain certification more representative of their skill and knowledge even without MLTA membership ¨Expands potential certified individuals to all branches of real estate industry in Missouri ¨Avoids perception that the certification designation is a reward for MLTA involvement & reinforces the “what you know, not who you know” motivation for the program
LEVEL 3: Master Title Professional (MTP) Master Escrow Professional (MEP)	¨Encourages active involvement in the Association ¨Recognizes the contributions an individual has made to the Association through active participation ¨Acknowledges contributions to the land title industry as a whole ¨Testing reinforces the “what you know, not who you know” aspect of the program

In addition, retiring individuals over 60 years of age or with at least 25 years of Missouri real estate or escrow experience who have been certified at the Master level may receive a lifetime certification designation as an Emeritus Title Professional or Emeritus Escrow Professional.

Each certification level carries certain eligibility prerequisites; however, membership in the MLTA is not required for either Introductory Certification or Advanced Certification. At the Master Level, not only must an applicant be a member of the MLTA, but he or she must also have engaged in a minimum level of activity, some generally devoted to the Missouri real estate or escrow professions and some directly displaying a committed involvement in the MLTA. This activity level is measured by a comprehensive point system, referred to as “Professional Participation Points.” Each activity recognized by the Program as either furthering the professionalism of the Missouri real estate title and escrow industry or advancing the goals of the MLTA or relating to individual self-improvement carries a certain point value. In establishing the categories approved for Professional Participation Points and setting a point value for each, a number of factors were taken into account, including the relative value to the profession and to the individual which the activity might bear. The amount of effort estimated to be required to perform the activity was given due consideration. Particularly in the MLTA Involvement Category, point values were assigned based at least in part on the desire to encourage certain behaviors by MLTA members.

The goal overall, however, was to create objective standards which could be verified without the need for the “verifiers” to exercise any more discretion than absolutely necessary to determine compliance with the eligibility requirements. In this respect the point count system was quite successful. It was, however, impossible to avoid certain areas where discretionary decisions would be necessary. Although the categories below were stated as narrowly as possible in order to minimize subjective judgments, these categories inherently involve the exercise of discretion by the individuals reviewing applications:

· 6. Substantive, educational articles on real estate–related topics published in an MLTA publication or on the MLTA website

· 25. Attendance at an Approved Real Estate/ Real Estate Law curriculum related to Missouri other than those sponsored by the MLTA

· 27. Officer, director, board member or committee chair or co-chair of, or instructor/ presenter/panel member/speaker at an educational meeting for, an approved real-estate related, allied professional organization

· 29. Substantive, educational articles on real estate–related topics published in industry-related publications, including underwriter newsletters or newspapers or magazines of general circulation

As a result, applicants for Master Level Certification may submit---without the payment of any application fee---those items intended to evidence compliance with the above categories for pre-approval by the Program. The individuals charged with responsibility for reviewing applications will then determine whether the submitted information constitutes compliance in the above categories and will notify the of the Program’s decision. A determination that the submitted materials do constitute compliance is irrevocable. Pre-approval in the above categories is available for initial certification, continued certification or conversion from Advance Level to Master Level. Since application fees are non-refundable, this allows the applicant to avoid the expense if point credit is unavailable.

The combination of all the point values for recognized activities must reach 1,000 before Master Level Certification is possible. Of the 1,000 points, 500 must be earned in those categories specifically identified as directly benefiting the MLTA and 100 must be earned in individual self-improvement through continued education in the real estate title or escrow fields. (A chart showing “Professional Participation: Categories and Point Counts” can be found in the Forms Index.) During the first two years of program operation, an applicant will receive credit for verifiable Professional Participation Points earned at any time in the individual’s career. Otherwise, an individual will have six years in which to earn the necessary number of Professional Participation Points. Participation points for educational degrees and years of industry employment may always be counted toward total points, no matter when earned. Once the eligibility prerequisites have been verified, the applicant must also pass an examination geared to assess a knowledge level commensurate with the certification level applied for. These and the other eligibility prerequisites are reflected on the following table:

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Name	MLTA Member/ points		Other Prerequisites (all application and/or testing fees must also be paid) (a complete listing of the prerequisites appears in the governing documents of the program)
Introductory Title Professional (ITP) or Introductory Escrow Professional (IEP)	Not required		¨ Passing grade on Level 1 Examination ¨ Five years or less industry employment ¨ No felony convictions ¨ U.S. citizen or legal resident alien ¨ 18 years of age or older ¨ High school diploma or G.E.D. certificate ¨ Current employment in the Missouri real estate or escrow professions ¨ No revocation or suspension of ANY professional license
Advanced Title Professional (ATP) or Advanced Escrow Professional (AEP)	Not required		¨ Passing grade on required Examination(s) ¨ More than five years of industry employment ¨ No felony convictions ¨ U.S. citizen or legal resident alien ¨ 18 years of age or older ¨ High school diploma or G.E.D. certificate ¨ Current employment in the Missouri real estate or escrow professions ¨ No revocation or suspension of ANY professional license
Master Title Professional (MTP) or Master Escrow Professional (MEP)		Required: Member or Affiliate Member Required: Minimum of 1,000 “Professional Participation Points” including: Minimum 500 Points for MLTA Involvement and 100 Points for Education		¨ Passing grade on required Examination(s) ¨ More than five years of industry employment ¨ No felony convictions ¨ U.S. citizen or legal resident alien ¨ 18 years of age or older ¨ High school diploma or G.E.D. certificate ¨ Current employment in the Missouri real estate or escrow professions ¨ No revocation or suspension of ANY professional license

Individuals may retain certified status for five year intervals, by the end of which time certain requirements must be met to continue individual certification. The chart showing some of these requirements appears below.

CONTINUING CERTIFICATION: REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS
Certification Level and Ability to Continue Certification	Education Hours	Professional Participation Points
Introductory Title/Escrow Professional May not continue certification at this level beyond the first five years of employment in the Missouri real estate or escrow professions	Not applicable: No continued certification at this level	Not applicable: No continued certification at this level
Certification Level and Ability to Continue Certification	Education Hours	Professional Participation Points
Advanced Title/Escrow Professional May continue certification at this level indefinitely until certified at the Master Level	Completion of a Continuing Certification Education (CCE) program (once adopted) or 100 points from the Education Classification Categories reflected in Appendix A , other than educational degrees, in each 5 year interval	None Required
Certification Level and Ability to Continue Certification	Education Hours	Professional Participation Points
Master Title/Escrow Professional May continue certification at this level indefinitely	Completion of a Continuing Certification Education (CCE) program (once adopted) Or 100 points from the Education Classification Categories reflected in Appendix A, other than educational degrees, in each 5 year interval	100 points from the MLTA Involvement categories reflected in Appendix A in each 5 year interval And Attend two MLTA Board of Directors Meetings in each 5 year interval
No fees shall be imposed for Continued Certification; however, appropriate charges and discounts may be established for the CCE program.

The exception to continued certification is the Introductory Level. Designed for individuals with five years or less industry experience, this certification designation automatically lapses once the Introductory Title/Escrow Professional has attained five years of experience in the Missouri real estate/escrow professions. At that point the individual could seek certification at the Advanced or Master Level.

While the above summary is believed to be an accurate representation of the main points of the Missouri Land Title Professional Certification Program, the Program is organized and operated pursuant to the Governing Documents. The provisions of those documents control over any discrepancy which may exist between this summary and the actual Program guidelines.

The Missouri Land Title Institute

Professional Certification Program

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