Class act for mortgage brokers and agents

Seneca College to join IMBA in training, accrediting mortgage professionals

TORONTO, Nov. 30 /CNW/ - The Independent Mortgage Brokers' Association of Ontario (IMBA) is going to college. Beginning in January, mortgage professionals pursuing the prestigious CPMA and CPMB designations can take some or all of their courses at Toronto's Seneca College.

IMBA's Certified Professional Mortgage Agent (CPMA) and Certified Professional Mortgage Broker (CPMB) courses were formerly offered only by correspondence and online. Now, Seneca College officials have teamed up with IMBA to add a traditional classroom option to the mix.

"Seneca College supports the Independent Mortgage Brokers Association of Ontario's (IMBA) initiative to enhance the educational requirements to obtain its professional designation by mandating the completion of several mortgage industry workshops that are currently delivered through Seneca College," says Seneca program coordinator Joe White.

"We are proud that Seneca College recognizes the value in the CPMA and CPMB," says Jeff Atlin, IMBA president. "This partnership provides IMBA the opportunity to further enhance the already rigorous educational requirements of the designations with Seneca's strong academic support and course delivery systems."

Successful graduates will add four letters to their business cards, but far greater skills and expertise to their repertoire. The ten-module program is challenging, tightly focused and hands-on; students work with real-life scenarios in a combination of instruction and case study. Subjects include how to discern a client's mortgage needs and match them to the most suitable product; how to detect and prevent fraud; how to weigh a lender's products; how to evaluate credit bureau reports. Other modules examine industry ethics and legislation, as well as sales and marketing techniques.

Academics make up just one piece of the pie. To earn a CPMA or CPMB, mortgage professionals must be seasoned practitioners who have already developed significant tenure and experience within the industry: two years for brokers or agents seeking a CPMA and five for brokers hoping to merit a CPMB.

"CPMA's and CPMB's have education coupled with experience," says IMBA's Albert Collu. "They are trained, tested and trusted mortgage professionals who put the customer first."

For more information on IMBA's professional designations and membership or to enrol in online courses, please visit their website at www.imba.ca. To investigate or register for CPMA/CPMB courses at Seneca College, go to www.senecac.on.ca/ce/programs/mortgage_industry_workshops.html.

The Independent Mortgage Brokers' Association of Ontario (IMBA) is an organization of mortgage financing professionals representing 1,600 members from over 300 Ontario companies. IMBA provides industry leadership through public advocacy and education. It monitors mortgage market advancements, products, trends and regulatory matters. Consumers can comfortably rely upon IMBA members to provide them with superior knowledge and experience when arranging mortgage financing. To learn more about the IMBA or to find a member, please explore www.imba.ca.

For further information: MEDIA CONTACTS: Jeff Atlin, CPMB, President, IMBA, [phone] X108, [email protected]; Martin Marshall, Chair, IMBA Communications, [phone], [email protected]; Joe White, Program Coordinator, Mortgage Broker Education, Seneca College, [email protected]