Membership

Categories of Membership

For more information and an application, please click on the appropriate membership category above.

Renew Your Membership

You may renew your membership online or you may remit your dues to the address below.

3505 Vernon Woods Drive
Summerfield, NC  27358
Tel: 336-365-4640
Fax: 336-644-6205

Contact Person:
Rhenda Davis, Membership Director 
E-mail Address: [email protected]

 

How to Join SOFE: Joining Membership Categories and Benefits

General Membership
General Membership is open to individuals who are or have been financial examiners, assigned to work in the field and offices of government agencies. General members may be eligible to proceed to designated membership levels, such as Accredited Financial Examiner (AFE®), Certified Financial Examiner (CFE®), and Automated Examiner Specialist (AES®). For more information, view certifications here.

Membership Benefits include:

  • Access to our publications:
    • The quarterly journal, The Examiner
    • The quarterly newsletter, InSight
  • Education specifically designed for financial examiners and regulators
    • At the national level through the annual Career Development Seminar, seminars at NAIC meetings, and information about training by related organizations
    • At the regional level through regional seminars
    • At the state chapter level, through state chapter meetings
  • Peer contact with all the examiner disciplines — an important benefit now that the various regulated financial services tend to blend together.

For more information, please email our membership director.

General Membership Application  |  Online Application  |  Back to Top

Regulatory Membership
This category was established for professional regulators, attorneys, actuaries, market conduct examiners, financial institution professionals, and other positions which assist in the regulatory process, but have never been financial examiners. Regulatory Membership gives regulators who support the Society’s objectives, and whose membership is approved by the Executive Committee, the opportunity to become active participants in the Society of Financial Examiners. Regulatory Members are entitled to the benefits of General Membership (listed above) except those related to voting.
Regulatory Membership Application  |  Online Application  |  Back to Top

Associate Membership
This category is for those business executives or community leaders who have never been financial examiners, but show support of professional regulation and the Society, its programs and objectives, deserves a meaningful status in the Society. Associate Membership gives leading executives in the fields of insurance, banking, credit unions, as well as legal, actuarial, and accounting services, the opportunity to affiliate with and become active participants in the Society of Financial Examiners. Associate Members whose membership is approved by the Executive Committee are entitled to the benefits of General Membership (listed above) except those related to voting .
Associate Membership Application  |  Online Application  |  Back to Top

Institution Membership
This program allows firms in the insurance community who support the programs and objectives of the Society, the opportunity to become members. Institution membership gives leading professional insurance firms the opportunity to be affiliated with and to become active participants in the Society of Financial Examiners. Institution members (up to 10 applicants) whose membership is approved by the Executive Committee are entitled to the benefits of General Membership (listed above) except those related to voting.
Institution Member Application  |  Online Application  |  Back to Top

Student Membership
The Society of Financial Examiners (SOFE) offers students whose membership is approved by the Executive Committee, free membership while they are enrolled in college full-time, for a maximum of four years. College students majoring in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Information Systems, Pre-Law or other related fields are encouraged to explore the professional opportunities offered in SOFE accreditation and certification programs. Student Members are entitled to the benefits of General Membership (listed above) except those related to voting.
Application for Student Membership (Full Time College Students Only)  |  Online Application  |  Back to Top

Retired Status
To be considered for Retired membership status, an examiner must complete an application certifying that he/she is retired and is no longer gainfully employed either directly or indirectly in the regulation or business of insurance, financial institutions, or credit unions, and that he/she has either worked for thirty years or more in regulatory service or is aged 55 or older. At a later date, should the Retired examiner wish to return to work in the regulation or business of insurance, financial institutions, or credit unions in the future, he/she must notify the Society of Financial Examiners of his/her change in status and apply for reactivation of his/her active status.

The Retired examiner pays a reduced amount of dues (currently $50), is not required to report CRE credit, and may continue to use the designation in an honorary manner after his/her name. As a member of the Society, the Retired status individual will continue to receive Society publications and mailings, and may attend the CDS at a reduced registration fee. However, to reactivate to active status, the examiner must complete the Reinstatement From Retirement Application, pay the pro-rated dues differential between the Retired and AFE/CFE/AES dues at the current rate for the current year, pay a processing fee (currently $35), and comply with SOFE's Continuing Regulatory Education requirements at the time of reactivation.

For more information, please email our membership director

Inactive Status
For Inactive status the examiner notifies the Society's headquarters in writing of his/her desire to become inactive. The headquarters staff makes the examiner's membership inactive and notes such in the examiner's files. The examiner is then no longer a member, so there are no dues, no mailings, no continuing education requirements, and no right to use the SOFE designations (AFE, CFE, AES). If, within five years of becoming Inactive, the examiner wishes to reactivate his/her designated membership with SOFE, the Reinstatement Committee will give special case-by-case consideration to the reasons why the examiner became inactive and may waive or provide special dispensation around the usual requirements for reinstatement.

In other words, if an examiner's membership is cancelled for non-payment of dues or if cancellation is requested, the examiner must go through reinstatement if he/she wishes to return to designated membership in the Society. Reinstatement requires:

  1. Payment of all dues at current rates in arrears since expiration of membership.
  2. Payment of a processing fee for reinstatement in the amount of $100.00.
  3. Evidence of employment in discipline during interim.
  4. Documentary evidence of continuing education (reported on CRE reporting forms and supplemented by attendance certificates or other proof of continuing education).

To apply for reinstatement, print out the Reinstatement From Inactive Status Application and mail or fax it to SOFE Headquarters.    Online Application

If an examiner has declared Inactive status, however, he/she goes through reactivation instead which simply means that the Reinstatement Committee may waive some part of the requirements for reinstatement listed above, depending on the circumstances surrounding the declaration of Inactive status.

For more information, please email our membership director

Certification
SOFE offers three professional designations, which may be earned by completing extensive requirements including the successful completion of a series of examinations administered by the Society. The designations are Accredited Financial Examiner, Certified Financial Examiner, and Automated Examination Specialist.

Designation Requirements:

Accredited Financial Examiner
Certified Financial Examiner
Certified Financial Examiner — Financial/Rating Analyst
Automated Examination Specialist

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