Chartered Market Technician

Chartered Market Technician (CMT) is a professional designation that confirms proficiency in technical analysis of the financial markets. To hold the designation, membership in the Market Technicians Association is required.

The CMT designation requires completion of an education program and examination series in technical analysis. The Market Technicians Association (MTA) oversees the program curriculum and administration of exams. Candidates who pass all three examination levels of the program can earn the Chartered Market Technician designation, which certifies that the individual is competent in technical analysis.^[1]

The CMT program

The Chartered Market Technician (CMT) Program is a certification process in which candidates are required to demonstrate proficiency in a broad range of technical analysis subjects. Administered by the Accreditation Committee of the Market Technicians Association (MTA), Inc., the Program consists of three levels. CMT Level 1 and CMT Level 2 are multiple choice exams while CMT Level 3 is in essay form.

The MTA began to develop the CMT program in 1985. Just as other professional organizations have standards of competence for members, so the CMT designation provides a recognized standard of proficiency for technical analysts. (The CMT examinations are administered by Thomson Prometric, which administers other professional tests, such as the CPA exam.)

The objectives of the CMT Program are:

• To guide candidates in mastering a professional body of knowledge and in developing analytical skills;
• To promote and encourage the highest standards of education; and
• To grant the right to use the professional designation of Chartered Market Technician (CMT) to those members who successfully complete the Program and agree to abide by the MTA Code of Ethics.

In order to be granted your CMT designation, you must meet the following requirements:

• Successful completion of all three (3) levels of the CMT Exam.
• Have obtained 'Member Status' within the MTA.
• Have been gainfully employed in a professional analytical or investment management capacity for a minimum period of three (3) years and must be regularly engaged in this capacity at the time of passing all three (3) levels of the CMT Exam.

The three-part CMT examination includes:

1. Definitions ("terminology, charting methods, and ethics")
2. Application ("concepts such as "Dow Theory, Elliott Wave, intermarket, etc.")
3. Integration ("competency in ethics and in rendering technical opinions integrating multiple aspects of technical analysis. Essay responses should be of the quality of technical research published by practicing CMT charterholders.")

CMT material

Material covered by the CMT program spans a wide variety of statistical and technical analysis of price patterns, volume history and measures of trend, momentum and volatility. Trading, automated trading systems, risk management, intermarket analysis, behavioral finance, market history and ethics are also featured in the course of study. The MTA has chosen texts and trading books by various authors as preparation material for each of the three exams and potential candidates can find an updated list of texts through the MTA. Some of the texts currently studied by CMT candidates include:

Edwards, Robert D. and Magee, John, Technical Analysis of Stock Trends, 9th Edition

Kirkpatrick, Charles D. and Dahlquist, Julie R.: Technical Analysis The Complete Resource for Financial Market Technicians

Pring, Martin J.: Technical Analysis Explained, 4th Edition

Jeremy du Plessis, The Definitive Guide to Point and Figure

Frost, A.J. and Prechter, Robert R., Elliott Wave Principle, Tenth Edition

Kaufman, Perry J., New Trading Systems and Methods, 4th Edition

Nison, Steve, Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques, 2nd Edition

Pring, Martin J., Investment Psychology Explained

Aronson, David R.: Evidence-Based Technical Analysis

Brown, Constance M., Technical Analysis for the Trading Professional

Murphy, John J., Intermarket Analysis: Profiting From Global Market Relationships

Shiller, Robert J., Irrational Exuberance, 2nd Edition

Series 86 exemption

In February 2005, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recognized levels 1 and 2 of the CMT exam as an alternative to the Series 86 Examination, as part of the rule changes filed by the North American Securities Dealers Regulation, now known as Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and NYSE. This recognition on the part of securities regulators and the self-governing bodies of the securities industry provided significant new credibility to technical analysis.

See also

• Technical analysis
• Mathematical finance
• Algorithmic trading
• High-frequency trading
• Stock valuation
• Market Technicians Association
• Chartered Financial Analyst
• Intermarket analysis
• Point and figure chart
• Candlestick chart
• Dow theory
• Elliott wave principle
• Relative Strength Index (RSI)
• Resistance
• Support
• Trend line

References

1. ↑ Market Technicians Association