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Online Registration System FAQs

Floor brokers and floor traders must establish security accounts with NFA by completing an enrollment form.  However, an FB or an individual FT may not designate anyone else as the Security Manager. NFA will notify the FB or individual FT by letter when it approves the enrollment request and will provide a User Name for the FB or individual FT to use along with a temporary password to log in to ORS. 

Security Managers can reset their passwords by visiting the security manager password reset page. To reset your password, you will need your User name (ID used to log on to the system) and the Security Manager security information provided on the enrollment form. If any of this information is unknown, you will not be able to use the password reset process. Instead, you must contact our Information Center to have your password reset.

Other firms users can reset their passwords from the NFA System Login page, entering their user ID and indicating forgot password. NFA will respond via email with a temporary password. If the User Name is not known, this user will have to contact the firm's Security Manager to reset the password.

Yes. The Security Manager for a firm can create additional Security Managers. Floor Brokers and individual Floor Traders cannot create additional security managers.

Fax a letter on firm letterhead signed by a listed principal of the firm to NFA at (312) 559-3537 naming the new Security Manager and providing contact information. NFA will contact the new Security Manager about gaining access to ORS.

Individuals who are AP applicants or principals will only be able to access ORS to complete their application, if their firm requires them to do so, and to verify the application after their firm files it. Their firm will provide them with a temporary User ID and password to perform these functions

Each temporary User ID and password will be valid for 90 days. 

If you forget your password, you must contact your sponsor's Security Manager to reset your password.

No. Only to complete and verify your application.

Yes. A firm can authorize another firm to perform all of its registration activities. Firms that wish to do this should contact NFA's Information Center. FCMs and RFEDs that guarantee IBs will automatically have this ability.

Yes. After the firm starts an application for you in ORS, a temporary User ID and password will be displayed online for the firm to give to you. You may use this to access your application and fill it out, but you will not be able to file it. After you have completed your application, you may inform your sponsor that you are finished by clicking "I am finished. Send my application to my sponsor", which is located on the Confirmation screen. Please note, after your sponsor files the application, you will need to electronically file a verification of the information contained in the application. Your sponsor will provide you with the temporary User ID and password that you will need to access your application in ORS. If your firm already gave you a Temporary User ID and password to fill out the application, you will use them again to access the application, review the information and, if everything is correct, file the verification.

No. Your sponsor must file your application for registration as an AP or as a principal. Please note, after your sponsor files the application, you will need to electronically file a verification of the information contained in the application. Your sponsor will provide you with the temporary User ID and password that you will need to access your application in ORS. If your firm already gave you a Temporary User ID and password to fill out the application, you will use them again to access the application, review the information and, if everything is correct, file the verification.

Applicants for registration as an AP or designation as a branch office manager or Principal must file a verification of the information contained in the application and submit a fingerprint card. It may also be necessary for NFA to receive evidence from FINRA that the applicant has passed a proficiency examination. FB and FT applicants must file a fingerprint card, and NFA must receive proof of granted trading privileges from a Contract Market or Swaps Execution Facility.

Fingerprint cards are sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to determine if the applicant has a criminal record. To match a fingerprint card with an individual FBI file the FBI must be able to analyze the print pattern of all 10 fingers. If the pattern of any one finger is not legible and the match cannot be made, the FBI will return the fingerprint card to NFA and NFA will have to delay processing until a new fingerprint card is obtained. For this reason it is very important that you have your fingerprints taken by a person properly trained in rolling fingerprints.  

Applicants are encouraged to submit three sets of fingerprints with their application to avoid delays in obtaining additional sets if necessary for processing.

To see all of the application, termination and/or update processes that you have started but not filed, click the Open Registration Processes box on the Dashboard in ORS or click the update/withdraw Information Registration link and Processes Not Complete under the Internal Processing section. To finish an open process, click on the hyper link under the PROCESS column, this will allow you to return to the opened process. If the process was started in error, you may delete it by changing the In Use status to "N", if applicable and clicking the red "X" to delete the process.