Official Information of 27 February 2014

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OFFICIAL NOTICE
OF THE CZECH NATIONAL BANK dated 27 February 2014 on the conditions for organizing professional courses on the recognition of banknotes and coins suspected of counterfeiting or alteration, organized by the Czech National Bank I.
Organization of professional courses pursuant to Section 33(3)(b) and (c) of Act No. 136/2011 Coll., on the Circulation of Banknotes and Coins A.
Enrollment of Applicants into Courses
1. Applicants for certificates confirming the completion of the course (hereinafter referred to as "certificate") shall enroll candidates for professional courses on the recognition of banknotes and coins suspected of counterfeiting or alteration (hereinafter referred to as "course") if the applicant is:
a) a credit institution conducting cash operations, or b) a processor of domestic banknotes and coins or an applicant for a permit to process domestic banknotes and coins, c) a money changer conducting exchange transactions between currencies other than the Czech koruna, euro, US dollar, British pound, or Japanese yen, d) a money changer conducting exchange transactions only between the Czech koruna, euro, US dollar, British pound, or Japanese yen, e) a casino operator, f) a holder of a postal license or special postal license under the Postal Services Act, g) a payment institution, a small-scale payment service provider, an electronic money institution, or a small-scale electronic money issuer, where the return of received banknotes or coins to circulation occurs in the provision of payment services or issuance of electronic money.
2. The application form is available on the CNB website. The person listed in point 1 (hereinafter referred to as "applicant") is required to state their name or business name, residence or registered office, details of registration in the Commercial Register, including the file number, identification number, and tax identification number, if assigned. In the case of a natural person, they must state their name or business name, date of birth, residence or registered office, and, if available, details of registration in the Commercial Register, including the file number. If the applicant is a legal or natural person registered for money-changing activities, they must also state the registration number for money-changing activities. If the applicant is enrolling their employees, the application must include the first name, last name, and date of birth of the candidates for training.

3. The applicant shall complete the application in accordance with the "Instructions for completing the application for enrollment in a course on the recognition of banknotes and coins suspected of counterfeiting or alteration" located on the CNB website. The completed application shall be sent by the applicant to the Section for Monetary and Payment Services, Operational Department České Budějovice (hereinafter referred to as "Operational Department"), either:
a) electronically with a qualified electronic signature to the email address odborny.kurz@cnb.cz or to the data box with code 8tgaiej, or b) in paper form bearing the signature(s) of persons authorized to sign for the respective legal or natural person to the address:
Czech National Bank
Operational Department České Budějovice
Lannova třída 1
371 35 České Budějovice with the preferred method of delivery being the electronic form of applications.
4. The applicant is entitled to divide the enrolled employees into multiple groups, but no more than ten, with their training taking place on different dates announced by the CNB. Furthermore, the applicant is entitled to choose a preferred CNB branch for each group where the training should take place.
5. If the applicant requests the substitution of a candidate from one group with a candidate from another group, or the removal of a candidate from one group, they are obliged to notify the Operational Department in writing via email or by sending a letter no later than 12:00 hours on the working day preceding the first scheduled date of the course.
6. When removing a candidate, the applicant shall inform the dispatch office whether they request the training to be held on a substitute date or whether the removal of the candidate is final. Furthermore, the applicant shall inform the Operational Department whether the already paid course fee should be used to pay for the participation of another candidate enrolled in accordance with point 7, or whether they request a refund.
7. The applicant shall enroll a new candidate for the course who was originally not enrolled, or a candidate whose participation is changing according to point 5, by sending a new application in accordance with points 2 and 3.
8. After registering the application, the dispatch office shall send the applicant a confirmation of receipt of the application, along with a bulk payment order for all enrolled participants. Applications are registered in the order in which they were delivered to the dispatch office.
9. Course dates are announced for each half-year according to the locations of the courses and are published on the CNB website, including available places for the respective dates. The applicant shall make a reservation for the date in accordance with the published instructions.
10. The Operational Department shall enroll the candidate on the date requested in the reservation. If the applicant does not make a reservation for the date, the Operational Department shall enroll the candidate on a free date, which will usually take place within 30 calendar days after receipt of the application.
11. The Operational Department shall usually send an invitation to the applicant no later than 15 calendar days before each course date, indicating the persons enrolled in the course, the location, and the date of its holding. If there is a change in the date, location of the course, or if the course does not take place for justified reasons, the Operational Department shall inform the applicant of these facts in sufficient time, by letter, email, or fax.

12. If the course is not held at the location preferred by the applicant on a suitable date due to capacity or other organizational reasons, the Operational Department shall, after agreement with the applicant, transfer the candidates to a course held in the nearest possible location and date.
B.
Course Fee
1. The course is conducted by the CNB for a fee. The course fee includes all operational costs of the CNB, including aids lent to participants during the course and costs for the production and sending of the certificate of completion. The course fee is stated in the Price List of Monetary and Commercial Services of the CNB (hereinafter referred to as "price list").
2. The course fee must be paid:
a) by bank transfer to a predetermined account, no later than 5 working days before the start of the course, or b) in cash at the cash desks of CNB branches and the Operational Department, no later than one working day before the start of the course.
3. In exceptional cases, payment of the course fee in cash directly on the day of the start of the course at the location of the course may be allowed. The execution of such payment must be reported to the lecturer no later than at the moment of the start of the course. For the identification of the payer's payment, the variable symbol from the payment order shall be used. If it is not available, the applicant's name and the candidate's name, if different from the applicant's name, shall be stated in the supplementary details.
4. The course fee must be paid in full before its start; it is not an advance payment. If the fee is not paid in full within the deadlines stated in point 2, the candidate shall be excluded from the course.
5. If any of the enrolled candidates does not attend the course, the Operational Department shall, within 14 calendar days from the date of the course, return the course fee reduced by a cancellation fee established in point 6 for the respective candidate to the same account number from which the original payment was made. If the fee has not yet been paid, the Operational Department shall issue an invoice for the amount of the cancellation fee.
6. Participation of individual candidates can be cancelled without a cancellation fee no later than 10 calendar days before the start of the respective course. If the applicant cancels the participation of their employee or their own participation after this deadline, but no later than the day before the start of the course, the cancellation fee is 50% of the amount paid for that person. If the applicant cancels their participation or the participation of their employee later, or does not cancel the participation and does not attend, the cancellation fee is 100% of the course fee.
7. The CNB decides on the possible refund of the entire paid amount after the deadlines set in point 6 have expired, and only in the case of serious reasons excusing the candidate's absence, documented by appropriate documents, e.g., a certificate of incapacity for work.

C.
Course Conduct and Procedure After Completion

1. Each course is intended for a maximum of 30 participants, with the minimum number of enrolled participants required to start the course being 10.
2. Course participants shall receive valid legislation in the field of monetary circulation and protection of banknotes and coins against counterfeiting during the course; the CNB does not provide other training materials.
3. On the day of the start of the course, the participant shall bring their undamaged and unused passport-sized photograph not older than one year, which will be part of the certificate. On the back of the photograph, they shall clearly write in block letters the participant's first name, last name, and date of birth. Photographs of unsuccessful course participants will be returned.
4. If the participant does not hand over the photograph to the lecturer during the course, they are obliged to send it to the Operational Department with the aforementioned details. If the Operational Department does not receive the photograph within 15 days from the end of the course, the participant shall be considered as having failed the course and shall be removed from the records.
5. At the end of the course, participants take a final test, where:
   a) in the case of a course pursuant to Section 33(3)(b) of Act No. 136/2011 Coll., on the Circulation of Banknotes and Coins, solving a practical task of recognizing the authenticity of banknotes and coins suspected of counterfeiting or alteration is an integral part, b) in the case of a course pursuant to Section 33(3)(c) of Act No. 136/2011 Coll., on the Circulation of Banknotes and Coins, only theoretical knowledge is verified.
6. To issue a certificate, it is necessary for the participant to meet the condition of 100% attendance at the course and simultaneously pass the final test with a success rate of at least 80% correct answers.
7. The certificate has the character of a personal document and its validity is not time-limited. Its template is available on the CNB website. The certificate is sent as a registered letter usually within 14 calendar days from the date of the course to the applicant, who is obliged to ensure its delivery to the participant. The Operational Department shall also send a tax document to the payer (applicant or their employee) along with the certificate.
8. A request for the re-sending of a shipment that was returned to the Operational Department due to non-collection at the post office by the addressee must be made to the Operational Department.
9. A course participant who fails the final test may repeat it once within the already paid course fee, no later than 30 calendar days from the date of the course. For the repeat test, the participant shall receive an invitation, in which the date and place of the test will be specified. Repeat tests are held on the dates of regular training. The date of the repeat test can be agreed upon in advance with the Operational Department; if this does not happen, the participant shall be invited by the Operational Department to repeat the test within the specified deadline.
10. If the course participant fails the final test on the second attempt, they shall be removed from the records and a tax document shall be sent to the applicant. If the applicant insists on training the unsuccessful participant, they must re-enroll them in the training as a new candidate.

The same procedure applies in the case where the participant does not attend the make-up final test without excuse.
D.
Issuance of Duplicate Certificates
1. In the case of loss or destruction of the certificate, incorrect data on the certificate, or in the event of a change in data on the certificate, a request for the issuance of a duplicate may be made. If the error in the certificate is caused by the CNB, the duplicate is issued free of charge; in other cases, its issuance is charged according to the price list.
2. The Operational Department issues the duplicate upon request by the participant, who also covers the costs associated with its issuance. The request for the issuance of a duplicate is located on the CNB website and can be sent to the dispatch office in accordance with Part A, point 3. The participant shall complete the request in accordance with the "Instructions for completing the application for the issuance of a duplicate certificate of professional competence in the recognition of banknotes and coins suspected of counterfeiting or alteration" located on the CNB website.
3. After registering the request, the Operational Department shall send the participant a confirmation of receipt of the request with a payment order. At the same time, the participant is invited to send an undamaged and unused passport-sized photograph not older than one year to the address of the dispatch office. On the back of the photograph, the participant shall clearly write in block letters their first name, last name, and date of birth.
4. In the request for the issuance of a duplicate, the participant shall state the reason for this request. If the reason is a change of personal data or damage to the certificate, the participant shall send the original certificate along with the request.
5. As soon as the fee for the issuance of the duplicate is paid and the photograph is delivered, the Operational Department shall issue the duplicate and send it along with a tax document to the address stated in the request. At the same time, the Operational Department shall ensure the invalidation of the original certificate, if it is physically available.
II.
Organization of professional courses pursuant to Section 33(3)(a) of Act No. 136/2011 Coll., on the Circulation of Banknotes and Coins
1. Applicants for the issuance of an instructor certificate shall enroll in the courses in their own name. The application must be completed in accordance with the "Instructions for completing the application for enrollment in a course on the recognition of banknotes and coins suspected of counterfeiting or alteration" located on the CNB website and sent by the method stated in Part I, Section A, point 3.
2. Courses for applicants for the issuance of an instructor certificate always take place in the premises of the CNB headquarters in Prague. Course dates are not announced in advance and are determined by the Operational Department only after receipt of the application.
3. Courses are organized by the CNB for a fee. The course fee is stated in the price list. The payment of the course fee shall be handled analogously according to Part I, Section B.

4. The conduct of the course and the procedure after its completion shall apply analogously to Part I, Section C, points 3 to 9, with the exception that the certificate and proof of payment are always sent to the course participant. The instructor shall request the issuance of a duplicate certificate in accordance with Part I, Section D.
5. An integral part of the final test is also the solution of a practical task of recognizing banknotes and coins suspected of counterfeiting and alteration and determining the printing techniques and security features on the presented currency.
6. Successful course graduates shall be entered into the list of instructors published on the CNB website.
III.
Submission of Applications for Authorization to Organize Courses pursuant to Section 33(4) of Act No. 136/2011 Coll., on the Circulation of Banknotes and Coins
1. Interested parties seeking authorization to organize courses pursuant to Section 33(4) of the Act shall apply for authorization via an application form located on the CNB website.
2. The completed application, including the mandatory attachment proving the applicant's experience in the field of education, shall be sent by the interested party by the method stated in Part I, Section A, point 3.
3. If the application does not contain all mandatory details, the CNB shall invite the interested party to supplement them. If the interested party does not remedy the defects of the application within 14 days from the day they were invited by the CNB to do so, the CNB shall reject their application.
4. The CNB shall assess the interested party's application within 30 days from the day of its receipt and shall inform the interested party in writing in paper or electronic form about the result. At the same time, an "Authorization to Organize Courses" shall be issued to them, and they shall be entered without delay into the list of authorized persons published on the CNB website.
5. The authorized person shall order forms of certificate type "C", study banknotes, or sets of damaged banknotes from the Operational Department. The requested material shall be handed over personally or sent to the stated address along with a tax document.
6. The place and date of the course by the authorized person must be reported to the Operational Department no later than 5 working days before the course.
IV.
Final Provisions
1. This Official Notice repeals the Official Notice of the Czech National Bank dated 23 September 2011 on the conditions for organizing professional courses on the recognition of currency suspected of counterfeiting or alteration, organized by the Czech National Bank.
2. Certificates issued by the Czech National Bank for course instructors pursuant to Decree No. 434/2002 Coll., establishing the requirements for the application for the issuance of a foreign exchange license, the prerequisites and conditions for conducting certain transactions with foreign exchange assets, and the procedure for handling counterfeit or altered instruments, or pursuant to Act No. 219/1995 Coll., the Foreign Exchange Act, for the internal needs of the Czech National Bank, are not considered to be certificates issued pursuant to Section 33(3)(a) of Act No. 136/2011 Coll., on the Circulation of Banknotes and Coins.

VI.
Effectiveness
This Official Notice shall be applied from 3 March 2014.
Member of the Banking Board doc. Ing. Lubomír Lízal, Ph.D. sgd.
Section for Monetary and Payment Services
Responsible Employee: Mgr. Madarová, tel. 2 2441 3409