Cannabis Risk Specialist® Certification
The Cannabis Risk Specialist® Certification helps cannabis banking professionals identify, assess, document, and mitigate risk across CRB portfolios. This online certification is designed for professionals responsible for cannabis banking risk assessment, onboarding, fraud mitigation, BSA/AML exposure, deposit and loan agreements, onsite reviews, and ongoing portfolio oversight.
What does becoming CRS-certified mean?
CRS certification demonstrates that you understand the unique risks associated with cannabis banking and can support a more disciplined, examiner-ready approach to risk assessment, insurance review, fraud mitigation, rescheduling analysis, BSA/AML exposure, receiverships, high-risk reviews, and CRB relationship management.
Identify risk more clearly
Build a practical framework for understanding cannabis banking risk across customer type, product exposure, geography, transaction channels, program complexity, and business operations.
Strengthen mitigation practices
Use training on insurance, fraud, agreements, monitoring, onsite visits, and receiverships to support stronger controls, documentation, escalation, and portfolio oversight.
Prepare for scrutiny
Support examiner-ready documentation and internal confidence by understanding the risk factors, red flags, review processes, and mitigation strategies that matter in cannabis banking.
Cannabis banking risk training for real-world portfolio oversight
CRS is designed for professionals who manage, supervise, or support CRB portfolios and need practical risk education from onboarding through ongoing monitoring, review, remediation, and examination readiness.
CRS certification curriculum
The CRS certification includes the courses below, designed to help professionals build a practical, risk-focused understanding of cannabis banking from initial assessment through ongoing monitoring and high-risk review.
- Cannabis Banking Risk Assessment and Mitigation
- Rescheduling is NOT a Panacea
- Demystifying Cannabis Insurance: The Missing Risk Layer in Cannabis Banking
- Marketing Your CRB Program Publicly
- Mitigating Fraud in Cannabis Banking
- Handling Receiverships for Cannabis Businesses
- High-Risk, High-Impact: Managing BSA/AML Exposure in Cannabis, Crypto and Emerging Markets
- Tailoring Deposit and Loan Agreements with High-Risk CRBs
- High-Risk Reviews and On-Site Visits
Who should pursue CRS?
CRS is intended for professionals responsible for risk decisions, oversight, monitoring, documentation, or escalation related to cannabis banking and CRB portfolios.
- Cannabis banking risk managers and portfolio managers
- BSA/AML, compliance, audit, and examination-prep professionals
- Program managers overseeing CRB onboarding and monitoring
- Lenders, credit officers, treasury, and operations professionals
- Fintechs, payments providers, attorneys, accountants, consultants, and vendors supporting cannabis banking risk programs
How the online certification works
Students complete online course modules, review handouts, and complete brief quizzes. A passing score of 80% is required for quiz completion, and the certificate is good for two years from issuance.
- Online training designed for busy schedules
- Video modules and supporting handouts
- Brief quizzes to reinforce learning
- Ability to start, stop, and resume at your convenience
- Two-year certification period with simple renewal
CRS Certification FAQ
Is CRS only for risk managers?
No. CRS is especially useful for risk managers, but it also supports compliance teams, BSA/AML professionals, lenders, portfolio managers, operations leaders, fintechs, consultants, and service providers involved in cannabis banking risk decisions.
Can I complete the CRS certification online?
Yes. CRS is delivered online through ACB’s learning platform with video modules, handouts, and quizzes that can be completed on your schedule.
What score is required to complete the certification?
Each class includes a brief quiz, and students need an 80% score for successful completion.
How long is the certification valid?
The CRS certificate is good for two years from the date of issuance. Renewal is designed to be straightforward and may include updated or revised elements added since your original certification.
Can I request an invoice?
Yes. Use ACB’s invoice request page if you or your organization prefers to pay by invoice instead of immediate online checkout.
Strengthen cannabis banking risk management from onboarding through oversight.
Build practical expertise in cannabis banking risk assessment, rescheduling, cannabis insurance, fraud mitigation, receiverships, BSA/AML exposure, deposit and loan agreements, and high-risk onsite reviews.