Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework

Program Title:	Financial Technology Specialist
Career Cluster:	Finance

College Credit Certificate	
CIP Number	0530710401	
Program Type	College Credit Certificate (CCC)	
Program Length	24 credit hours	
CTSO	BPA	
SOC Codes (all applicable) 	For program SOC codes, please see the Program and Course Tables section of the CTE Program Resources page linked below.	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml	

Purpose

This certificate program is part of the Financial Technology AS degree program (1530710400).  

A College Credit Certificate consists of a program of instruction of less than sixty (60) credits of college-level courses, which is part of an AS or AAS degree program and prepares students for entry into employment (Rule 6A-14.030, F.A.C.).

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Finance career cluster; provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of the Finance career cluster. 

The content includes but is not limited to a program that focuses on financial big data modeling from algorithms to cloud-based data-driven financial technologies. Includes instruction in financial analytics, financial data processing, knowledge management, data visualization, effective decision communication, machine learning for finance, statistical inference and dynamic modeling on financial data, and project management.

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.

Program Structure

This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting 24 credit hours.
When developing the course sequence for the local implementation of this program, select courses that:
•	Meet the skill development requirements of the standards and benchmarks of this program.
•	Where reasonable and practicable, align with programs offered by your institution or other postsecondary institutions in Florida, including: 
o	Related AS and AAS degrees.
o	Baccalaureate degrees within the same career pathway and/or Federal CIP code.

Visit FloridaShines’ Discover Programs website to identify other institutions that offer similar programs to review their course sequencing. Where appropriate, course alignment between institutions offering related programs can facilitate interagency student articulation.

Visit FloridaShines’ Common Prerequisites Manual to identify courses that are prerequisites for admission into an upper division program.  When sub-baccalaureate courses are aligned to the course admissions requirements of baccalaureate programs with the same career pathway, students can enter upper division coursework seamlessly.   

Florida’s Career Readiness Skills for CTE Programs

Employability Skills	
01.0	Apply academic skills to workplace scenarios.	
01.01	Use reading skills.	
01.02	Use writing skills.	
01.03	Use mathematical strategies and procedures.	
01.04	Use scientific principles and procedures.	
02.0	Design a solution to an industry problem.	
02.01	Use critical thinking.	
02.02	Use creativity.	
02.03	Make sound decisions.	
02.04	Solve problems.	
02.05	Reason. 	
02.06	Plan and organize.	
03.0	Manage resources within an industry project	
03.01	Manage time.	
03.02	Manage money or resources.	
03.03	Manage materials.	
03.04	Manage personnel.	
04.0	Oversee the subcomponents, operations and output of a technical or organizational system.	
04.01	Manage systems.	
04.02	Monitor systems.	
04.03	Improve systems.	
05.0	Use information for decision making.	
05.01	Locate information.	
05.02	Organize information.	
05.03	Use information.	
05.04	Analyze information.	
05.05	Communicate information.	
06.0	Apply relevant technology to workplace scenarios to aid productivity.	
06.01	Use technology.	
07.0	Interpret and express interpersonal communication.	
07.01	Communicate verbally.	
07.02	Listen actively.	
07.03	Comprehend written material.	
07.04	Convey information in writing.	
07.05	Communicate nonverbally.	
07.06	Interpret nonverbal communication.	
08.0	Interact with others to accomplish workplace goals.	
08.01	Collaborate with others in a team.	
08.02	Respond to customer needs.	
08.03	Exercise leadership.	
08.04	Negotiate to resolve conflict.	
08.05	Respect others.	
09.0	Manage personal behavior to maximize productivity and professional growth.	
09.01	Demonstrate responsibility and self-discipline.	
09.02	Adapt and show flexibility.	
09.03	Work independently.	
09.04	Demonstrate a willingness to learn.	
09.05	Demonstrate integrity.	
09.06	Demonstrate professionalism.	
09.07	Take initiative.	
09.08	Display positive attitude.	
09.09	Take responsibility for professional growth.	
Job Attainment	
10.0	Find, assess and apply to job opportunities.	
10.01	Identify online job posts relevant to his or her career aspirations.	
10.02	Compare and contrast the job posts’ required qualifications, job duties, compensation, benefits and employers. 	
10.03	Define what information, documentation and writing prompts are required for the positions.	
11.0	Communicate personal competence, character and fit for a job opportunity.	
11.01	Develop a resume.	
11.02	Write a cover letter.	
11.03	Curate a professional portfolio that includes work products.	
11.04	Prepare for and experience a mock job interview.	
12.0	Cultivate and leverage relationships to professionally advance.	
12.01	Request a signed reference letter, letter of recommendation and/or an online skill/professionalism endorsement. 	
12.02	Develop a plan to cultivate a professional digital footprint.	
12.03	Develop a networking plan for a specific industry of interest.	

Standards

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Describe new financial technologies and their role in banking and financial services. 
02.0	Analyze and describe a web/mobile financial application.
03.0	Interpret data analytics and explain their usage in the financial industry. 
04.0	Evaluate financial technology applications and examine banking solutions.
05.0	Review and assess information and data security risks and policies.

Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Program Title:	Financial Technology Specialist
CIP Number:		0530710401
Program Length:	24 credit hours

This certificate program is part of the Financial Technology AS degree program (1530710400).  At the completion of this program, the student will be able to:	
01.0	Describe new financial technologies and their role in banking and financial services.  The student will be able to:	
01.01	Evaluate new and emerging financial technologies and business models.	
01.02	Identify the unique characteristics of financial innovation.	
01.03	Describe how emerging and disruptive financial technologies become drivers of change in the financial industry.	
01.04	Explain blockchain technology and its use in financial transactions.	
01.05	Identify the risks, policy and social implications of financial technology.	
02.0	Analyze and describe a web/mobile financial application.  The student will be able to:	
02.01	Define and apply user-friendly UI/UX design.	
02.02	Explain the architecture of client-side and server-side web/mobile financial applications.	
02.03	Review and compare web/mobile financial applications.	
02.04	Review and validate consumer, client and industry financial application standards and performance.	
03.0	Interpret data analytics and explain their usage in the financial industry.  The student will be able to:	
03.01	Demonstrate data compilation, management and reporting.	
03.02	Manipulate and analyze financial datasets utilizing data analytics methods and tools.	
03.03	Apply best practices of using statistical analysis methods.	
03.04	Utilize appropriate data analytics methods to analyze financial datasets and interpret results.	
03.05	Communicate the results of the data analysis.	
04.0	Evaluate financial technology applications and examine banking solutions.  The student will be able to:	
04.01	Analyze technologies utilized in banking and digital currencies.	
04.02	Understand technological developments in payments, digital banking, alternative lending, and P2P technologies.	
04.03	Apply machine learning in robo-advising and FinTech.	
05.0	Review and assess information and data security risks and policies.  The student will be able to:	
05.01	Understand the threats, vulnerabilities, and risks related to financial technologies.	
05.02	Explain IT security controls related to financial technologies.	
05.03	List and discuss laws, compliance requirements, and industry standards in FinTech.	
05.04	Review cross-border exchanges and anti-money laundering.	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students.

Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

CTSOs are co-curricular career and technical student organizations providing leadership training and reinforcing specific career and technical skills. Career and Technical Student Organizations provide activities for students as an integral part of the instruction offered. Other CTSOs not listed in this curriculum framework or recognized by the Florida Department of Education are permissible provided they support student mastery over the standards and benchmarks of this curriculum framework.

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Postsecondary students with disabilities must self-identify, present documentation, request accommodations if needed, and develop a plan with their counselor and/or instructors. Accommodations received in postsecondary education may differ from those received in secondary education. Accommodations change the way the student is instructed. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.