Notice2026-19635
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Change To Amend NYSE American Rule 2.1210
Primary source
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Published
September 25, 2026
Issuing agencies
Securities and Exchange Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 185 (Friday, September 25, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 185 (Friday, September 25, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61009-61011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19635]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-106461; File No. SR-NYSEAMER-2026-85]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Change To Amend NYSE
American Rule 2.1210
September 22, 2026.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby given
that, on September 10, 2026, NYSE American LLC (``NYSE American'' or
the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I,
II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-
regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE American Rule 2.1210
(Registration Requirements) applicable to member organizations, Equity
Trading Permit (``ETP'') Holders and American Trading Permit (``ATP'')
Holders (collectively, ``Members'') \4\ to align with a recent
amendment by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
(``FINRA''). The proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's
website at <a href="http://www.nyse.com">www.nyse.com</a> and at the principal office of the Exchange.
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\4\ In general, Rule 24 (General and Floor Rules) defines the
term ``member organization'' in pertinent part as ``a partnership,
corporation or such other entity as the Exchange may, by Rule,
permit to become a member organization, and which meets the
qualifications specified in the Rules.'' The term ``member
organization'' is defined, in general, in Rule 2(b)(i) (General
Rules) as a registered broker or dealer (unless exempt pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is a member of the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (``FINRA'') or another
registered securities exchange. Member organizations that transact
business with public customers or conduct business on the Floor of
the Exchange shall at all times be members of FINRA. A registered
broker or dealer must also be approved by the Exchange and
authorized to designate an associated natural person to effect
transactions on the floor of the Exchange or any facility thereof.
This term shall include a natural person so registered, approved and
licensed who directly effects transactions on the floor of the
Exchange or any facility thereof. The term ``member organization''
also includes any registered broker or dealer that is a member of
FINRA or a registered securities exchange, consistent with the
requirements of section 2(b)(i) of this Rule, which does not own a
trading license and agrees to be regulated by the Exchange as a
member organization and which the Exchange has agreed to regulate,
including Limited Underwriting Members as defined herein. See Rule
2(b)(ii) (General Rules). For a complete definition of the term
``member organization,'' see Rule 24 (General and Floor Rules) and
Rules 2(b)(i) and (ii) (General Rules). The term ``ETP Holder''
means a member organization that has been issued an ETP. An ETP
Holder will agree to be bound by the Rules of the Exchange, and by
all applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. See Rule 1.1E(n). References to ``member organization''
as used in Exchange rules include ATP Holders, which are registered
brokers or dealers approved to effect transactions on the Exchange's
options marketplace. Under the Exchange's rules, an ATP Holder has
the status as a ``member'' of the Exchange as that term is defined
in Section 3 of the Act. See Rule 900.2NY.
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II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant parts of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE American Rule 2.1210
(Registration Requirements). More specifically, the Exchange proposes
to reduce the waiting periods for retaking FINRA qualification
examinations as provided in Commentary .05 to NYSE American Rule 2.1210
(Waiting Periods for Retaking a Failed Examination) to align with a
recent amendment to FINRA Rule 1210, Supplementary Material .06.\5\
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\5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 105885 (July 13,
2026), 91 FR 43678 (July 16, 2026) (SR-FINRA-2026-014) (``FINRA Rule
Change'').
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NYSE American Rule 2.1210 requires each person engaged in the
investment banking or securities business of a Member to be registered
with the Exchange as a representative or principal in each category of
registration appropriate to his or her functions and responsibilities
as specified in Rule 2.1220 (Registration Categories), unless exempt
from registration pursuant to Rule 2.1230 (Associated Persons Exempt
from Registration). Pursuant to Commentary .02 to NYSE American Rule
2.1210 (Qualification Examinations and Waivers of Examinations), before
a person can be registered with the Exchange, he or she must pass the
appropriate qualification examinations or obtain a waiver of the
qualification examination requirement. If a person fails a
qualification examination, Commentary .05 to NYSE Rule 2.1210 (Waiting
Periods for Retaking a Failed Examination) sets forth the time the
person must wait before he or she can retake that qualification
examination.
For the first and second failed attempts, the person must currently
wait 30 calendar days to retake the qualification examination. A person
who fails a qualification examination three or more times in succession
within a two-year period must currently wait 180 calendar days before
he or she can retake that examination. These waiting periods apply to
the Securities Industry Essentials (``SIE'') examination and the
representative and principal
[[Page 61010]]
examinations specified under NYSE Rule 2.1220.
FINRA amended its Rule 1210, Supplementary Material .06, to shorten
the required qualification examination retake waiting periods to 15
calendar days after the first and second failed attempts, and 60
calendar days after the third and all subsequent failed attempts that
occur within a two-year period.\6\ As described in the FINRA Rule
Change, since the current waiting periods were adopted in 1989, FINRA's
qualification program has undergone significant changes that have
shifted the principal risks that originally informed the rule. FINRA
noted in the FINRA Rule Change that today's high-volume FINRA
qualification examinations use extensive question banks that contain
thousands of questions, with each test taker receiving only a small
subset of questions per attempt, which reduces both the likelihood that
repeat test takers will depend on memorized questions from prior
attempts and the risk of content being disseminated to others.
Additionally, FINRA noted in the FINRA Rule Change that it employs data
forensics and advanced technology to identify misconduct and
compromised examination content, taking appropriate corrective action
when such incidents occur. Moreover, these enhanced detection
capabilities help to ensure that the shortened waiting periods would
not compromise FINRA's ability to conduct timely investigations into
possible cheating or other violations of examination rules of
conduct.\7\ Over the past several years, FINRA noted it has received
input from various industry channels about the burden that the current
qualification examination waiting periods place on individuals seeking
to enter the securities industry.\8\ Similar feedback regarding these
challenges was received by FINRA in response to its request for comment
on modernizing FINRA rules, guidance, and processes for the
organization and operation of member workplaces.\9\ Given this
consistent input and the changes to the qualification program described
above, FINRA determined that shortening the waiting periods would
lessen the burden on individuals while continuing to protect investors
by maintaining appropriate program integrity.
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\6\ Id.
\7\ Id.
\8\ Id.
\9\ See FINRA Regulatory Notice 25-07 (April 2025).
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At this time, NYSE American proposes to amend Rule 2.1210,
Commentary .05, to conform to FINRA Rule 1210, Supplementary Material
.06. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to reduce the waiting period
after the first and second failed attempts from 30 to 15 calendar days,
and to reduce the waiting period after the third and all subsequent
failed attempts within a two-year period from 180 to 60 calendar days.
The Exchange believes that conforming its rules to FINRA's amended
requirements will promote consistency and reduce potential confusion
for Members and their associated persons. Because Members and their
associated persons are also subject to FINRA's registration and
qualification requirements, maintaining uniform waiting periods across
both rule sets ensures that individuals experience a coherent and
predictable regulatory framework.
In the FINRA Rule Change, FINRA noted it would announce the
implementation date of its rule change in a Regulatory Notice. The
Exchange will likewise announce the implementation date of this
proposed rule change via a Regulatory Memo on or around the same time
as the Regulatory Notice published by FINRA.
2. Statutory Basis
The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act''),\10\ in general, and
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5),\11\ in particular, because
it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating
transactions in securities, to remove impediments to, and perfect the
mechanism of, a free and open market and a national market system and,
in general, to protect investors and the public interest, by reducing
the waiting periods for retaking FINRA qualification examinations to
align with FINRA Rule 1210, Supplementary Material .06. Specifically,
the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change protects investors
and the public interest by conforming the Exchange's qualification
examination waiting periods to FINRA's amended requirements, thereby
promoting consistency across the regulatory framework and reducing
potential confusion for Members and their associated persons. As
described in detail in the FINRA Rule Change, changes to the FINRA
qualification program have reduced the risks that originally informed
the current waiting periods, and the shortened periods continue to
provide sufficient time for the maintenance of examination integrity
and the investigation of potential misconduct. The proposed rule change
also fosters cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in
regulating transactions in securities by aligning the Exchange's
qualification examination requirements with those of FINRA. Further,
the proposed rule change removes impediments to and perfects the
mechanism of a free and open market by reducing unnecessary barriers to
entry for individuals seeking to register to work in the securities
industry.
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\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed rule change
does not impose any undue burden on competition; rather, it conforms
the Exchange's qualification examination waiting periods to FINRA's
amended requirements and does not impose any new obligations or
restrictions on Members. The proposed rule change may benefit all
Members by allowing them to more quickly make personnel decisions
regarding their associated persons' qualification examination retake
timing.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the
proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \12\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\13\
Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) significantly affect the
protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to
30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as
the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)
[[Page 61011]]
of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.
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\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
\13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \14\ normally
does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the
filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\15\ the Commission
may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the
protection of investors and the public interest.
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\14\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
\15\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
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At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \16\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
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\16\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
<bullet> Use the Commission's internet comment form (<a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>); or
<bullet> Send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#93e1e6fff6bef0fcfefef6fde7e0d3e0f6f0bdf4fce5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9fedeaf3fab2fcf0f2f2faf1ebecdfecfafcb1f8f0e9">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include
file number SR-NYSEAMER-2026-85 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
<bullet> Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to file number SR-NYSEAMER-2026-85. This
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently,
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on
the Commission's internet website (<a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>). Copies of the filing will be available for inspection and
copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include
personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit
only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may
redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material
that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions
should refer to file number SR-NYSEAMER-2026-85 and should be submitted
on or before October 16, 2026.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\17\
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\17\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-19635 Filed 9-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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