Industry Oversight
Registration of Intermediaries
A person or firm who acts on behalf of another person in connection with futures trading, such as a futures commission merchant (FCM), introducing broker (IB), commodity pool operator (CPO), or commodity trading advisor (CTA), is an intermediary. Floor brokers (FBs) and agricultural trade option merchants (ATOMs) are also intermediaries. Intermediaries generally are required to register with the Commission; their associated persons (APs) also must register and their principals must be listed. Floor traders (FTs) also are required to register.
For information about registration requirements applicable to persons involved in forex, please refer to the foreign currency trading page.
Registration requirements are set forth in the Commodity Exchange Act and are available at the U.S. GPO Access website. (CEA) and in CFTC regulations. The CFTC has authorized the National Futures Association (NFA), a registered futures association, to perform registration processing functions on its behalf.
NFA’s Online Registration System (ORS) is a web-based system for applicants and registrants to file and update their registration information. Electronic filing is required for nearly all filings….
- Firms seeking to register can check the Registration section of NFA's website for information on all aspects of registration, including:
• proficiency requirements; and
- The CEA and CFTC regulations contain additional requirements applicable to registrants.
- NFA also makes available on its website information about compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
- The public can access registration information through NFA's BASIC (Background Affiliation Status Information Center) system.