The SEC Just Published an Exam Handbook. Here's How to Use It Before Your Next Exam

On October 1, 2026, the SEC's Division of Examinations announced a new publication titled “The SEC Exam Handbook: A Practical Guide on Process and Engagement.” It replaces the Division's earlier examination brochure with a longer, more detailed document, and it is available as a PDF on SEC.gov.

What the SEC says it covers

According to the SEC's announcement, the handbook walks registrants through each stage of an examination, from the initial risk assessment through the final disposition letter. It also includes practical preparation tips, compliance resources, and several channels for asking questions or giving feedback to the Division. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins said the handbook clarifies the examination process and gives regulated entities more insight into what to expect, and Division of Examinations Director Keith Cassidy said the goal is to make exams more consistent and predictable for everyone involved.

Why it's useful even though it isn't a rule

The handbook is guidance on process, not a new requirement, and it doesn't change what examiners can ask for. Its value is that it describes, in the Division's own words, what the sequence of an exam looks like. For a CCO, that is a free checklist for building or testing an internal exam-response plan.

Three ways to put it to work

• Map your response plan to the exam stages. For each stage the handbook describes, write down who at your firm is responsible, what you would produce, and how long that would realistically take. Gaps show up quickly.
• Revisit your exam point of contact. Confirm that one person is designated to receive and coordinate requests, that a backup exists, and that both know where your books and records live.
• Run a short tabletop. Pick a plausible document request list and see how long it takes to assemble a clean, complete production. Delays in producing records are a recurring theme in the exam and enforcement matters we track, including the ISS subpoena case we covered.

What to keep in mind

This article is based on the SEC's announcement of the handbook, not a line-by-line review of the document, and the Division may update it over time. Download the current PDF from SEC.gov and have your CCO read it in full rather than relying on a summary, ours included.