On March 4, 2011, FINRA filed documents with the SEC that describe the content covered by the proposed exam for Operations Professionals. The exam will focus on ethics and basic knowledge of the securities industry regarding products, markets, and broker-dealer activities. An Operations Professional would not be held to the same standard of knowledge about a product as a product specialist or representative selling the product.
FINRA rule filing: http://www.finra.org/Industry/Regulation/RuleFilings/2011/P123267
Analysis by the Securities Technology Monitor: http://www.securitiestechnologymonitor.com/news/-27324-1.html