Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) Certification |

Cfe exam details

NEW! The CFE Exam platform has changed! Read more about the new requirements.

Taking the CFE Exam

To be eligible for the CFE Exam, you must be an ACFE member and have an approved CFE Exam application on file.

Once you start a section of the exam, you must complete it in one sitting.

You are not required to complete all four sections in one sitting. In fact, we recommend only taking a section or two at a time.

You must pass each section of the exam within three attempts.

The CFE Exam is a closed-book and closed-notes exam.

Scheduling Your CFE Exam

We strongly recommend you schedule your exams at least 30 days ahead of time to secure the appointments of your choice. When your exam application has been approved, you may schedule your exams:

1. Login to your Certification Portal by clicking on your approved exam application.
2. Click on the green “Schedule Exam” button. Make note of your eligibility number. It will take you to the Prometric website.
3. Select the remote proctoring or test center scheduling link.
4. Enter your Prometric eligibility number (your ACFE member number) and the first four characters of your last name when prompted.
5. Schedule your first exam appointment.
6. Return to the Prometric website and repeat steps 3–5 for the other three exam sections.

Please note the reschedule/cancellation policy to ensure you are not subject to any fees if you need to make changes.

Reschedule/Cancellation Policy

There is no charge for changing or canceling an exam appointment 30 days or more before a scheduled appointment. Changes made between 3 and 29 days are subject to a $35 fee, paid directly to Prometric at the time of the appointment change.
You may not reschedule an exam less than 3 days prior to your appointment.

Submitting the CFE Exam

After you have completed a section of the CFE Exam, your exam section will automatically submit when you choose End Exam.

CFE Exam Results

After completing each section of the CFE Exam, you will receive a Notice of Completion via email. The ACFE will email your complete exam results within 3–5 business days of your FINAL exam submission, unless CFE Exam Review Course rules apply.
To pass, you must accurately answer at least 75% of the questions in each section of the CFE Exam.

CFE Exam Retakes

CFE Exam retake fees are $100 per section. You will receive instructions on how to pay exam retake fees with your exam results email. Within 3-5 business days of paying the retake fee(s), your exam access will be sent to you by email.

Each section must be passed in three attempts.

Find helpful information about taking the proctored exam on our Frequently Asked Exam Questions”>Frequently Asked Exam Questions page.

Cfe exam format

NEW! The CFE Exam platform has changed! Read more about the new requirements.

Cfe exam scoring

Cfe exam structure

Applicants should choose a secure, quiet testing location. Candidates taking the exam online must provide their own technology and equipment. To begin the examination process, professionals must apply for ACFE membership, pay an application fee, and request a CFE exam key.

Remote test-takers should ensure that their computer setup meets ACFE system requirements. Stipulations include a web camera capable of a 360° environment check, a microphone, and a stable internet connection.

Educational requirements

CFE exam applicants usually hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. The ACFE awards 40 of the 50 required points toward certification eligibility for a bachelor’s degree. Professionals of many backgrounds may qualify, since the ACFE does not stipulate a specific major.

Those without traditional educational backgrounds may still qualify for the exam. Candidates can receive 10 eligibility points for each year of college study, even if they did not earn a degree. CFE hopefuls can also earn points for professional experience.

Read about bachelor’s degree programs in accounting

Read about bachelor’s degree programs in forensic accounting

How can you prepare for the cfe exam?

CFE certification sets professionals apart from the crowd, but it takes work to earn this credential. Applicants can prepare for the CFE exam by purchasing the CFE exam prep course and developing a study schedule. Other prep strategies include joining a study group, taking notes, and participating in the ACFE’s CFE Exam Challenge program.

How do you maintain the certified fraud examiner certification?

To maintain CFE certification, professionals must earn at least 20 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) every year. At least 10 of these hours must focus on fraud detection and deterrence. Two or more hours must relate to ethics.

Professionals who earn more than the required 20 hours of CPE within 12 months can carry up to 10 excess hours over to the next year.

How do you qualify to become a certified fraud examiner?

Certified fraud examiners perform specialized accounting duties. To qualify for this role, candidates need strong accounting education and work experience. Individuals must pass an exam and earn certification to work as certified fraud examiners.

CFE certification requires considerable preparation. Candidates must meet minimum educational and professional requirements to sit for the four-part certification exam. Eligibility to take the CFE exam depends on the ACFE’s point system.

Continue reading to learn more about the degrees, work experience, and study preparation needed to become a certified fraud examiner.

How do you register for the cfe exam?

Candidates can apply for membership and register for the CFE exam through the ACFE’s website. The organization accepts CFE exam applications via its certification portal.

The online application contains four sections: qualifications, experience and character, signature statement, and payment. Applicants must provide proof of their education and work experience. The ACFE also requires three professional recommendation forms and a current photograph. Applicants receive a confirmation email within 5-7 days of submission.

The ACFE recommends that candidates submit their applications at least 30 days before they plan to take the exam. Applications remain on file for two years. Test-takers can sit for the CFE exam any time of the year.

Ken stalcup

Ken Stalcup is a senior director with Houlihan Valuation Advisors in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In addition to being a CPA, Ken is a CFE, certified in financial forensics (CFF), and accredited in business valuation. Mr. Stalcup’s practice focuses on business valuation, litigation support, and forensic accounting engagements.

His experience includes managing audit and accounting engagements for privately held clients in service organizations, manufacturing, construction, and financial services, along with governmental and nonprofit organizations.
Ken has also managed several high-profile fraud and forensic cases, including embezzlement cases, shareholder disputes, theft of intellectual property cases, and Ponzi schemes.

Paying for the exam

CFE hopefuls must pay an application fee of $450. Applicants who purchased the CFE Exam Prep Course receive a $100 credit toward exam fees. Purchasing this program may also reduce costs by helping test-takers avoid retakes.

Retake fees cost $100 per section. Applicants should note that the ACFE caps retakes at three attempts.

Professional insights on being a cfe

Why did you choose to study accounting? Was it something you were always interested in?

Accounting wasn’t something I was always interested in. During college, I switched from economics to accounting. I had some doubts about a career path and job title with a degree in economics, but that was not the case with accounting, which has several well-established programs and paths. While few organizations have an economist on their payroll, almost every business has an accountant. I liked that.

While I was in college, the accounting program was considered one of the more rigorous programs, which attracted me to it. I liked the idea, the challenge. I didn’t want to look back at my college experience and regret that I hadn’t tried something harder.

I didn’t know it at the time, but I was setting myself up for a lifetime of learning. To keep my license, I am required to take continuing professional education every year. I truly enjoy taking classes now and learning new things — there’s always something new to explore.

“I think a really good plan would be to use the ACFE’s online study program and connect with other students studying for the exam.”

What is a certified fraud examiner? Why might an accounting student choose to pursue a career in fraud examination?

Professional requirements

Bachelor’s-educated CFE candidates need at least two years of professional fraud prevention experience. Qualifying employment areas include accounting, law, fraud investigation, and loss prevention. The ACFE’s eligibility system awards five points for each year of relevant work, so some professionals can replace formal education with years of experience.

Candidates without enough professional experience can take the exam if they score at least 40 eligibility points. These professionals can gain official certification once they meet the work experience requirement.

Should you get multiple certifications?

Professional certifications can increase proficiency in the accounting field. Certifications can also stand out to employers and improve your chances of landing a job.

Along with CFE certification, accounting professionals may find value in pursuing the following designations:

What does the cfe exam cover?

Candidates can take the CFE certification exam online. Test-takers do not need to complete the 500-question test in one sitting. In fact, the ACFE encourages examinees to work on one exam section at a time.

The ACFE uses the Prometric online proctoring platform. Test-takers can access this platform from their home computers. Candidates can also complete the exam at a Prometric test center in their area.

The CFE exam includes four sections: financial transactions and fraud schemes, law, investigation, and fraud prevention and deterrence. Each section contains objective and true/false questions. Examinees can take up to two hours to finish each section, and they must complete the entire exam within 30 days.

Академические требования

Как правило, соискатели сертификата CFE должны иметь как минимум степень бакалавра или эквивалентную степень высшего учебного заведения . Два года профессионального опыта, связанного с мошенничеством, можно заменить на каждый год обучения в колледже.

Ассоциация сертифицированных специалистов по расследованию хищений  является международной профессиональной организацией, объединяющей специалистов в области безопасности бизнеса.

По всему миру работает 143 отделения ACFE в более чем 40 странах. На сегодняшний день ассоциация объединяет более 85 тысяч членов из 150 стран мира. Это специалисты отделов по борьбе с мошенничеством, внутренние и внешние аудиторы, ревизоры, сотрудники служб безопасности, сотрудники государственных организаций, специалисты по внутреннему контролю, управлению рисками и корпоративному управления и др.

Российское отделение ACFE с 2007 года оказывает профессиональную поддержку специалистам контрольных подразделений. Организация разрабатывает методики по оптимизации расходов, предотвращения, выявления и расследования хищений, оказывает консультационную поддержку компаниям, стремящимся к снижению потерь от непроизводительных затрат; проводит тематические встречи, семинары, вебинары и конференции, а также специализированное обучение сотрудников контрольных подразделений по вопросам обеспечения комплексной безопасности бизнеса.

Моральный характер

ACFE потребует отсылки к персонажу перед выдачей сертификата.

Придерживайтесь этического кодекса

Согласно веб-сайту ACFE, этический кодекс гласит, что сертифицированный специалист по проверке мошенничества должен:

Профессиональные требования

На момент сертификации требуется не менее двух лет профессионального опыта в области, прямо или косвенно связанной с обнаружением или предотвращением мошенничества. ACFE признает следующие области квалифицированным профессиональным опытом:

Другой опыт может соответствовать требованиям, но его необходимо проверить на применимость.

Экзамен

Экзамен CFE состоит из 500 вопросов, разделенных на четыре части (по 125 вопросов в каждой). Каждый раздел экзамена имеет ограничение по времени в два часа пять минут с дополнительным пятиминутным перерывом. Каждый вопрос имеет ограничение по времени 75 секунд. Все четыре раздела должны быть заполнены в течение 30 дней.

Экзамен CFE состоит из следующих четырех разделов:

• Предотвращение и сдерживание мошенничества – проверяет ваши знания о том, почему люди совершают мошенничество и что можно сделать для его предотвращения. Темы включают: обязанности аудиторов, связанные с мошенничеством, корпоративное управление, этика для проверяющих на мошенничество, программы предотвращения мошенничества, оценка риска мошенничества, управление рисками мошенничества, обязанности руководства, связанные с мошенничеством, понимание преступного поведения, преступления белых воротничков .
• Финансовые операции и схемы мошенничества – в этом разделе проверяются ваши знания о типах мошеннических финансовых операций, содержащихся в бухгалтерских записях. Темы включают: концепции бухгалтерского учета, взяточничество и коррупцию, схемы поступления денежных средств, компьютерное и интернет-мошенничество, мошенничество с потребителями, мошенничество с контрактами и закупками, мошенничество с финансовыми учреждениями, мошенничество с финансовой отчетностью, мошеннические выплаты, мошенничество в сфере здравоохранения, кража личных данных, страховое мошенничество, инвентаризация и Прочие активы, мошенничество с платежами, кража данных и интеллектуальной собственности.
• Расследование – темы включают в себя: анализ документов, скрытые проверки, инструменты анализа данных и отчетности, цифровую криминалистику, теорию и применение интервью, опрос подозреваемых и подписанных заявлений, планирование и проведение проверки на мошенничество, составление отчетов, источники информации, отслеживание незаконных транзакций.
• Закон – этот раздел гарантирует, что вы знакомы со многими юридическими последствиями проведения расследований мошенничества, включая уголовное и гражданское право, правила доказывания, права обвиняемого и обвинителя, а также вопросы свидетелей-экспертов. Темы включают: мошенничество при банкротстве (несостоятельности), основные принципы доказывания, права личности во время экзаменов, законодательство, касающееся мошенничества, отмывание денег, обзор правовой системы, мошенничество с ценными бумагами, налоговое мошенничество, свидетельские показания, система гражданского правосудия, система уголовного правосудия. .