Certification Process
In addition to being a member in good standing of the ACFE, becoming certified as a CFE requires you to document your professional and academic qualifications and pass the CFE Exam.
How Do I Become Certified?
5 Key Steps to Certification
A Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) is a leader in the anti-fraud community, noted as a specialist in the prevention and detection of fraud. Becoming a CFE requires specific qualifications, but the process to apply is a simple one.
1. Be an Associate member of the ACFE in good standing.
Membership is a requirement to take the CFE Exam. If you are not already an Associate member of the ACFE, you must first become a member to pursue the CFE credential.
Apply for an Associate Membership
2. Submit the CFE Exam application with proof of education and professional recommendations.
We recommend you gather your documentation and send it all together along with your application approximately one month before you are ready to take the CFE Exam. A complete CFE Exam application with documentation is required to take the CFE Exam.
Choose from the following options to apply for the CFE Exam:
Supporting documentation and complete applications may be submitted to the Certification Department by fax to +1 (512) 276-8180, by scan and email to Exam@ACFE.com, or by mail to Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Attn: Certification Department, 716 West Avenue, Austin, TX 78701 USA.
The cost to take the CFE Exam is US $300. If you have purchased the CFE Exam Prep Course, you will receive a US $100 credit on the cost of the CFE Exam fee, the CFE Exam fee will be US $200.
3. Prepare for the CFE Exam
It is important to take the time to prepare for the CFE Exam. There are many different ways you can prepare, but the following are most common:
Study with the CFE Exam Prep Course, a computer self-study course produced by the ACFE. Available in US, Canada, UK and International editions, the CFE Exam Prep Course mirrors the format of the actual exam and comes with a Money-Back Pass Guarantee. An electronic copy of the Fraud Examiners Manual is included.
Attend the CFE Exam Review Course. This 3½-day, instructor-led course provides the essentials needed to pass the CFE Exam and become a Certified Fraud Examiner. This course, in combination with the CFE Exam Prep Course software, will provide you with an unbeatable combination for passing the exam. View locations and dates at ACFE.com/CFE-Exam.
Study on your own using the Fraud Examiners Manual and other additional reference materials.
Learn more about the CFE Exam and how to prepare to take it.
4. Pass the CFE Exam.
The CFE Exam is a Windows-based program that tests your knowledge and expertise in the four primary areas of fraud examination: Fraudulent Financial Transactions, Legal Elements of Fraud, Investigation Methods, and Fraud Prevention and Deterrence.
5. Gain final approval from the certification committee and become a CFE.
You will officially become a CFE once your exam and credentials are approved by the certification committee. Those who have attained the CFE credential will be invoiced at the CFE dues rate upon annual membership renewal.