Everything You Need to Know About the CFE Exam
To earn your Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential, you must pass the CFE Exam.
The CFE Exam is a significant undertaking. Most likely, you will make a hefty time commitment as you prepare for and take the exam. To ensure that you are as informed as possible about the exam process, explore the three sections below to gain an in-depth understanding of the exam content, selecting the right format and scheduling your exam.
The exam will test your knowledge in the four major areas of fraud examination — Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes, Law, Investigation, and Fraud Prevention and Deterrence. These four areas correspond to the four sections of the Fraud Examiners Manual, which is the source of knowledge for all subject matter that appears on the CFE Exam.
This section tests your comprehension of the types of fraudulent financial transactions incurred in accounting records. In this section of the exam, you will be required to demonstrate knowledge of the following concepts:
This section tests your understanding of the basic tools and techniques necessary to gather information and evidence when conducting a fraud examination and identifying perpetrators. It includes questions about:
This section examines your understanding of why people commit fraud and the ways to prevent it. Topics covered in this section include:
The CFE Exam is a closed-book and closed notes exam comprised of four sections, each containing 100 multiple choice questions. Exam takers have a two-hour time limit on each section. Each exam is generated from a master database; no two exams are exactly alike.
View the CFE Exam technical detailsOnline remote proctoring allows you to take the CFE Exam from the comfort of your own home without having to travel or test near other people. Learn more information about Prometric’s ProProctor online platform.
Prometric operates the world’s largest network of computer-based assessment centers that provide convenient access to test takers. Find a test center near you.
Attendees have the option of taking the exam onsite at an in-person course. Learn more about advanced preparation, application requirements and deadlines, as well as details for taking the CFE Exam onsite.
Upon receiving approval, you can begin working your way through the exam process. Follow these steps if you are taking the exam at a test center or online.
Upon receiving approval from the ACFE, you must schedule your exam appointments directly through Prometric. You will have 60 days to complete all four sections of the exam. We strongly recommend you schedule your exams at least 30 days ahead of time to secure the appointments of your choice.
Please make note of the reschedule/cancellation policy below to ensure you are not subject to any fees if you need to make changes to your appointments.
Step 2: Take the CFE Exam and receive your results.
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.
After you complete a section and are satisfied with all your answers, select “End Exam.” Your exam will automatically submit. Within 24 hours of completing each exam section, you will receive an email from Prometric with your score report.
Rescheduling or Cancelling Your Exam Appointments
The CFE Exam application fee includes one remote proctoring attempt for each exam section. If you choose to take your exams at a testing center, you will be charged an additional $10 fee for each exam section. The same is true for retakes — the cost of a remote proctored appointment is covered by the ACFE’s retake fee, but there will be an additional $10 charge if a testing center is used.
If you need to make a change to your scheduled exam appointment, you may incur additional fees imposed by Prometric. Fees are based on the timing of an appointment change:
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