CFE Certification: Cost, Requirements, Exam & Career Guide

CFE certification is the professional credential awarded by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) to professionals who demonstrate knowledge of fraud schemes, investigations, legal issues, and prevention. Candidates must join ACFE, meet point and experience requirements, submit documentation, pass three exam sections with at least 75% in each, and follow the Code of Professional Ethics. The current CFE Exam Application fee is $480, while membership, preparation, retakes, and rescheduling may add to the total cost for many candidates worldwide.

The CFE certification is designed for professionals who investigate, detect, prevent, or manage fraud risk. It is awarded by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and is widely used in audit, compliance, forensic accounting, corporate security, law enforcement, and financial crime roles.

Unlike a short certificate course, the CFE credential requires verified education, professional experience, recommendations, an approved application, and successful completion of the official CFE exam.

What Is CFE Certification?

CFE certification identifies professionals who understand the complete fraud examination process. A Certified Fraud Examiner is expected to evaluate suspicious transactions, understand fraud schemes, collect and analyze evidence, conduct interviews, consider legal requirements, and recommend fraud prevention controls.

The credential covers three connected areas:

• Fraud Schemes and Financial Crimes

• Fraud Investigations and Legal Issues

• Fraud Prevention and Deterrence

The ACFE states that the CFE credential is awarded exclusively by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Existing qualifications such as accounting, auditing, law, compliance, or criminology credentials may help candidates earn eligibility points, but they do not automatically grant the CFE credential.

A CFE certificate may be displayed on a résumé or professional profile after certification, but the formal designation is the CFE credential. Successful professionals may use “CFE” after their name, subject to ACFE rules.

CFE Certification Requirements

The CFE certification requirements include membership, eligibility points, work experience, examination success, and ethical compliance.

Requirement

What Candidates Need

ACFE membership

Active Associate Membership is required

Eligibility points

At least 40 points to take the exam and 50 points to become certified

Work experience

At least two years of fraud-related professional experience at certification

Professional recommendations

Three recommendations confirming professional character and suitability

Examination

Pass all three sections of the CFE exam

Ethics

Agree to follow the ACFE Code of Professional Ethics

A bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution commonly provides 40 eligibility points. No specific academic major is required. Candidates without a bachelor’s degree may use qualifying fraud-related work experience to make up the difference.

Relevant experience may include:

• Accounting and auditing

• Fraud investigation

• Compliance and ethics

• Corporate security and loss prevention

• Fraud risk management

• Litigation support and legal consulting

• Proactive fraud detection

• Fraud-related teaching, writing, or research

Candidates must clearly explain their job responsibilities, length of service, and the percentage of their work related to fraud prevention, detection, investigation, compliance, or risk management.

The application also requires proof of education or certifications, proof of work experience, and three professional recommendations.

CFE Exam Structure and Passing Score

The CFE exam is a closed-book assessment containing multiple-choice and True/False questions. It has three separately timed sections.

CFE Exam Section

Questions

Time Allowed

Fraud Schemes and Financial Crimes

120

2.5 hours

Fraud Investigations and Legal Issues

120

2.5 hours

Fraud Prevention and Deterrence

70

1.5 hours

The CFE exam passing score is 75% in each section. Passing the overall exam requires passing every section; a strong score in one section cannot compensate for failing another.

Candidates can take the exam:

• Online through remote proctoring

• At a Prometric testing center

• Through an eligible in-person ACFE Exam Review Course

After application approval, candidates activate their exam eligibility and receive a 60-day window to schedule and complete all sections. Each section is taken as a separate appointment. The exam is currently available in English.

Candidates have up to five attempts per section. The first three retakes do not require a waiting period, while the fourth and fifth attempts require a 30-day waiting period.

CFE Certification Cost

The current published CFE Exam Application fee is $480. This fee covers application processing and the first attempt at each required exam section.

Cost Item

Current Information

CFE Exam Application

$480

Exam retake

$110 per failed section

ACFE membership

Additional cost; varies by membership type

CFE course or training

Depends on the provider and format

Rescheduling

Additional Prometric or ACFE fees may apply

Travel and test-center expenses

May apply based on location

Therefore, the total CFE certification cost is not limited to the exam application fee. Candidates should also budget for ACFE membership, study materials, a CFE training course, optional instructor support, and possible retakes.

The ACFE recommends submitting the application and supporting documents at least 60 days before the intended exam date. Application review generally takes several business days, but incomplete documents can cause delays.

How to Become a Certified Fraud Examiner

The process of becoming a certified fraud examiner can be organized into these steps:

1. Review the eligibility requirements
   Use the ACFE points system to determine whether your education, certifications, and professional experience meet the minimum requirements.

2. Join the ACFE
   You must be an Associate Member before taking the CFE exam and earning the credential.

3. Collect your documents
   Prepare education records, certification documents, work-experience details, and three professional recommendations.

4. Submit the CFE Exam Application
   Complete the application through the ACFE Certification Portal and wait for approval.

5. Choose a preparation method
   Select self-directed study, an online course, instructor-led CFE classes, or an ACFE Exam Review Course.

6. Study the current exam blueprint
   Organize your preparation around fraud schemes, investigations, legal issues, prevention, deterrence, and ethics.

7. Schedule and take the exam
   Complete all three sections within the active eligibility window.

8. Complete the certification review
   After passing all sections and satisfying the experience requirements, ACFE reviews the application before awarding the credential.

9. Maintain the credential
   Pay membership dues and complete the required annual continuing professional education.

CFE Exam Preparation and Training

A good CFE exam preparation plan should focus on application rather than memorization. Fraud cases often combine accounting evidence, employee interviews, internal controls, legal restrictions, and ethical decisions. Candidates should learn how these areas connect.

An effective CFE training course should include:

• Current exam-domain coverage

• Realistic fraud scenarios

• Financial statement fraud examples

• Investigation and evidence principles

• Interviewing and report-writing techniques

• Legal and jurisdictional concepts

• Fraud risk assessment methods

• Timed practice tests

• Explanations for incorrect answers

• Progress tracking by exam section

An online CFE course can be useful for working professionals who need flexible study hours. Instructor-led CFE classes may be better for candidates who want direct explanations and scheduled accountability. Self-study can work well for experienced auditors, accountants, investigators, and compliance professionals who already understand the core concepts.

Avoid any provider that promises unauthorized live exam questions or claims that a candidate can earn the credential without meeting ACFE requirements. The official CFE exam is monitored, closed-book, and designed to test professional competence.

Certified Fraud Examiner Salary and Career Opportunities

CFE salary depends on location, industry, experience, education, job title, and responsibility level. Common career paths include:

• Certified fraud investigator

• Forensic accountant

• Internal auditor

• Fraud risk analyst

• Compliance officer

• Financial crime investigator

• Corporate security specialist

• Anti-money laundering investigator

• Government investigator

• Litigation support consultant

• Chief compliance or risk officer

The ACFE’s compensation research reported that CFEs earned a 32% compensation premium compared with non-certified colleagues in the survey. The 2024 survey also reported median compensation of $101,000 for CFEs with a four-year degree and $112,000 for CFEs with a graduate degree. These figures are survey results, not guaranteed salaries, and actual earnings vary significantly by country and role. 

The credential is most valuable when combined with practical experience. A CFE designation can strengthen a professional profile, but employers also look for investigation skills, communication ability, data analysis, judgment, and knowledge of industry regulations.

Is CFE Certification Worth It?

CFE certification can be valuable if your career involves fraud examination, audit, investigations, compliance, financial crime, or risk management. It is especially relevant when you want a credential that connects financial knowledge with investigative and legal concepts.

It may be less suitable if your career is completely unrelated to fraud, accounting, compliance, investigations, or organizational risk. In that case, another certification may provide a more direct career benefit.

The strongest candidates do not study only to pass the exam. They learn how to:

• Identify control weaknesses

• Follow evidence trails

• Assess suspicious behavior

• Document findings objectively

• Protect due process

• Communicate investigative conclusions

• Recommend controls that reduce future losses

Frequently Asked Questions About CFE Certification

What is the difference between a CFE certificate and a CFE credential?

“CFE certificate” is a common informal phrase. The official designation is the Certified Fraud Examiner credential, awarded by ACFE after the candidate meets all requirements and passes the exam.

Is CFE the same as certified fraud investigator certification?

No. A CFE may work as a certified fraud investigator, but the CFE credential is broader. It covers fraud schemes, investigations, legal issues, prevention, and deterrence.

Can I take the CFE exam without two years of experience?

Yes. You may take the exam after meeting the minimum 40 eligibility points. However, you need at least two years of qualifying fraud-related experience before ACFE can award the credential.

How long are CFE exam results valid?

If all required sections are passed, exam scores remain valid for five years from the date of the final passed section. Candidates must complete the certification process within the applicable ACFE timeframe.

How do I maintain CFE certification?

CFEs must maintain ACFE membership and complete at least 20 CPE credits annually, including at least 10 hours related to fraud detection or deterrence and two hours related to ethics. 

The practical next step is to calculate your eligibility points, confirm whether your work experience qualifies, and then choose a structured CFE training or exam preparation plan. Review the CFE certification program to plan your preparation and move toward the Certified Fraud Examiner credential.