CFCS Certification Process & Eligibility

Earning your certification is a major step toward advancing your career—but knowing where to start can be overwhelming. Whether you're just beginning your journey or preparing to apply, you’ll find the information you need to move ahead with clarity and confidence.

Become a member today

ACFCS membership empowers you to advance your career with valuable resources designed to sharpen your skills, deepen your knowledge, and expand your connections within the professional community.

The value of becoming certified

ACFCS is working with professionals that want to make a lifelong impact on their careers. Our mission is to advance your career and to make the world a safer place from financial crime. Join thousands of CFCS-certified professionals globally who have made the commitment to stopping financial crime.

Eligibility and steps to CFCS certification

Individuals seeking CFCS certification must be active members and are required to purchase the CFCS certification package as part of the certification process.

Step 1:

Purchase

The CFCS package includes a host of study materials including a comprehensive study manual, video and podcast library, and more. Please verify eligibility prior to purchase.  

Step 2:

Apply

Check eligibility and apply. Candidates must complete and submit the CFCS application prior to scheduling their exam.
Eligibility requirements:

  • Membership with ACFCS
  • Proof of 40 earned credits

Step 3:

Prepare

We recommend a minimum of 40-50 hours of preparation time utilizing all the study tools spaced out over a period of several weeks.

Step 4:

Test

Candidates can schedule and sit for their exam from the convenience of their home through the online testing platform.


CFCS Eligibility Calculator

Not sure if you're ready to apply? Use this simple tool to check your eligibility in under a minute.

Benefits of being CFCS certified

For organizations

Leaders are looking to innovate in their financial crime training and credentialing programs by breaking down silos between teams and driving new initiatives. The CFCS credential is built for this purpose, to support:

  • Cross-Training: Enables institutions to cross-train compliance teams across the spectrum of financial crime.
  • Information Sharing: Improving communication, coordination, and cooperation among different financial crime teams.
  • Regulatory Response: Regulators increasingly expect institutions to have training and credentialing on a full range of financial crime threats. 

  • Enterprise Support: Additional benefits to ensure adoption of the certification across organization.

For individuals

Professionals need to demonstrate knowledge and skills required to effectively manage their responsibilities. The CFCS credential signals to organizations and regulators strong competence to support:

  • Career Advancement: Enables individuals to rise in their careers with a forward-thinking credential. 

  • New Opportunities: Opens new avenues in other fields by providing a baseline of skills in multiple financial crime disciplines. 

  • Broader Knowledge and Skills: Fulfill job roles more effectively and share actionable insights with relevant departments by learning 12 core areas of financial crime topics in one complete program. 

  • Networking and Community: A global network of credentialed professionals who share a common purpose to build a stronger financial crime community.

Ready to begin your journey towards CFCS certification?

Start building your expertise and credibility in financial crime prevention today.

What everyone is saying...

The CFCS tests the skills necessary to fight financial crime. It's comprehensive. Passing it should be considered a mark of high achievement, distinguishing qualified experts in this growing specialty area.

KENNETH E. BARDEN 

CFCS, Washington, DC

The exam tests one's ability to apply concepts in practical scenarios. Passing it can be a great asset for professionals in the converging disciplines of financial crime.

DANIEL DWAIN

CFCS, Chief Compliance Officer, Cidel Bank & Trust Inc. New York, NY

The Exam is far-reaching. I love that the questions are scenario based. I recommend it to anyone in the financial crime detection and prevention profession.

BECKI LAPORTE
CFCS, Principal - AML Strategy and Innovation, FinScan, Atlanta, GA

This certification comes at a very ripe time. Professionals can no longer get away with having siloed knowledge. Compliance is all-encompassing and enterprise-driven.

KATYA GOZIAS
CFCS, Los Angeles, CA