Certified Financial Crime Specialist Exam

Certified Financial Crime Specialist Exam

EXAM CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW

The CFCS Certification Exam was constructed according to the same nationally recognized psychometric standards as other distinguished professional certifications.

To ensure the exam met the highest industry standards, hundreds of top financial crime prevention professionals, psychometricians, and certification experts devoted many hours of their time to offer answers, analysis and insight in commentary through an extensive worldwide survey and in-depth live and virtual thought leadership roundtables.

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WHO IS THE CFCS EXAM BEST FOR?

The CFCS credential is based on international best practices and designed to benefit both the public and private sectors. Professionals at 15 of the world’s 20 largest financial institutions hold the CFCS credential, along with regulatory agencies, law enforcement and non-financial corporations. There are CFCS-certified individuals in more than 80 countries and jurisdictions.

The certification is a particularly good fit for professionals that require a broad-based view into financial crime, such as analysts, investigators, and roles in financial intelligence unit.

HOW TO PREP FOR THE CFCS EXAM?

We recommend about 40 – 50 hours of self-guided study, utilizing all prep resources, spaced out over a period of at least several weeks.

Once you’ve completed your preparation for the exam, you can schedule to sit for your CFCS exam from the convenience of your home through the Online Proctoring (OLP) network from Kryterion.

Click below to view a sample of our study guide or read our exam prep page!

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CFCS EXAM FAQS

How Many Questions Are on the Exam?

There are 135-scenario based, multiple choice questions on the CFCS Exam.

How Long is the Exam?

Candidates have 4 hours allotted to complete the CFCS Exam.

What is a Passing Grade?

Candidates must score 88/135 multiple choice questions.

Can You Retake the Exam?

Candidates can retake the exam after a 60 – day waiting period accompanied by a $225 retake fee.

What is the Procedure for Scheduling & Taking the Exam?

The exam is offered on an ongoing basis throughout the year through the online proctored (OLP) network from Kryterion.

You will be able to sit for the exam from the convenience of your own home on a date of your choosing

For any other questions regarding the CFCS Exam, please contact us today!

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SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND APPRECIATION

The CFCS Examination Preparation Study Manual was written and edited with the outstanding contributions of experts and specialists. ACFCS extends special thanks and acknowledgment to these financial crime professionals who shared their expertise and assistance.

Beth Berenbaum
AML Consultant

Samantha Dillhoff
Fraud Specialist

Matteson Ellis, Esq.
Miller and Chevalier

JR Helmig
Leveraged Outcomes

Bud Heng
US OCDETF Pacific Region

Ron King
Retired

Rebecca LaPorte
AIG Advisor Group
John Lash, Esq.
BDO

Moyara Rueshen
Monterey Institute of International Studies

Sarah Satten
Wells Fargo & Company

Margaret S. Silvers
Wells Fargo & Company

Sandra Stibbards
Camelot Investigations

Swathi Perpati
Ernst & Young

Mohammad Zraiqat
Pelican

RECOGNITION OF THE FINANCIAL CRIME SPECIALISTS WHO ASSISTED IN CONSTRUCTING THE CFCS CERTIFICATION

ACFCS extends special thanks and acknowledgment to these financial crime professionals who shared their expertise in the creation of the CFCS Certification Examination.

Heather Adams
Accenture

Albert Allison
Office of the City Auditor

Scott Andersen
KRyS Global

Carlota Arias
Lozano Consultores

Kenneth Barden, Esq. 

Dan Barta
SAS

Beth Berenbaum
AML Consultant

Juan Ducali
United Nations Federal Credit Union

Annette Escobar, Esq.
Astigarraga Davis

Stanley I. Foodman
Foodman & Associates, P.A.

Brian Golden
HSBC

Amanda GoreB
Botswana Directorate on Corruption
and Economic Crime

JR Helmig
Leveraged Outcomes

Elizabeth Henry
Western Union

Katya Hirose
FTI Consulting

Steven Johnston, Esq.
Economic Crime Unit of Alberta Justice

Marie Kerr
Shamrock Consulting Group

Ron King
Retired

Ben Knieff
NICE Actimize

Nikki Kowalski, Esq.
JPMorgan Chase

Ken Krys
KRyS Global
Joram Borenstein 
Nice Actimize

Daniel P. Boylan 
Bank of America

Lorice E. Brown
Financial Services Commission

Alice Cambell
Research and Litigation Services

Jeff Chapman
IBM i2

Martin Chung
ICDD Pte Ltd

Rebecca LaPorte
FINRA

John Lash, Esq.
BDO

Tom Lasich
International Centre for Asset Recovery

Allen G. Love
TD Bank

Alberto Lozano, Esq.
Lozano Consultores

Michael M. Martens
Wells Fargo & Company

Isabel Medrano
WestStar Bank

Michael McDonald, Esq.
Michael McDonald & Associates

Tina Miller, Esq.
Farrell & Reisinger

Deborah Morrisey
DHS – ICE – HIS

Pamela C. Ogle
Wells Fargo & Company

Natasha Pankova Taft
Bank Hapoalim

Holly R. Park
Wells Fargo

Paul E. Pelletier, Esq.
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky

Ron Penninger
IBM i2
Lynn Correia  
Kroll Advisory Group

Annette Dance 
Wells Fargo and Company

Nyron Davidson
Ameritrade

Delina Dhamo
National Bank of Egypt

Samantha Dillhoff 
Fraud Specialist

Sonia Desai 
Charles Schwab

Patricia Potts
Sightspan

Saskia Rietbroek
AML Services International, LLC

Guillermo Rodriguez
Bangkok Bank NY Branch

Louis Sapirman
Dun and Bradstreet

Nicole Saqui, Esq.
Conrad & Scherer, LLP

Sara L. Satten
Wells Fargo

Lisa Schor Babin
Dun and Bradstreet

Donald C. Semesky
Financial Operations Consultants

Stephen J. Shine, Esq.
Prudential Financial

Margaret S. Silvers
Wells Fargo

Jeffrey Sklar
SHC Consulting Group, LLC

James Slear
Thompson Coburn

Steve Smith
SRS Consulting, Inc.

Delena Spann
United States Secret Service

See What Certified Financial Crime Specialists Are 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 

(JD, Washington)

"It's a vigorous exam. Anyone passing it should have a great sense of achievement."

DANIEL DWAIN

(CFCS, Official Superior

de Cumplimiento Cidel

Bank & Trust Inc. Nueva York)

"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."

MORRIS GUY

(CFCS, Royal Band of

Canada, Montreal)

"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, CAMS Lead Compliance

Trainer, FINRA, Member Regulation

Training, Washington, DC)

"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 HIROSE
CFCS, CAMS, CFE, CSAR
Director, Global Risk
& Investigation Practice
FTI Consulting, Los Angeles

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