CFE certification: the exam, the requirements and the official prep course
CFE — Certified Fraud Examiner — is the ACFE’s anti-fraud credential. You must be an ACFE member with at least 40 eligibility points to sit the exam, which costs US$480 and has three timed sections: 120, 120 and 70 questions. You need 75% in each section. ACFE’s own CFE Exam Prep Course is sold in one-year packages from US$899.20 for members. A new exam version launched on 2 June 2026.
- Certification
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), issued by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)ACFE CFE Credential page, checked 10 October 2026
- Exam fee
- US$480, covering the first attempt at each section; retakes US$110 per failed sectionACFE CFE Exam FAQs, checked 10 October 2026
- Sections and questions
- 3 sections: 120 + 120 + 70 = 310 multiple-choice and true/false questionsACFE About the CFE Exam, checked 10 October 2026
- Duration
- 2.5 hours, 2.5 hours and 1.5 hours — each section is a separate timed examACFE About the CFE Exam, checked 10 October 2026
- Passing score
- At least 75% in each sectionACFE CFE Exam FAQs, checked 10 October 2026
- Delivery
- Online via Prometric ProProctor, at a Prometric centre, or on paper at an in-person ACFE review course; English onlyACFE About the CFE Exam and FAQs, checked 10 October 2026
- Eligibility
- ACFE Associate Member, 40 points to sit the exam; 50 points and 2 years of fraud-related experience to be certifiedACFE CFE Credential Eligibility, checked 10 October 2026
- Exam window and attempts
- 60 days to complete all sections; up to 5 attempts per sectionACFE CFE Exam FAQs, checked 10 October 2026
- Keeping the credential
- 20 CPE credits a year (10 on fraud, 2 on ethics) and active ACFE membershipACFE CPE requirements and Recertification pages, checked 10 October 2026
Know if you're ready for CFE — before you book.
Certsqill measures your CFE readiness across every official exam domain — one 0–100 score from coverage, accuracy and consistency that tells you whether to book, keep studying, or sit.
Why people switch to Certsqill
Everything you need to walk in ready
Know where you stand, understand every mistake, and study in your language — one payment, no subscription.
Your CFE Readiness Score, not a guess
One number from three signals — coverage, accuracy, and consistency — tells you whether to book the exam or keep studying.
Understand every CFE mistake
When you miss a question, it explains why — using your own answer history to catch the patterns you keep repeating. Included, no subscription.
Explanations in your language, questions stay exam-accurate
Get every explanation in your language while the questions stay in exam-accurate English. Technical terms stay in English — the way the exam writes them.
Everything you need to pass
Why you can trust these CFE questions
What is the CFE certification?
CFE stands for Certified Fraud Examiner. The credential is issued by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the ACFE, which reports more than 95,000 members. In ACFE’s words, CFEs are trained professionals with a diverse set of skills in preventing, detecting and investigating fraud.
So what is CFE certification in practice? It combines a membership, an eligibility check and an exam. You join the ACFE as an Associate Member, show enough education and experience points to qualify, pass three exam sections, and then meet the full certification requirements, including two years of fraud-related professional experience.
The credential is aimed at people whose work touches fraud: accounting and auditing, compliance and ethics, corporate security and loss prevention, fraud investigation, fraud risk management, litigation support and similar fields. ACFE lists these among the categories its Board of Regents has approved for qualifying experience.
Source: ACFE — CFE Credential. Checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the CFE exam cost?
ACFE states the fee plainly: the CFE Exam application fee is US$480, and it covers your first attempt at each of the three sections. If you fail a section, the retake fee is US$110 for that section only — you do not pay again for sections you passed.
Rescheduling an appointment is possible for what ACFE calls a small fee, without naming the amount. Membership is a separate cost: you must be an ACFE Associate Member to sit the exam and to keep the credential, and ACFE shows the dues only through a calculator that depends on your country and membership type.
Preparation is the third cost line, and it is optional. ACFE’s own CFE Exam Prep Course packages start at US$899.20 for members and US$1,124 for non-members; details are in the prep course section below.
Source: ACFE — CFE Exam FAQs. Checked 10 October 2026.
What is the CFE exam format?
The CFE exam has three sections, and each one is a separate timed exam made up of multiple-choice and true/false questions. It is closed book: no reference materials, no outside help. Scheduled breaks are not permitted, so plan each sitting as one continuous block.
ACFE launched a new version of the exam on 2 June 2026, based on its 2024 Job Task Analysis. The current structure is:
- Fraud Schemes and Financial Crimes — 120 questions, 2.5 hours
- Fraud Investigations and Legal Issues — 120 questions, 2.5 hours
- Fraud Prevention and Deterrence — 70 questions, 1.5 hours
Source: ACFE — About the CFE Exam. Checked 10 October 2026.
How do you take the CFE exam?
Once ACFE activates your eligibility, you have a 60-day window to schedule and complete all three sections. Each section is booked as its own appointment and must be finished in one sitting. ACFE recommends booking about 30 days ahead.
There are three ways to sit the exam: online with a live remote proctor on Prometric’s ProProctor platform, in person at a Prometric testing centre, or on paper at the end of each day of an in-person CFE Exam Review Course delivered directly by the ACFE. The paper option is not available for virtual courses. The exam is offered only in English.
A detailed score report is emailed within 24 hours of each section.
Source: ACFE — About the CFE Exam. Checked 10 October 2026.
CFE passing score and retakes
To pass, you must answer at least 75% of the questions in each section correctly. Each section is scored on its own, so a strong result in one cannot make up for a weak one in another.
You get up to five attempts per section. The first three retakes have no waiting period; the fourth and fifth attempts each require a 30-day wait. If you have not passed after five attempts, your eligibility and earlier results expire and you must wait two years from your last attempt before reapplying. ACFE does not publish a pass rate.
Source: ACFE — CFE Exam FAQs. Checked 10 October 2026.
CFE certification requirements
ACFE runs eligibility on a points system. You need at least 40 points to take the exam and at least 50 points to be certified. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent is worth 40 points on its own; without one, ACFE lets you substitute two years of fraud-related professional experience for each year of academic study.
On top of the points, you must be an ACFE Associate Member, agree to the ACFE’s bylaws and Code of Professional Ethics, and have at least two years of professional experience in a field related to the detection or deterrence of fraud by the time you are certified. The application asks for work experience details, proof of education and professional recommendations.
- ACFE Associate Membership
- 40 eligibility points to sit the exam, 50 to be certified
- Two years of fraud-related professional experience (needed for certification, not to sit the exam)
- Agreement to the ACFE Code of Professional Ethics
Source: ACFE — CFE Credential Eligibility. Checked 10 October 2026.
The CFE exam prep course and other official training
The ACFE CFE Exam Prep Course is the association’s own self-study programme. ACFE describes it as more than 500 lessons and nearly 1,400 study questions, with nearly 800 flashcards and end-of-lesson knowledge checks. It is sold as one-year subscriptions in three packages:
- Silver — US$899.20 members, US$1,124 non-members: the Prep Course plus the Fraud Examiners Manual online and as PDF
- Gold — US$1,149.60 members, US$1,437 non-members: Silver plus the CFE Exam Study Guide (PDF)
- Platinum — US$1,699.20 members, US$2,124 non-members: Gold plus the on-demand CFE Exam Review Course with workbook and slides
Source: ACFE — CFE Exam Prep Course subscription packages. Checked 10 October 2026.
CFE exam review course and instructor-led training
If you prefer certified fraud examiner training with an instructor, ACFE offers the CFE Exam Review Course, which it describes as led by experienced instructors and focused on key concepts. It runs in person and virtually, and an on-demand recording is part of the Platinum package. In-person review courses delivered directly by the ACFE are also where the paper-based exam can be taken.
ACFE also names Authorised Training Partners that deliver review courses. Whichever certified fraud examiner course you choose — self-study, a live CFE exam review course or a partner course — check it against the current three-section exam that launched in June 2026, not the older structure.
Source: ACFE — About the CFE Exam. Checked 10 October 2026.
Keeping the CFE credential: CPE and membership
The CFE has an annual cycle. ACFE requires at least 20 CPE credits in each annual compliance period, of which at least 10 must relate directly to the detection and deterrence of fraud and 2 must relate directly to ethics.
Active ACFE membership is also required to maintain the credential. If membership lapses, ACFE applies recertification rules, and after a lapse of more than five years the credential can only be reinstated by passing the exam again.
Source: ACFE — CPE requirements. Checked 10 October 2026.
Exam dumps and leaked CFE questions
ACFE calls the CFE Exam confidential and proprietary and states that reproducing, distributing, sharing or posting exam content in any form is strictly prohibited. It explicitly warns against exam dumps and third-party sources that claim to provide actual exam content.
The consequence is spelled out: candidates found to have had pre-exposure to actual exam content face invalidation of their results and may be subject to disciplinary action. Study from the official outline and genuine practice material instead.
Source: ACFE — CFE Exam Security and Integrity. Checked 10 October 2026.
CFE practice questions on Certsqill
Certsqill’s CFE practice questions are expert-developed and organised by the three exam sections: every question explains each answer option, and you see a readiness score for each section — useful when you need 75% in every one of them, not just on average.
CFE questions people ask
What is CFE certification?
The Certified Fraud Examiner credential from the ACFE, for professionals who prevent, detect and investigate fraud. Source: ACFE, checked 10 October 2026.
What is a CFE certification worth on its own, without membership?
It cannot be held without membership: ACFE states that active membership is required to maintain the CFE credential. Source: ACFE Recertification page, checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the CFE exam cost?
US$480, which covers the first attempt at each section. A failed section costs US$110 to retake. Source: ACFE CFE Exam FAQs, checked 10 October 2026.
How many questions are on the CFE exam?
310 in total: 120, 120 and 70 questions across the three sections, in 2.5, 2.5 and 1.5 hours. Source: ACFE, checked 10 October 2026.
What score do you need to pass the CFE exam?
At least 75% in each section. Source: ACFE CFE Exam FAQs, checked 10 October 2026.
What are the requirements to sit the CFE exam?
ACFE Associate Membership and at least 40 eligibility points; a bachelor’s degree is worth 40 points. To be certified you need 50 points and two years of fraud-related experience. Source: ACFE, checked 10 October 2026.
What does the ACFE CFE exam prep course include?
More than 500 lessons, nearly 1,400 study questions and nearly 800 flashcards, sold as one-year packages from US$899.20 for members. Source: ACFE, checked 10 October 2026.
Can I take the CFE exam online?
Yes, through Prometric’s ProProctor platform with a live remote proctor, or in person at a Prometric centre. Source: ACFE, checked 10 October 2026.
How do I keep the CFE credential?
Earn at least 20 CPE credits a year — 10 on fraud detection and deterrence, 2 on ethics — and keep your ACFE membership active. Source: ACFE, checked 10 October 2026.
CFE in detail
- How much does CFE certification cost? →
- The CFE exam: sections, passing score and how hard it is →
- CFE certification requirements: how to become a Certified Fraud Examiner →
- Certified fraud examiner salary, jobs and whether the CFE is worth it →
- CFE exam study guide: official materials, practice questions and a plan →
