How much does CFE certification cost?
The CFE exam costs US$480, which covers your first attempt at each of the three sections; a failed section costs US$110 to retake. On top come ACFE membership, which is required, and optional preparation — ACFE’s own CFE Exam Prep Course packages start at US$899.20 for members.
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CFE exam cost
ACFE publishes one figure for the exam: the CFE Exam application fee is US$480 and covers your first attempt at each exam section. That is the whole exam fee for a candidate who passes every section first time.
If you fail a section, the CFE exam fee for the retake is US$110 for that section only. Rescheduling an appointment is possible for what ACFE calls a small fee, without stating the amount.
- Exam application fee: US$480, first attempt at all three sections
- Retake: US$110 per failed section
- Rescheduling: a small fee, amount not published
Source: ACFE — CFE Exam FAQs. Checked 10 October 2026.
Certified fraud examiner certification cost: the full list
The cost of CFE certification is more than the exam. Only ACFE members can earn and keep the credential, so Associate Membership is a required line item. ACFE shows dues only through a calculator that depends on your country and membership type, and states that dues are subject to change, so no single figure can be quoted here.
Preparation is the optional line. ACFE sells its own study products; independent options exist too, priced by whoever offers them.
- ACFE Associate Membership — required; dues by country, via ACFE’s calculator
- CFE exam — US$480
- Retakes, if needed — US$110 per section
- Optional: official prep course or Fraud Examiners Manual
- Ongoing: 20 CPE credits a year and continued membership
Source: ACFE — Associate Membership dues calculator. Checked 10 October 2026.
What the official CFE prep costs
ACFE’s CFE Exam Prep Course comes in three one-year subscription packages. Prices are lower for members:
- Silver — US$899.20 members, US$1,124 non-members (Prep Course plus the Fraud Examiners Manual)
- Gold — US$1,149.60 members, US$1,437 non-members (adds the CFE Exam Study Guide PDF)
- Platinum — US$1,699.20 members, US$2,124 non-members (adds the on-demand CFE Exam Review Course)
- Fraud Examiners Manual alone — US$199.20 members, US$249 non-members, one-year subscription
Source: ACFE — CFE Exam Prep Course subscription packages. Checked 10 October 2026.
How much does a certified fraud examiner make?
Since the question behind the cost is often whether it pays off: ACFE publishes its own figures. Its Compensation Guide, based on the 2024 Global Salary Survey of CFEs and ACFE associate members, reports that in 2024 CFEs with a four-year degree reported earning US$101,000 per year, while median compensation for CFEs with a graduate degree was US$112,000. ACFE also reports a 32% pay premium for CFEs over non-certified colleagues.
Read these as ACFE’s survey of its own members: self-reported, across many countries and roles, and published by the body that issues the credential. They describe the respondents, not what you will earn.
Source: ACFE — Compensation Guide for Anti-Fraud Professionals (2024). Checked 10 October 2026.
The cost of keeping the CFE
After you pass, the ongoing cost is membership plus continuing education. ACFE requires at least 20 CPE credits in each annual compliance period, at least 10 of them on fraud detection and deterrence and 2 on ethics. What those credits cost depends on where you earn them.
Source: ACFE — CPE requirements. Checked 10 October 2026.
CFE cost: questions people ask
How much is the CFE exam?
US$480, covering your first attempt at each of the three sections. Source: ACFE CFE Exam FAQs, checked 10 October 2026.
What is the cost of CFE exam retakes?
US$110 per failed section. Source: ACFE CFE Exam FAQs, checked 10 October 2026.
What are the CFE exam fees in total?
For a first-time pass, US$480. Retakes add US$110 per section, and rescheduling adds a small fee ACFE does not specify.
What is the certified fraud examiner exam cost compared with the full certification cost?
The exam is US$480; the full certification cost also includes required ACFE membership, whose dues depend on your country, and any preparation you buy.
Is ACFE membership included in the CFE exam fee?
No. Membership is required and billed separately; ACFE shows dues through a country-based calculator. Checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the official CFE exam prep course cost?
From US$899.20 for members (US$1,124 for non-members) for the Silver package, up to US$1,699.20 (US$2,124) for Platinum, each for one year. Source: ACFE, checked 10 October 2026.
How much does a certified fraud examiner make, according to the ACFE?
ACFE’s 2024 Compensation Guide reports US$101,000 for CFEs with a four-year degree and a US$112,000 median with a graduate degree. These are self-reported member survey figures.
