CFE exam study guide: official materials, practice questions and a plan
The official CFE study materials come from the ACFE: the Fraud Examiners Manual, the CFE Exam Prep Course with nearly 1,400 study questions, and a CFE Exam Study Guide PDF in the Gold and Platinum packages. Plan your study around the three exam sections — and around the 60-day window in which you must pass all of them.
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CFE exam study materials from the ACFE
ACFE names two self-study options. The Fraud Examiners Manual, which ACFE calls the definitive body of knowledge for the anti-fraud profession and updates to reflect the latest CFE Exam Content Outline. And the CFE Exam Prep Course, a self-study programme with more than 500 lessons.
For certified fraud examiner study materials that come with an instructor, ACFE offers the CFE Exam Review Course, in person, virtually or on demand in the Platinum package. Because the exam changed on 2 June 2026, check that any certified fraud examiner study material you use reflects the current three-section structure.
Source: ACFE — CFE Exam Prep: Study on Your Own Options. Checked 10 October 2026.
Is there an official CFE exam study guide PDF?
Yes, as part of a package. ACFE’s Gold and Platinum CFE Exam Prep Course packages include the CFE Exam Study Guide as a PDF, alongside the Prep Course and the Fraud Examiners Manual. Gold costs US$1,149.60 for members and US$1,437 for non-members, for one year.
A certified fraud examiner study guide is only as good as its match to the exam outline, so start from the outline either way: three sections, with fraud schemes and investigations each carrying 120 questions and prevention 70.
Source: ACFE — CFE Exam Prep Course subscription packages. Checked 10 October 2026.
CFE exam practice questions and sample questions
ACFE’s self-study page does not list free official sample questions or a free practice exam. The CFE Exam Prep Course is where ACFE’s own CFE exam practice questions live: nearly 1,400 study questions, nearly 800 flashcards and end-of-lesson knowledge checks, with pre-assessments and review questions with feedback.
Whatever source of certified fraud examiner sample questions you use, the format to practise is the real one: multiple-choice and true/false, closed book, in timed blocks of 2.5, 2.5 and 1.5 hours. A CFE practice exam is most useful when it is taken section by section under those time limits.
Source: ACFE — CFE Exam Prep Course. Checked 10 October 2026.
CFE exam prep: a section-by-section plan
Good certified fraud examiner exam prep follows the exam’s structure. Each section is scored on its own and needs 75%, so a plan that leaves one section thin is a plan to retake it.
- Fraud Schemes and Financial Crimes (120 questions, 2.5 hours) — types of fraud schemes and financial crimes
- Fraud Investigations and Legal Issues (120 questions, 2.5 hours) — conducting investigations and the legal considerations
- Fraud Prevention and Deterrence (70 questions, 1.5 hours) — why people commit fraud and how to prevent it
- Book each section about 30 days ahead, inside your 60-day window, so the last one does not slip past the deadline
Source: ACFE — About the CFE Exam. Checked 10 October 2026.
CFE exam questions and answers PDF files
Files sold or shared as real CFE exam questions are a different thing from practice questions. ACFE states that the CFE Exam is confidential and proprietary, that sharing or posting exam content in any form is strictly prohibited, and that it does not license or authorise the release of CFE Exam content.
ACFE warns specifically against exam dumps and sources claiming to provide actual exam content: candidates found to have had pre-exposure face invalidation of their results and may face disciplinary action. A CFE exam questions and answers PDF promising the real exam is therefore a risk to your result, not a shortcut.
Source: ACFE — CFE Exam Security and Integrity. Checked 10 October 2026.
CFE study guide: questions people ask
What are the best certified fraud examiner study materials?
The official ones are ACFE’s Fraud Examiners Manual and CFE Exam Prep Course; the Gold package adds the CFE Exam Study Guide PDF. Source: ACFE, checked 10 October 2026.
Is there a free CFE exam study guide PDF from ACFE?
ACFE’s CFE Exam Study Guide PDF is part of the paid Gold and Platinum packages; ACFE’s self-study page lists no free version. Checked 10 October 2026.
Where can I find CFE exam sample questions?
ACFE does not list free official sample questions. Its CFE Exam Prep Course contains nearly 1,400 study questions and knowledge checks.
How many CFE exam questions are there?
310 on the exam: 120, 120 and 70 across the three sections. Source: ACFE, checked 10 October 2026.
What format are the certified fraud examiner exam questions?
Multiple-choice and true/false, closed book, in three separately timed sections. Source: ACFE, checked 10 October 2026.
Are certified fraud examiner questions from past exams available?
Not legitimately. ACFE calls the exam confidential and does not authorise the release of exam content; pre-exposure can invalidate results.
Is there an official certified fraud examiner practice test?
ACFE’s self-study page names no standalone free practice test; its Prep Course includes pre-assessments, review questions and knowledge checks.
What does certified fraud examiner test prep from ACFE cost?
CFE Exam Prep Course packages run from US$899.20 to US$1,699.20 for members, for one year. Source: ACFE, checked 10 October 2026.
