The Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) is a credential awarded by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) since 1989. The ACFE association is a provider of anti-fraud training and education. Founded in 1988 by Dr. Joseph T Wells. The ACFE established and administers the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential. To become a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), one must meet the following requirements:

Academic requirements

Generally, applicants for CFE certification must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree or equivalent from an institution of higher education. Two years of professional experience related to fraud can be substituted for each year of college.

Professional requirements

At the time of certification, at least two years of professional experience in a field either directly or indirectly related to the detection or deterrence of fraud is required. The ACFE recognizes the following areas as qualified professional experience: Other experience can qualify, but must be reviewed for applicability.

Moral character

The ACFE will require references attesting to one's character before granting the certificate.

Adhere to the Code of Ethics

Per the ACFE website, the code of ethics states that a Certified Fraud Examiner shall:

Examination

The CFE Exam consists of 400 questions divided into four sections (100 questions each). Each exam section has a time limit of two hours with an optional five minute break. All four sections must be completed within a 60 days window. The CFE Exam has the following four sections:

Notable CFEs