Continuing Professional Education (CPE) FAQs
To maintain your Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential, you are required to earn Continuing Professional Education (CPE).
Yes, unlimited CPE credits per year are allowed from outside organizations, provided the education meets the criteria of one of the following seven categories:
Participant credit is defined as instruction in a formal class or online (e.g., virtual conference or webinar) setting that includes:
How to claim this type of credit: Obtain a certificate of completion with the number of CPE credits attained.
For college courses, you may claim 15 CPE credits for each semester hour completed.
How to claim this type of credit: Request a transcript with the course name and the number of credit hours earned from your college or university.
In-house training is acceptable, provided it is offered in a formalized setting and meets the above criteria for participant credit. Informal, on-the-job training may not be claimed.
How to claim this type of credit: Obtain a certificate of completion with the number of CPE credits attained.
Self-study courses are acceptable for CPE credit, provided they meet the following criteria:
How to claim this type of CPE credit: Obtain a certificate of completion with the number of CPE credits attained.
You may claim CPE credit for the number of hours you present as an instructor as long as the content of your presentation is related to the above-mentioned fields.
You may also claim a maximum of two preparation hours for each hour of your presentation. You may only claim preparation hours for the first time the material is presented. Subsequent credit for preparation of the same presentation is not permitted.
Instructor credits may be claimed for every instance the subject is presented, but a maximum of 10 CPE credits per year is accepted, including preparation time and presentation time.
How to claim this type of CPE credit:
Time spent preparing articles and books related to the above-mentioned fields will be accepted for a maximum of 10 CPE credits per year.
How to claim this type of CPE credit: Maintain a detailed description of the book or article and keep it with your annual CPE records.
Credit may be claimed for the successful completion of an ACFE-approved certification program. The certification or designation must be earned during the compliance period for which it is being claimed and will only be recognized during the year of initial completion. Credit may only be claimed for one certification program during each compliance period.
You must keep transcripts, certificates, or other documentation stating the name of the credential and the original issue date.
Generally, CPE documentation should include the following:
The ACFE will not accept the following for CPE documentation:
For 1-day courses, you may earn 8 CPE.
For 2-day courses, you may earn 16 CPE.
For 3-day courses, you may earn 24 CPE.
ACFE conferences and other live events vary in the number of CPE credits given, depending on the length of the event. All event descriptions include information about CPE.
You have four easy ways to confirm your annual CPE compliance:
If you are having trouble meeting your CPE requirements, you can apply for a CPE deadline extension via your ACFE account or by contacting a Member Services Representative.
If you are unable to demonstrate CPE compliance, you may be subject to suspension.
However, we encourage you to reach out to our Member Services team. We make exceptions on a case-by-case basis if there are special circumstances that prevent you from complying with CPE requirements. Submit a written request to the ACFE citing special circumstances that make CPE compliance impossible. Any member who is found to have made a false request may be subject to discipline including expulsion from the ACFE.
Suspended status prohibits you from representing yourself as a CFE to the general public and using the CFE credential in any form.
Examples include, but are not limited to, business cards, business or personal correspondence, résumés, certificates of membership, and/or websites. Suspended status also prevents you from voting in ACFE elections, and you will no longer be listed in the “Find a CFE” directory on ACFE.com. Unauthorized use of the CFE credential by a member in suspended status or untruthful representations about CFE status may result in additional disciplinary action.
CFEs with five or more years of CPE suspensions will be placed into Associate member status. Should these individuals want to reinstate the CFE credential, they will be required to take the CFE Exam.
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