Credential type: certification examination · verified on the issuer's site September 20, 2026 issuer page
Retired exam
ACFE retired the four-section CFE Exam on 2026-06-02. Per the issuer's equivalency chart, a pass on Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes counts toward the new 'Fraud Schemes and Financial Crimes' section of the current CFE Exam.
No direct replacement is named in the reviewed official sources.
The CFE Part 1: Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes exam, administered by the ACFE, covered methods of occupational fraud. This exam is retired as of 2026-06-02. The registry names no successor for this specific exam. Candidates seeking the CFE credential should contact the ACFE directly to determine the current requirements and path for certification, as this specific exam is no longer available for registration or completion by any candidate.
This exam was intended for anti-fraud professionals, auditors, and investigators. It required knowledge of financial crime schemes and internal control systems. As the exam is retired, individuals should consult the ACFE for the current requirements for the CFE credential.
Since this exam is retired and has no successor, do not prepare for it. Focus on current ACFE materials and the latest Report to the Nations to understand fraud schemes. If you are pursuing the CFE credential, contact the ACFE to learn about the current examination requirements and the necessary steps for certification. Do not attempt to study for this retired exam content, as it is no longer valid for any certification path.
This domain covers the theft or misuse of organizational resources by employees. It focuses on identifying how assets are taken and the methods used to conceal these actions within an organization during daily operations.
This domain addresses intentional material misstatements or omissions in financial statements. It examines how perpetrators manipulate net income or net worth to deceive stakeholders and hide financial irregularities within the reporting process of an organization.
This domain covers the abuse of power for personal gain. It examines schemes where employees or third parties use their influence to obtain improper benefits or payments from an organization through various corrupt business practices.
This domain focuses on fraudulent activities related to the recognition and reporting of revenue. It covers the methods used to inflate sales figures or misrepresent the financial health of an organization to external parties and investors.
This domain addresses fraud involving employee compensation systems. It covers the creation of fake employees or the falsification of wages to misappropriate funds from the organization's payroll through various deceptive and unauthorized internal schemes.
The exam consisted of 125 multiple choice questions in total. Candidates were expected to complete these within the allotted time frame before the exam was officially retired by the governing body.
A passing score of 75% was required for this exam. This percentage was the standard benchmark for candidates to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the financial transactions and fraud schemes covered in the curriculum.
The exam had a duration of 135 minutes. This time limit was strictly enforced for all candidates during the testing period to ensure that the assessment of their anti-fraud knowledge remained consistent and fair.
No, the ACFE has retired this exam and has not named a successor. Candidates should reach out to the organization directly for guidance on the current path to achieving the professional CFE credential.
Verified 2026-08-30
This editorial was compiled using official ACFE documentation, including the candidate handbook and exam content outlines, to provide accurate information regarding the retirement of the CFE-FT exam and its status.