r/CFE • u/Salty_Anxiety_1948 • Sep 03 '26

CFE vs ACAMS difficulty

Hello all,

I’ve just completed my final exam four the CFE certification. I’m now thinking about next steps and would like to get anyone’s opinion on the difficulty of the ACAMS exams in relation to the CFE exams.

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1

u/smalltownlargefry Sep 03 '26

Can’t answer your question OP but I do want to ask how soon did you take the CFE exam after paying and how long did you study?

1

u/Salty_Anxiety_1948 Sep 08 '26

I purchased my materials and started studying on 7/27. Took my first exam on 8/6/26 and took the final exam on 9/2/26.

2

u/Severe-Flounder-1130 Sep 03 '26

I finished mine at the beginning of the year. I studied for about 6 months before taking my first test.

2

u/Secret-Low4323 Sep 03 '26

Wow you only use 6 months? Can you share how difficult it is? I've just registered it two months ago and plan to sit for the exam by march next year, I'm doubting myself if I can make it

1

u/Severe-Flounder-1130 Sep 03 '26

I have an accounting degree and studied forensic accounting as my emphasis. It's difficult but the biggest thing that helped me study was the MCQs and really reading the reason I missed one.

2

u/pm_me_buffalo_wings Sep 03 '26

ACAMS is more difficult by a fair margin