FAQs and Membership Infoa

 

What is the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners?
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners is an international, 25,000-member, professional organization dedicated to fighting fraud and white-collar crime. With offices in North America and Europe - and chapters around the globe - the Association is networked to respond to the needs of anti-fraud professionals everywhere.

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What is a Certified Fraud Examiner?
A Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) is a specialist educated and trained in the detection and deterrence of a wide variety of white-collar crimes. All CFEs must meet the rigorous criteria for admission to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Thereafter, they must exemplify the highest moral and ethical standards and must agree to abide by the Association's Code of Professional Ethics.

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Who belongs to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners?
Members of the Association specialize in a wide range of fields, including fraud investigation; criminology; internal and external auditing; loss prevention and security; forensic accounting; law; law enforcement; investigation at the local, state, and federal levels; education; and others, as well as students of these fields.

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How do I become a CFE?
Becoming a Certified Fraud Examiner is not an easy task. Only Associate Members of the ACFE can be eligible for certification. To achieve the CFE designation, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be of high moral character
  • Meet the minimum educational and experience requirements
  • Pass the Uniform CFE Examination
  • Maintain required Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
  • Pay annual Association dues
  • Agree to abide by the Bylaws and Code of Professional Ethics of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Further details on how to become a CFE can be found by going to the Becoming a CFE page of this website.

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Where and how often is the CFE Exam offered?
The CFE Exam was designed to be convenient for professionals with hectic schedules. The entire exam is administered on your computer in your own office or home from software that is mailed to you from the Association.

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Where can I find the Middle Tennessee Chapter application form?
Click here for the application form (PDF format).

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What are the continuing professional education requirements?
ACFE requires all CFEs to certify their compliance with the requirement of 20 hours of CPE per year. See the notice below for details. You can certify online at the ACFE website and it only take a second.

In an effort to ensure all CFEs maintain competence and to uphold the high standards of the CFE credential, the ACFE requires CFEs to comply with CPE requirements each year. To keep your CFE designation, you must submit the certification below by June 30, 2005. If you do not do so, your membership will automatically be suspended and the suspension will be published.

Every CFE must:

  • Achieve a minimum of 20 hours of CPE per calendar year with at least 10 hours being directly fraud-related.(Excess CPE may not be carried forward to future years.)
  • Keep track of CPE and retain for three years supporting documents for CPE credit earned.
  • Annually certify that he/she met the CPE requirements or report non-compliance.
  • Provide evidence of compliance to the ACFE for audit investigation at any time requested.

For complete CPE requirements and approved fields of study, visit www.acfe.com/career/annual.asp.

CERTIFICATION REQUIRED BY JUNE 30, 2005 FOR YOUR CPE EARNED IN 2004.

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What are the benefits of Chapter Membership?
Chapter membership is available to members of the National Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Members pay $25 annually or $50 for a three-year recognition. Members can attend monthly luncheons for one hour of free CPE (meals are $8 per person), become active as an officer or committee chair, and interact with other anti-fraud professionals at scheduled events and socials. Members also receive special access to the Members Only section of the Chapter Website where they can engage in a member discussion group, find job opportunities, search the member database, and find a listing of chapter library resources. Click here to download an application for membership in the Middle Tennessee Chapter (the application is in Adobe Acrobat format; download and install a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader).

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How serious is the problem of fraud in the U.S.?
It is estimated that 6% of revenues will be lost in 2002 as a result of occupational fraud and abuse. Small businesses are the most vulnerable to occupational fraud and abuse. The average scheme in a small business causes $127,500 in losses. The average scheme in the largest companies costs $97,000. Read the "Report to the Nation" at the ACFE web site for more information about the problem of fraud in the U.S. or visit the Association’s web site at www.acfe.com.

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