CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner)
Definition
The primary fraud-specific credential, awarded by the ACFE. Covers financial transactions, law, investigation methodology, and fraud prevention. Available to accountants, lawyers, investigators, and others with qualifying experience.
- Awarding body
- ACFE
- Domains covered
- Financial transactions, law, investigation, prevention
- Open to
- Accountants, lawyers, investigators, and others
- Requirement
- Qualifying professional experience
- Field
- Fraud examination
Common questions
Is CFE a legal license to practise, like a CPA?+
No, it is a professional certification demonstrating fraud examination competency, not a state-issued license to practise a regulated profession. A CFE holder may still need a separate licence, such as a CPA or bar admission, for other professional activities.
How does the CFE credential relate to forensic accounting more broadly?+
Forensic accounting is the broader field applying accounting skills to legal disputes and investigations. CFE is one specific credential within that field, focused narrowly on fraud detection, investigation and prevention rather than the full range of forensic accounting work.
Related terms
- CFF (Certified in Financial Forensics)
- An AICPA credential restricted to CPAs in good standing. Covers the full forensic accounting scope: fraud, litigation support, valuation disputes, bankruptcy, and...
- CPD (Continuing Professional Development)
- The ongoing training requirement attached to most professional credentials. For forensic accounting credentials, CPD typically covers emerging fraud schemes, changes in evidentiary...
- IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors)
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- Independence
- The requirement that an expert's opinion is formed solely on the evidence and the expert's own professional judgment, free from pressure from...
- PCAOB
- Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, established by SOX to set auditing standards and inspect audit firms performing public-company audits. It replaced the...