When a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) fails to meet the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements necessary for maintaining the credential, their CFE credential will be suspended. The following sections discuss what suspension means, the circumstances that lead to it and how to return to active CFE status.
Suspensions for Failure to Maintain CPE
CFEs must earn a minimum of 20 CPE credits every 12 months. If you fail to meet this requirement and do not certify your annual CPE compliance by your deadline, your CFE credential will be placed into suspension. Suspended status prohibits you from representing yourself as a CFE and using the credential in any form. Your digital badge will also be updated to reflect this status.
To resolve a CPE suspension, you must earn 20 CPE credits and then contact the ACFE:
Visit ACFE.com/MyCPE to resolve a suspension online.
Call (800) 245-3321 or +1 (512) 478-9000 to resolve a suspension by phone.
Complete the Suspension Reactivation form and email it to CPE@ACFE.com.
Please note that it is possible to be in compliance for the current year while having 1 or more previous suspensions on your account. You must resolve all past suspensions to regain active CFE status.
Suspensions for CPE Audit Failures
The ACFE conducts regular audits to ensure that all CFEs are meeting the necessary CPE requirements to maintain their credential. If you have been randomly selected for a CPE Compliance Audit and fail to provide sufficient proof of CPE by your deadline, your credential will be placed into suspension. As with suspensions for failure to certify annual CPE compliance, suspended status resulting from failing a CPE Compliance Audit also prohibits you from representing yourself as a CFE and using the credential in any form.
You can resolve a CPE audit suspension by emailing an audit log and proof of the required 20 CPE credits, including 10 fraud-related credits and 2 ethics-related credits, to CPE@ACFE.com. Note that if you did not complete the required credits during the compliance period in question, you must complete the credits as soon as possible and submit proof to the ACFE.
Repeat Suspensions
As a CFE, if you accumulate 5 or more years of CPE suspensions, your credential will be revoked and your membership will be transferred to Associate status. If you wish to reinstate your CFE credential, you will be required to retake the CFE Exam and satisfy the education, experience and testing qualifications necessary for certification.
The following chart outlines the actions needed to resolve 1 or more years of suspension, as determined by the ACFE’s Board of Regents.
| Years in Suspension | Action Needed |
|---|---|
| 1-4 Years | Complete 20 CPE credits for each year of suspension and reverse the suspension(s) using a method mentioned above. |
| 5 or More Years | Reapply for and pass the CFE Exam. |