What is the Association of Certified Fraud Specialists?
  Who are the members of the ACFS?
  Who are the Board of Regents, what do they do, and what is their authority?
  Is there a "Grandfathering" period for the Certified Fraud Specialist designation?
  Will an examination be required, in the future, to receive certification?
  Is there an application fee, and are there annual dues for a Certified Fraud Specialist?
  What are the qualifications for a Certified Fraud Specialist?
  What does the ACFS do?
  Who decides the ACFS' direction and future actions?
  How can I obtain more information or join the ACFS?
  How many states does the ACFS have a presence in now?
  Does the ACFS give out or sell its membership list?
  Will the ACFS certify an anti-fraud professional in a country other than the United States?

What is the Association of Certified Fraud Specialists?
Learn more about the ACFS mission and its many member-driven servicees.

The ACFS is a non-profit, mutual benefit corporation headquartered in Sacramento, California. The ACFS, to maintain its independence, is not controlled or directed by any for-profit entity or management firm.

As a non-profit, 100% of the revenues of the Association are returned in services to the membership and general public and the Association draws its leadership from the membership through an elective process.

The Association bylaws ensure that demographic and geographic representation is present in our leadership. Further, the member voting process ensures the activities of the Association are in the best interest of the anti-fraud profession and general public.

The National Executive Committee, responsible for day-to-day operation of the Association, answers annually to, and takes direction from, the National Board of Directors, whose membership includes the duly elected Presidents of each Association chapter.

Who are the members of the ACFS?
The Association recruits, and accepts for membership, professionals in these groups:

  Current or former law enforcement officers
  Internal and external auditors
  Public accountants
  Private and other investigators
  Forensic/investigative accountants
  Attorneys
  Other related occupational groups

Who are the Board of Regents, what do they do, and what is their authority?
Regents are Certified Fraud Specialists who are appointed by the National Executive Committee, subject to ratification by the National Board of Directors. Regents serve a single term of three (3) years and may not serve subsequent terms or be reappointed.

The Board of Regents sets the standards and possesses complete authority over the standards for both admission to membership and designation as a Certified Fraud Specialist.

Is there a "Grandfathering" period for the Certified Fraud Specialist designation?
Yes. The Board of Regents has implemented a grandfathering period to provide senior professionals, possessing experience with fraud issues, the opportunity to apply for membership and certification. Learn more about the Grandfathering Provision.

Will an examination be required, in the future, to receive certification?
Yes. Presently, the Professional Standards and Admissions Committee is developing an examination. When completed, approved by the Board of Regents, and implemented, the Certified Fraud Specialist program will be 100% test-based. When the grandfathering period closes, it will be permanently closed.

Is there an application fee, and are there annual dues for a Certified Fraud Specialist?
Information on dues and fees can be found here.

What are the qualifications for a Certified Fraud Specialist?
Each Certified Fraud Specialist must be a professional who has substantial experience in their respective field - whether it be law, investigation, auditing/accounting, or a related discipline. Further, each CFS must have demonstrated both experience and expertise in detecting, deterring, and/or resolving fraud and white collar crime issues.

Although a degree is not required, a typical candidate certified under the grandfathering provision holds a Bachelors degree or higher, a minimum of eight (8) years of work experience in his/her field, and substantial experience in dealing with fraud issues.

The rigorous nature of our certification program ensures that each Certified Fraud Specialist is uniquely qualified to resolve the true nature of a suspected fraud.

What does the ACFS do?
  Certification - Through a process of accreditation, review, and continuing education, the Association promotes the Certified Fraud Specialist designation as a symbol of the highest, independent standard of excellence.

  Networking - Members are organized and integrated into a vast national network of like-minded professionals, each an expert ready to advise or lend assistance.

  Training - The ACFS strives to provide cutting-edge training at the lowest possible cost. Our goal is service. A member of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) registry of CPE sponsors, the ACFS leadership works closely with other standards-setting bodies (e.g. the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training) to develop high quality courses.

  Standards & Ethics - The ACFS establishes, and promulgates, the standards needed for our profession and ensures our members adhere to the highest ethical standards. Each of our members strives to embody the words inscribed on our national logo: Knowledge, Service, Truth.

  International Network - The ACFS works to establish reciprocity with similar non-profit organizations in other nations (e.g. The Association of Certified Forensic Investigators of Canada.)

Who decides the ACFS' direction and future actions?
Simple question - simple answer...our members. Here is how we do it:

Upon acceptance into membership, each member is assigned to the chapter closest to him/her geographically. The members of each chapter elect their local officers, and, when electing their chapter president, they are, in fact, electing a member of the ACFS National Board of Directors. This elective mechanism provides each member with close and immediate access to a national leader.

Each chapter is part of a region, there being seven regions in the United States, and each region is supervised by a Regional Governor. The governor's role is to ensure ACFS policy is uniformly administered and each governor is elected by the members within their region.

Each Regional Governor is accountable to the National Executive Committee. Comprised of our National Officers, and members-at-large, this is the executive head and policy-making body of the Association.

The National Executive Committee, once each year, reports on their activities and policies to the National Board of Directors. To remain in effect, each policy must be affirmed by the National Board of Directors. This process provides true membership representation and leadership accountability.

How can I obtain more information or join the ACFS?
Obtain additional information by contacting us. If you would like information on becoming a member, you can find all the information you need here.

How many states does the ACFS have a presence in now?
The steady rate of applicants makes difficult to provide a definitive answer. However, at the end of 2004, the ACFS had members in all 50 states.

Does the ACFS give out or sell its membership list?
Absolutely not. Under NO circumstances will we sell or lend our membership list. In fact, very tight controls are in place on who has access to our membership list and for what purposes the list may be used.

Will the ACFS certify an anti-fraud professional in a country other than the United States?
Yes. If an anti-fraud professional meets the standards set by the Board of Regents, certification will be issued. However, under the current structure of the ACFS there will be no conferences, training events, or chapters chartered in any country other than the United States.