The three levels
- Associate certifications are for people early in their AFC career or in operational roles. Exams are 60 questions in 90 minutes, and packages cost US$1,045 for everyone.
- Specialist certifications are for established professionals. You need 40 eligibility credits. Exams are 100 to 120 questions.
- Advanced certifications are for senior specialists. You need 60 credits or an active CAMS. Exams are 90 questions in about 3 hours.
All 10 ACAMS certifications at a glance
Prices are ACAMS' package prices for study materials plus the exam, private sector / public sector, checked in October 2026. ACAMS membership is extra and required for all of them.
| Certification | Best for | Exam | Pass mark | Package price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CKYCA (KYC Associate) | KYC, onboarding and CDD analysts | 60 Q, 90 min | 72% of scored | US$1,045 |
| CTMA (Transaction Monitoring Associate) | Alert and TM analysts | 60 Q, 90 min | 74% of scored | US$1,045 |
| CAFCA (AML FinTech Compliance Associate) | FinTech, payments and neobank compliance | 60 Q, 90 min | 70% of scored | US$1,045 |
| CAMS | AML compliance professionals | 120 Q, 210 min | Scaled 75 | US$2,095 / US$1,595 |
| CGSS (Global Sanctions Specialist) | Sanctions and trade compliance | 100 Q, 175 min | Scaled 75 | US$1,995 / US$1,495 |
| CAFS (Anti-Fraud Specialist) | Fraud prevention and investigation | 100 Q, 175 min | Scaled 75 | US$1,995 / US$1,495 |
| CCAS (Cryptoasset AFC Specialist) | Crypto compliance and investigations | 100 Q, 175 min | Set by ACAMS | US$2,095 / US$1,595 |
| Certified AFC Auditor | Internal and external AFC auditors | 90 Q, 3 hours | Set by ACAMS | US$2,195 / US$1,695 |
| Certified AFC Investigator | Senior financial crime investigators | 90 Q, 3 hours | Set by ACAMS | Advanced package |
| Certified AFC Risk Manager | Senior AFC risk managers | 90 Q, 3 hours | Set by ACAMS | US$2,195 / US$1,695 |
If you work in AML compliance: CAMS
CAMS is the one most job ads ask for. If you've been in AML for a year or two and can reach 40 credits, go straight to CAMS. Holding CAMS also makes you eligible for every specialist and advanced certification without counting credits again.
See where you stand in 10 minutes
Take the free CAMS practice test. 15 questions, every answer explained.
If you're starting out: an associate certification
Associate certifications are shorter, cheaper and focused on one job. CKYCA fits onboarding and KYC teams, CTMA fits alert review and investigations analysts, and CAFCA fits compliance staff at FinTechs and payment companies. They're a good first step before CAMS.
If you specialize: CGSS, CAFS or CCAS
Many professionals pair one of these with CAMS. A specialist certification also qualifies you for the other specialist certifications.
- CGSS for sanctions screening, sanctions advisory and trade compliance.
- CAFS for fraud strategy, fraud operations and fraud investigations.
- CCAS for crypto exchanges, digital asset teams at banks, and blockchain investigators.
If you're senior: the advanced certifications
The three advanced certifications (formerly Advanced CAMS-Audit, Advanced CAMS-FCI and Advanced CAMS-Risk Management) were renamed Certified AFC Auditor, Certified AFC Investigator and Certified AFC Risk Manager. They need 60 credits or an active CAMS, and they're designed for people who already lead audits, investigations or risk programs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest ACAMS certification?
The associate certifications (CKYCA, CTMA, CAFCA) are the shortest exams, with 60 questions in 90 minutes. CAFCA has the lowest pass mark at 70% of scored questions.
Is CAMS better than CGSS?
Neither is better: CAMS covers AML broadly and is the most requested, while CGSS is the sanctions specialist credential. Sanctions professionals often hold both.
Can I take an advanced certification without CAMS?
Yes, if you have 60 eligibility credits. An active CAMS meets the requirement automatically.
What happened to Advanced CAMS-Audit, FCI and RM?
ACAMS renamed them Certified AFC Auditor, Certified AFC Investigator and Certified AFC Risk Manager.
Official sources
- ACAMS: About Certifications
- ACAMS Help Center: Associate Certifications
- ACAMS Help Center: Specialist Certifications
Practice tests for these certifications
CAMS Certification Exam (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist)
The flagship ACAMS certification and the most requested AML credential in compliance job ads.
CKYCA Certification Exam (Certified Know Your Customer Associate)
ACAMS' entry-level certification for KYC, onboarding and customer due diligence analysts.
CGSS Certification Exam (Certified Global Sanctions Specialist)
ACAMS' sanctions certification for screening, sanctions compliance and trade-control professionals.
ACAMS Certified AFC Investigator Exam (formerly Advanced CAMS-FCI)
ACAMS' advanced certification for financial crime investigators, FIU staff and investigation managers.
This guide is general information, checked October 2026, not legal advice. Certification rules change; confirm with ACAMS before you apply.
