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{{more citations needed|date=October 2018}}
Following is a partial list of '''[[professional certification]]s in [[financial services]]''', with an overview of the educational and continuing requirements for each; see {{section link|Professional certification |Accountancy, auditing and finance}} and [[:Category:Professional certification in finance]] for all articles.
 
see {{sectionlink|Professional certification #Accountancy, auditing and finance}} and [[:Category:Professional certification in finance]] for all articles.
As the field of [[finance]] has increased in complexity in recent years, the number of available designations has grown, and, correspondingly, some will have more recognition than others.<ref name="soup">Ernest N. Biktimirov (2012). [https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2345545 Global Alphabet Soup: Internationally Recognized Professional Designations in Finance], ''Journal of Financial Education'' 38 (3/4), Fall/Winter 2012, 18-32</ref><ref name="CRO article">[https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b1505qj433jnpj/the-rise-of-the-chief-risk-officer The Rise of the Chief Risk Officer], ''[[Institutional Investor (magazine)|Institutional Investor]]'' (March 2017).</ref><ref name="WSJ2010">{{Citation | url = https://www.carp.ca/2012/05/04/is-your-adviser-pumping-up-his-credentials/ | title = Is Your Advisor Pumping Up His Credentials? | newspaper =The Wall Street Journal | date = October 16, 2010}}.</ref>
 
Note that inIn the US, many state securities and insurance [[financial regulator|regulators]] do not allow financial professionals to use a designation — in particular a [[Retirement planning#Obtaining a financial plan|"senior" designation]] — unless it has been accredited by either the [[American National Standards Institute]] or the [[National Commission for Certifying Agencies]].<ref>[https://www.finra.org/investors/accredited-designations accredited-designations], [[FINRA]].</ref>
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== Accounting ==
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The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is a post-graduate professional qualification offered internationally by the American-based [[CFA Institute]].
The program covers a considerably wide range of topics relating to advanced [[investment management]] and [[security analysis]] - thus [[economics]], [[financial reporting]] and analysis, [[corporate finance]], [[alternative investments]] and [[Investment management|portfolio management]] - and provides a generalist knowledge of other areas of finance.
CandidatesThe mustprogram completeconsists of three examinations in succession, each about four and a half hours long.
To attain the Charter, andcandidates require three years work experience; thereafter they must adhere to a code of ethics, and pay an ongoing certification fee to retain rights to use the financial designation.
 
===Chartered Wealth Manager===
For [[:Category:Retail financial services|retail focused]] professionals, CISI - the UK based [[Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment]] - offers the Chartered Wealth Manager Qualification (CWM),<ref>[https://www.cisi.org/cisiweb2/cisi-website/join-us/membership/chartered-wealth-manager Chartered Wealth Manager Qualification]</ref> comprising three sequential exams in financial markets, [[Investment management#Investment managers and portfolio structures|portfolio construction]], and then applied [[wealth management]]. With further experience requirements met, the Chartered Wealth Manager title may be used additional to other CISI membership designations. (The CISI designation is not to be confused with the similarly titled GAFM designation,<ref name ="cwm_gafm">[https://www.gafm.com/page/cwm Chartered Wealth Manager], gafm.com</ref> see [[#GAFM_Designations|below]], which in Europe is then titled CCWM.)
 
===CISI Diploma===
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===Certified Financial Planner===
{{Main|Certified Financial Planner}}
The Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation is a certification mark for [[financial planner]]s conferred by the [[Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards|CFP Board of Standards]].
To receive authorization to use the designation, the candidate must meet education, examination, experience and ethics requirements, and pay an ongoing certification fee.
It is offered in the United States, and in 25 other countries through affiliated organizations.
 
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===Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner===
The Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP) designation<ref>[https://www.apfinsa.org/certification/ Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner], apfinsa.org</ref> is a [[financial planning]] designation issued by the Asia Pacific Financial Services Association (APFinSA).
<ref>[https://www.apfinsa.org/certification/ Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner], apfinsa.org</ref>
is a [[financial planning]] designation issued by the Asia Pacific Financial Services Association (APFinSA).
<ref>[https://www.apfinsa.org/ Asia Pacific Financial Services Association], apfinsa.org</ref>
Candidates must have 2 years of full-time experience, and then pass 6 exams.
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===Certified Financial Technician===
The Certified Financial Technician (CFTe)<ref>[https://ifta.org/certifications/financial/ Certified Financial Technician], ifta.org</ref> is a designation in [[Technicaltechnical analysis]] offered by the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA).<ref>[https://ifta.org/ ifta.org]</ref>
It comprises two sequential examinations, usually completed over two years; to register candidates require a [[bachelor's degree]] and three years' [[Chartist (occupation)|relevant experience]].
Once qualified, a CFTe may pursue the MFTA (Master of Financial Technical Analysis),<ref>[https://ifta.org/certifications/master-of-financial-technical-analysis-mfta-program/ Master of Financial Technical Analysis], ifta.org</ref> requiring submission of a research thesis.
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==Corporate finance==
 
===Corporate Finance Qualification===
[[Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment|CISI]], in conjunction with [[Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales|ICAEW]],<ref>[https://www.icaew.com/learning-and-development/academy/specialist-qualifications/cfqualification Corporate Finance Qualification], icaew.com</ref> offers the two tiered Certificate,<ref>[https://www.cisi.org/cisiweb2/cisi-website/study-with-us/capital-markets/certificate-in-corporate-finance Certificate in Corporate Finance], cisi.org</ref> and then Diploma in Corporate Finance.<ref>[https://www.cisi.org/cisiweb2/cisi-website/study-with-us/capital-markets/diploma-in-corporate-finance Diploma in Corporate Finance], cisi.org</ref>
The qualification is "designed with a focus on the commercial, practical and technical skills" [[corporate finance#Investment banking#Corporate finance|applicable in corporate finance]].
With three years appropriate experience,<ref>[https://www.icaew.com/learning-and-development/academy/specialist-qualifications/cfqualification/study-route/corporate-finance-qualification Study Route], icaew.com</ref> these lead to the ICAEW Corporate Finance (CF) designatory letters, and to full CISI Chartered Member status.
these lead to the ICAEW Corporate Finance (CF) designatory letters, and to full CISI Chartered Member status.
 
===FP&A Professional===
===Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst===
The Certified Corporate [[FP&A]] Professional, or "FPAC",<ref>[https://fpacert.afponline.org/ fpacert.afponline.org]</ref> is a designation conferred by the [[Bethesda, Maryland]]-based Association for Financial Professionals (AFP), known for their CTP treasury qualification [[#Certified_Treasury_Professional|covered below]]. The FPAC syllabus is over two exams:
A [[Corporate Finance Institute#FMVA certification|Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst]] (FMVA) has completed all the courses (minimum 14) and other requirements set by the [[Corporate Finance Institute]] to obtain the designation.
the first 3-hour paper, covers underlying knowledge of [[Financial analyst#Financial planning and analysis|financial planning and analysis]];
The program focuses heavily on applications of [[corporate finance]], including:
the second 4.5 hour paper, is a [[Case method|case-based]] test of applied [[Financial analysis|analytics]] and [[decision support|business support]].
[[financial modeling]], [[valuation (finance)|valuation]], [[financial analyst|analysis]], [[Microsoft Excel|Excel]], [[pitch book|presentations]], and other topics.
Certificants have three years experience and hold a relevant degree or other qualification; AFP thereafter specifies continuing education requirements.
 
=== International Certificate in Corporate Finance ===
The International Certificate in Corporate Finance (ICCF)<ref>[https://www.first-finance-institute.com/en/certificat/iccf-columbia-business-school/ International Certificate in Corporate Finance]</ref> is a professional designation for employees in corporate finance, covering [[financial analysis]], [[valuation (finance)|valuation]] and [[Financial management#role|decision making]]. The program comprises three 6-week online courses, three major cases studies, and a 2 -hour final exam.
The program is delivered by First Finance Institute<ref>[https://www.first-finance-institute.com/en/ First Finance Institute]</ref> in partnership with the following four [[business school]]s:
[[HEC Paris]], [[Columbia Business School|Columbia]], [[Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania|Wharton]] and [[IE Business School]].
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The Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF)<ref>[https://www.cqf.com/ cqf.com]</ref> is an online part-time [[financial engineering]] program;
it was founded by [[Paul Wilmott]] in 2003, and is conferred by the CQF Institute.<ref>[https://www.cqfinstitute.org CQF Institute], cqfinstitute.org</ref>
The CQF can be completed as a single six -month program or split into two three-month levels.
It is designed for in-depth training for individuals in [[derivative (finance)|derivatives]], IT, [[quantitative finance|quantitative trading]], insurance, [[Quantitative analysis (finance)#Model validation|model validation]] or risk management.
The program's focus is on the practical implementation of techniques ("real-world quantitative finance"), it thus incorporates an element of questioning and analyzing models and methods;
it assumes some background in mathematics and programming.<ref>[https://www.cqf.com/about-cqf/program-structure/preparation "preparation"]</ref>
See also under {{sectionlinksection link|Quantitative analysis (finance) #|Education}}, {{slink|Financial engineering#|Education}}, and {{sectionlinksection link|Financial modeling #|Quantitative finance}}.
 
=== Certified Risk Management Professional ===
The Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP)<ref>[http://www.rims.org/certification "certification" rims.org]</ref> is an [[enterprise risk management]] (ERM) focused credential offered by RIMS, the [[Risk and Insurance Management Society]].
Candidates sit a two-hour [[Competency-based learning|competency based]] exam, and require a [[Bachelor's degree]] majoring in Risk Management together with a year's appropriate experience (or more with other qualifications);
certificants are then required to uphold a Code of Ethics and meet [[continuing education]] requirements in order to maintain the certification.
(A similarly named certificate is offered by IRMSA in [[South Africa]].<ref>[https://www.irmsa.org.za/page/Qualifications Qualifications], irmsa.org.za</ref>)
 
=== Certified Risk Professional ===
"Certified Risk Professional"<ref>[https://www.theirm.org/join-our-community/about-membership/membership-grades/professional-membership/becoming-certified/ Becoming certified], theirm.org</ref>
is a graduate-level qualification offered by the [[Institute of Risk Management]] (IRM),<ref>[https://www.theirm.org/ Institute of Risk Management], theirm.org</ref> withallowing for the [[post nominal]] designation "CMIRM".
It is achieved by completing a certificate and then diploma, together with three year's relevant experience.
The ''International Certificate in Financial Services Risk Management'',
<ref name="FSBrochure">[https://www.theirm.org/media/8876/fs-brochure.pdf International Certificate in Financial Services Risk Management], theirm.org</ref>
<ref name="FSBrochure"/>
<ref name="UKFinance">[https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/events-training/international-certificate-financial-services-risk-management Course Listing] at UK Finance</ref>
<ref name="INDEPENDENT">[https://courses.independent.co.uk/training/institute-of-risk-management/certificate-in-risk-management-in-financial-services-466672#:~:text=The%20International%20Certificate%20in%20Financial%20Services%20Risk%20Management,financial%20sector%20and%20banking%20and%20insurance%20sub%20sectors Course Listing] at ''[[The Independent]]''.</ref>
comprises two modules, usually taken over 9 months;<!-- :
(i) the Principles of Risk and Risk Management in Financial Services,
followed by (ii) the Practice of Risk Management in Financial Services.<ref name="FSBrochure">[https://www.theirm.org/media/8876/fs-brochure.pdf International Certificate in Financial Services Risk Management], theirm.org</ref> -->
Withwith four further coursesmodules, over three years, the certificant articulates to the [[enterprise risk management]] (ERM) focused ''International Diploma in Risk Management'',
<ref>[https://www.theirm.org/qualifications/international-diploma-in-risk-management-revised-syllabus/ International Diploma in Risk Management], theirm.org</ref>
thereby qualifying.
(Several UK universities have [[Master of Finance|MSc programmes]] aligned with these;<ref>[https://www.theirm.org/media/9286/standard-exemptions-revised-international-diploma-in-risk-management.pdf Standard Exemptions List], theirm.org</ref> students may gain exemption from specified modules.)
At the certificate level IRM also offers the ''International Certificate in Enterprise Risk Management'', as well as others.
 
===Chartered Enterprise Risk Actuary / Analyst ===
The CERA credential
— [[Institute and Faculty of Actuaries#Chartered Enterprise Risk Actuary .28CERA.29|Chartered Enterprise Risk Actuary]] through the [[Institute and Faculty of Actuaries]], and [[Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst]] through the [[Society of Actuaries]] —
provides risk professionals with "strong ERM knowledge that drives better business decisions applied in finance and insurance".
<ref>[https://actuaries.org.uk/qualify/curriculum/enterprise-and-risk-management/chartered-enterprise-risk-actuary-cera Chartered Enterprise Risk Actuary], actuaries.org.uk</ref>
Under both, certificants have completed various of the underlying [[Actuarial_credentialing_and_examsActuarial credentialing and exams|actuarial qualifying exams]], as well as further specified modules and training in risk management.
 
=== Financial Risk Manager ===
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The Association of Corporate Treasurers offers training and various qualifications in [[cash management|cash-]] and [[treasury management]].
The Diploma in Treasury Management (3 papers over 12–18 months) allows for Associate Membership, with post-nominal letters AMCT,
while the subsequent Advanced Diploma (of similar structure and duration, and requiring also a dissertation) grants full membership, MCT;.
theThe FCT fellowship is conferred following several years of experience.
 
===Certified Treasury Professional===
{{Main|Certified Treasury Professional}}
The Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) designation is a certification for treasurers, cash managers, treasury managers, and other treasury-related professionals administered by the [[Bethesda, Maryland]]-based Association for Financial Professionals (AFP). The CTP was formerly known as the Certified Cash Manager or CCM designation but was renamed due to treasury's increasing role in managing the entire balance sheet and implementing the strategic direction prescribed by [[Chief Financial Officers]]. The CTP certification is held by over 20,000 finance professionals and, in the US, is considered {{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} the leading certification in the [[treasury management]] profession.
 
==GAFM Designations==
The Board of Standards of GAFM, the [[Global Academy of Finance and Management]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gafm.org|title=The GAFM Global Academy of Finance and Management|website=gafm.org|access-date=2016-05-17}}</ref> confers designations in various areas of finance.
The GAFM is [[Technischer Überwachungsverein|TUV Accredited]] and [[ISO certification|ISO Certified]]. (Although see [[American Academy of Financial Management]] for discussion.)
These designations include:
* The Accredited Financial Analyst (AFA)<ref>[https://www.gafm.com/page/AFA AFA], gafm.com</ref> - a certification mark for [[financial analyst]]s. Coverage includes the requisite methods for [[business valuation]] and [[Fundamental analysis]], but also, the role related [[Securities research|research and reporting techniques]]. To receive authorization to use the designation, the candidate must meet education, examination, experience and ethics requirements, and pay an ongoing certification fee. (AFA overlaps the Financial Analyst Designate and Chartered Market Analyst designations).
*The Master Financial Controller (MFC) - a certification mark for financial professionals engaged at the senior level of [[corporate finance]], such as in the role of a [[chief financial officer|CFO]], [[comptroller|Financial Controller]] or [[Financial director|Financial Director]]. Candidates must sit an executive conversion program, have at least 7 years working experience and pass a rigorous exam to qualify.<ref name="AAFM Board of Standards"/>
*The Master Financial Planner (MFP) - a certification mark for college educated [[Wealth management|wealth planners]]. To receive authorization to use the designation, the candidate must meet education, [[AACSB]] or [[ACBSP]] accredited college examinations, experience and ethics requirements, and pay an ongoing good standing fee.<ref name="AAFM Board of Standards">[http://www.aafm.us AAFM Board of Standards]</ref>
*The Chartered Financial Manager (CHFM)<ref>[https://www.gafm.com/page/CharteredFinancialManager Chartered Financial Manager], gafm.com</ref> is a globally recognized professional qualification for individuals working in the finance, banking, risk, and investment industry; the topics are largely similar to the CFP and CFA. The CHFM maintains standards both at the national and international levels, and allows applicants to take courses at [[ACBSP]] and [[AACSB]] business schools that count toward eligibility. The qualification requires, also, a college education.
* The Chartered Wealth Manager (CWM)<ref name= "cwm_gafm"/><ref>[https://www.finra.org/investors/professional-designations/cwm FINRA listing]</ref> certifies competence in [[financial planning]], retirement, and estate planning. Requirements are a relevant Master's degree and five years' experience, with exemptions available to some professionals. [[#Chartered Wealth Manager|As above]], the designation is not to be confused with the similarly titled UK CISI designation; in Europe<ref name= "cwm_gafm"/> the GAFM designation is then titled Chartered Certified Wealth Manager (CCWM).
* The [[Certified Risk Analyst]] (CRA) qualification<ref>[https://www.financialanalyst.org/certified_risk_management_analyst.html Certified Risk Analyst]</ref> is granted on completion of graduate level financial- and [[risk management]] courses (directly or via waiver) with parallel "substantial experience in risk assessment and management on a regional and global level".
 
== See also ==
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**[[Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment]]
**[[Global Association of Risk Professionals|GARP]]
**[[Global Risk Institute]]
**[[ICMA Centre]]
**[[The London Institute of Banking & Finance]]
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**[[:Category:Economics education|Economics articles]]
**[[Outline of finance#Education|Finance articles]]
**[[Management#Training and education|Management articles]]
**[[Business education|Business articles]]
** [[Investment management#Education or certification|Investments education]]
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