Membership

Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) Credential Overview

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) established the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) credential in 2008 for CPAs who specialize in forensic accounting. The CFF credential is granted exclusively to CPAs who demonstrate considerable expertise in forensic accounting through their knowledge, skills, and experience. The CFF encompasses fundamental and specialized forensic accounting skills that CPA practitioners apply in a variety of service areas, including: bankruptcy and insolvency; computer forensic analysis; family law; valuations; fraud prevention, detection, and response; financial statement misrepresentation; and economic damages calculations.

Apply for the CFF Credential!

Program Objectives

The CFF credential program is designed to achieve the following objectives:

Increase exposure for CPAs who have obtained the CFF credential;

Enhance the quality of the forensic services CFFs provide;

Ensure the continued competitiveness of CPAs versus other forensic accounting services providers through continuous access to a comprehensive community of resources and support;

Increase practice development and career opportunities for CFFs;

Promote members' services through Forensic and Valuation Services (FVS) website; and

Achieve public recognition of the CPA/CFF as the preferred forensic accounting professional.

Benefits of Becoming a CFF

CPAs who provide forensic accounting services should consider obtaining the CFF Credential because it:

Positions the credential holder as a premier forensic accounting service provider;

Enhances the practitioner's image as a competent, trustworthy financial forensic expert;

Promotes a greater level of confidence for clients and employers;

Demonstrates commitment to continuously improving forensic accounting skills and expertise, resulting in increased professional competency;

Increases opportunities for referrals from other practitioners, strategic partners, attorneys, and clients;

Includes you in a community of CPA financial forensics professionals with similar interests and practices; and

Distinguishes your practice with the powerful combination of a CPA certificate and a CFF credential.

CFF Credential Qualification Requirements

The CFF Credential is exclusively granted by the AICPA to qualified CPAs. To qualify, new CFF applicants must:

Hold a valid and unrevoked CPA license or certificate issued by a legally constituted state authority

Pass the CFF examination. The CFF Exam Content Specification Outline (CSO) includes details of subject areas covered on the exam.

Upon successfully passing the CFF Examination, complete the CFF Credential Application. Applicants must attest to meeting the minimum Business Experience and Education requirements and pay the appropriate credential fee. See CFF Credential Pricing for an overview of credential fees.

Business Experience Requirement
A CFF candidate must have a minimum of 1,000 hours of business experience in forensic accounting within the 5-year period preceding the date of the CFF application. Refer to the CFF Application Kit for examples of business experience.

Education Requirement
A CFF candidate must have 75 hours of forensic accounting related continuing professional education (CPE). All hours must have been obtained within the 5-year period preceding the date of the CFF application. Refer to the CFF Application Kit for further details.

Sign a Declaration of Intent to comply with the requirements of CFF Recertification.

Contact Us

If you’d like to contact the AICPA directly, please email us call 866.835.2938. You can contact the AICPA FVS Division directly by visiting our FVS Team page.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) offers the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) designation. For more information click here.

The National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA) offers the Certified Forensic Financial Analyst (CFFA) designation. For more information here.

Program Objectives

	The CFF credential program is designed to achieve the following objectives: Increase exposure for CPAs who have obtained the CFF credential; Enhance the quality of the forensic services CFFs provide; Ensure the continued competitiveness of CPAs versus other forensic accounting services providers through continuous access to a comprehensive community of resources and support; Increase practice development and career opportunities for CFFs; Promote members' services through Forensic and Valuation Services (FVS) website; and Achieve public recognition of the CPA/CFF as the preferred forensic accounting professional.

Benefits of Becoming a CFF

CPAs who provide forensic accounting services should consider obtaining the CFF Credential because it: Positions the credential holder as a premier forensic accounting service provider; Enhances the practitioner's image as a competent, trustworthy financial forensic expert; Promotes a greater level of confidence for clients and employers; Demonstrates commitment to continuously improving forensic accounting skills and expertise, resulting in increased professional competency; Increases opportunities for referrals from other practitioners, strategic partners, attorneys, and clients; Includes you in a community of CPA financial forensics professionals with similar interests and practices; and Distinguishes your practice with the powerful combination of a CPA certificate and a CFF credential.

CFF Credential Qualification Requirements

	The CFF Credential is exclusively granted by the AICPA to qualified CPAs. To qualify, new CFF applicants must: Hold a valid and unrevoked CPA license or certificate issued by a legally constituted state authority Pass the CFF examination. The CFF Exam Content Specification Outline (CSO) includes details of subject areas covered on the exam. Upon successfully passing the CFF Examination, complete the CFF Credential Application. Applicants must attest to meeting the minimum Business Experience and Education requirements and pay the appropriate credential fee. See CFF Credential Pricing for an overview of credential fees. Business Experience Requirement A CFF candidate must have a minimum of 1,000 hours of business experience in forensic accounting within the 5-year period preceding the date of the CFF application. Refer to the CFF Application Kit for examples of business experience. Education Requirement A CFF candidate must have 75 hours of forensic accounting related continuing professional education (CPE). All hours must have been obtained within the 5-year period preceding the date of the CFF application. Refer to the CFF Application Kit for further details. Sign a Declaration of Intent to comply with the requirements of CFF Recertification.

Contact Us
If you’d like to contact the AICPA directly, please email us call 866.835.2938. You can contact the AICPA FVS Division directly by visiting our FVS Team page. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) offers the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) designation. For more information click here. The National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA) offers the Certified Forensic Financial Analyst (CFFA) designation. For more information here.