CAMS vs CAFCA: which ACAMS certification is right for you?
CAFCA is a short associate exam for compliance staff at FinTechs and payment firms. CAMS is the full specialist credential recognized across banking. If you work at a FinTech and are new to compliance, CAFCA is the faster win. CAMS carries more weight in job applications.
CAMS vs CAFCA at a glance
| CAMS | CAFCA | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | CAMS Certification Exam (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) | CAFCA Certification Exam (Certified AML FinTech Compliance Associate) |
| Questions | 120 multiple-choice and multiple-select questions | 60 multiple-choice questions (some unscored) |
| Time | 3.5 hours (210 minutes) | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | Scaled score of 75 | 70% of scored questions |
| Format | Closed book, computer-based | Closed book, computer-based |
| Cost | US$2,095 private sector / US$1,595 public sector package (study materials + exam); ACAMS membership required | US$1,045 package; ACAMS membership required |
| Languages | Arabic, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese (the updated CAMS program launched in English first, with translations rolling out in 2026) | English |
| Where | Pearson VUE (test center or online proctored) | Pearson VUE (test center or online proctored) |
| Level | Specialist | Associate |
What each exam covers
CAMS
- Understanding financial crime risks and methods
- Global AFC frameworks, governance and regulations
- Building an AFC compliance program
- Tools and technologies to fight financial crime
CAFCA
- Governance, guidance and regulation for FinTechs
- Financial crime risks in FinTech products
- Due diligence across customer types and digital onboarding
- Payment screening and transaction monitoring
- Investigating and reporting suspicious activity
Which should you take?
CAFCA is a short associate exam for compliance staff at FinTechs and payment firms. CAMS is the full specialist credential recognized across banking. If you work at a FinTech and are new to compliance, CAFCA is the faster win. CAMS carries more weight in job applications.
Try both, free
Each free practice test takes about 10 minutes and shows your score by topic. No signup.
FAQ
What is the difference between CAMS and CAFCA?
CAFCA is a short associate exam for compliance staff at FinTechs and payment firms. CAMS is the full specialist credential recognized across banking. If you work at a FinTech and are new to compliance, CAFCA is the faster win. CAMS carries more weight in job applications.
Which is harder, CAMS or CAFCA?
CAMS: 120 multiple-choice and multiple-select questions in 3.5 hours (210 minutes). CAFCA: 60 multiple-choice questions (some unscored) in 90 minutes. The longer exam covers more ground, but the harder one is the one further from your daily work. Take both free practice tests to see where you stand.
Can I hold both CAMS and CAFCA?
Yes. ACAMS certifications are separate credentials and many professionals hold more than one. Each has its own exam and recertification.
How do I prepare for CAMS and CAFCA?
Start with the free practice test for each, then study by topic. All-Access ($147 a month) covers every ACAMS exam on one plan, so you can prepare for both without paying twice.
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Exam details are summarized from ACAMS' published information as of October 2026. Confirm with ACAMS before you book. AMLExamPrep is not affiliated with ACAMS.