CAMS vs CAFS: which ACAMS certification is right for you?
CAMS covers money laundering and the compliance program around it. CAFS covers fraud: scheme types, fraud risk programs, detection and investigation. Pick the one that matches your desk. Fraud teams get more from CAFS, AML and compliance teams from CAMS.
CAMS vs CAFS at a glance
| CAMS | CAFS | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | CAMS Certification Exam (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) | CAFS Certification Exam (Certified Anti-Fraud Specialist) |
| Questions | 120 multiple-choice and multiple-select questions | 100 multiple-choice and multiple-select questions |
| Time | 3.5 hours (210 minutes) | 175 minutes |
| Passing score | Scaled score of 75 | Scaled score of 75 |
| 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$1,995 private sector / US$1,495 public sector 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) | Arabic, English, French, Japanese, Simplified Chinese and Spanish |
| Where | Pearson VUE (test center or online proctored) | Pearson VUE (test center or online proctored) |
| Level | Specialist | Specialist |
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
CAFS
- Building a fraud risk management program
- Fraud schemes and typologies
- Prevention and detection controls
- Fraud investigations and response
Which should you take?
CAMS covers money laundering and the compliance program around it. CAFS covers fraud: scheme types, fraud risk programs, detection and investigation. Pick the one that matches your desk. Fraud teams get more from CAFS, AML and compliance teams from CAMS.
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 CAFS?
CAMS covers money laundering and the compliance program around it. CAFS covers fraud: scheme types, fraud risk programs, detection and investigation. Pick the one that matches your desk. Fraud teams get more from CAFS, AML and compliance teams from CAMS.
Which is harder, CAMS or CAFS?
CAMS: 120 multiple-choice and multiple-select questions in 3.5 hours (210 minutes). CAFS: 100 multiple-choice and multiple-select questions in 175 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 CAFS?
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 CAFS?
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.
More comparisons
Exam details are summarized from ACAMS' published information as of October 2026. Confirm with ACAMS before you book. AMLExamPrep is not affiliated with ACAMS.