CTMA vs CAFCA: which ACAMS certification is right for you?
Both are 60-question associate exams. CTMA is monitoring and alert investigation at any institution. CAFCA covers the whole compliance picture at a FinTech, including payments screening. Choose CTMA for a pure monitoring role, CAFCA for a FinTech compliance generalist role.
CTMA vs CAFCA at a glance
| CTMA | CAFCA | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | CTMA Certification Exam (Certified Transaction Monitoring Associate) | CAFCA Certification Exam (Certified AML FinTech Compliance Associate) |
| Questions | 60 multiple-choice questions (some unscored) | 60 multiple-choice questions (some unscored) |
| Time | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 74% of scored questions | 70% of scored questions |
| Format | Closed book, computer-based | Closed book, computer-based |
| Cost | US$1,045 package (same price for private and public sector); ACAMS membership required | US$1,045 package; ACAMS membership required |
| Languages | Dutch, English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese | English |
| Where | Pearson VUE (test center or online proctored) | Pearson VUE (test center or online proctored) |
| Level | Associate | Associate |
What each exam covers
CTMA
- Transaction monitoring foundations
- Red flags and typologies
- Alert investigation and disposition
- Escalation, SARs and documentation
- Monitoring systems, tuning and quality
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?
Both are 60-question associate exams. CTMA is monitoring and alert investigation at any institution. CAFCA covers the whole compliance picture at a FinTech, including payments screening. Choose CTMA for a pure monitoring role, CAFCA for a FinTech compliance generalist role.
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 CTMA and CAFCA?
Both are 60-question associate exams. CTMA is monitoring and alert investigation at any institution. CAFCA covers the whole compliance picture at a FinTech, including payments screening. Choose CTMA for a pure monitoring role, CAFCA for a FinTech compliance generalist role.
Which is harder, CTMA or CAFCA?
CTMA: 60 multiple-choice questions (some unscored) in 90 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 CTMA 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 CTMA 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.