Side by side
| CKYCA | CTMA | CAFCA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Certified Know Your Customer Associate | Certified Transaction Monitoring Associate | Certified AML FinTech Compliance Associate |
| Best for | KYC, onboarding and CDD analysts | Alert reviewers and TM analysts | Compliance staff at FinTechs, payments firms and partner banks |
| Questions | 60 multiple choice | 60 multiple choice | 60 multiple choice |
| Time | 90 minutes | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Pass mark | 72% of scored questions | 74% of scored questions | 70% of scored questions |
| Package price | US$1,045 | US$1,045 | US$1,045 |
CKYCA: for KYC and onboarding teams
CKYCA covers the KYC lifecycle: identifying and verifying customers, beneficial ownership, customer risk rating, enhanced due diligence for higher-risk customers such as PEPs, and ongoing reviews. If your day job is reviewing onboarding files or periodic KYC refreshes, this is the one.
CTMA: for transaction monitoring analysts
CTMA covers how monitoring systems work, the red flags they detect, and above all how to investigate and document alerts, escalate and support SAR decisions. It has the highest associate pass mark (74%), so aim for 80% or more in practice.
See where you stand in 10 minutes
Take the free CKYCA practice test. 15 questions, every answer explained.
CAFCA: for FinTech and payments compliance
CAFCA applies AML to digital financial services: FinTech regulation and bank partnerships, financial crime risks in products such as P2P payments and payment facilitation, digital onboarding and identity fraud, payment screening and monitoring, and reporting.
How to prepare
- Take a free practice test to see how close you already are.
- Work through the ACAMS study materials included in your package.
- Practice with timed sets of 60 questions in 90 minutes.
- Review every wrong answer and keep a list of the rules you missed.
- Book when you're scoring 5 to 10 points above the pass mark.
What comes next
Associate certifications are a stepping stone. When you reach 40 eligibility credits, CAMS is the usual next certification, and the associate exam's credits and experience count toward it.
Frequently asked questions
Which ACAMS associate certification is easiest?
They're similar in length. CAFCA has the lowest pass mark (70%) and CTMA the highest (74%).
Do associate certifications need eligibility credits?
No 40-credit requirement applies, but you need an active ACAMS membership.
Is there a public sector discount?
No. ACAMS charges the same US$1,045 for private and public sector candidates.
Are some questions unscored?
Yes. Each associate exam includes unscored questions used for statistics. You can't tell which ones they are.
Official sources
Practice tests for these certifications
CKYCA Certification Exam (Certified Know Your Customer Associate)
ACAMS' entry-level certification for KYC, onboarding and customer due diligence analysts.
CTMA Certification Exam (Certified Transaction Monitoring Associate)
ACAMS' associate certification for transaction monitoring and alert investigation analysts.
CAFCA Certification Exam (Certified AML FinTech Compliance Associate)
ACAMS' associate certification for compliance staff at FinTechs, payment companies, neobanks and their partner banks.
This guide is general information, checked October 2026, not legal advice. Certification rules change; confirm with ACAMS before you apply.
