Alternative Membership Options

Have your professional needs altered due to financial or career changes? There are multiple ways you can still stay connected to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and continue to receive the resources and education you need.  

The following membership options are available to you as a current Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). If you qualify and would like to change your membership status, please contact a Member Services Representative at (800) 245-3321 (USA & Canada only) or +1 (512) 478-9000 or email [email protected].

Alternative Membership Options

  • Retired Status

    If you have retired from fraud-related work and are a member in good standing, you may qualify for retired status. As a retired member, you may not solicit or perform any paid employment or consulting services related to fraud. Retired members can use the credential "CFE-Retired."

    Your professional contact information will be removed from the membership database and all correspondence will be sent to your home address.

    Details of retired status:

    • Use the CFE-Retired credential.
    • You are not required to meet CPE requirements.
    • Reduced membership dues.
    • Receive full membership benefits including publications, member pricing and access to the private, online ACFE Community.
  • Inactive Status

    If you are temporarily not involved in a fraud-related field, but wish to remain up to date on current events and intend to reactivate your CFE credential, you may transfer to inactive status. 

    Details of inactive status:

    • You cannot use the CFE credential or advertise yourself as a CFE.
    • You are not required to meet CPE requirements.
    • Reduced membership dues.
    • Receive full membership benefits including publications, member pricing and access to the private, online ACFE Community.
  • Unemployed Status

    If you become unemployed and are actively job searching, you may apply for unemployed status and, upon approval, continue to use your CFE.

    To apply for unemployed status, send notification by email to the ACFE Membership Department explaining the nature and dates of your circumstances. 

    Details of unemployed status:

    • You may continue to use your CFE credential.
    • You are not required to meet CPE requirements.
    • Reduced membership dues.
    • Your membership resources will be delivered electronically, including Fraud Magazine®.
    • Upon your next membership renewal, you will be placed back into active CFE status and provided an active membership renewal invoice. If you are still unemployed, you will need to submit a new unemployed status request explaining the nature and dates of your circumstances.

    Contact a Member Services Representative at (800) 245-3321 (USA & Canada only) or +1 (512) 478-9000 or email [email protected] to discuss your options.

How do I change my status back to Active? 

To reactivate your CFE from CFE-Retired or Inactive status, you must:

  • Earn at least 20 CPE credits (10 of which must be fraud-related and 2 of which must be related to ethics) in the 12 months prior to reactivation.
  • Complete a Recertification application.

Has your CFE Membership expired?

If your CFE membership has been expired because of non-payment of dues for less than five consecutive years, you may apply to reinstate your CFE credential.

Visit ACFE.com/recertification for more information.

If you have further questions, please contact Member Services.

You may reach us by phone, email or secure live chat Monday through Friday, between 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. CT.