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Certified Finance Specialist (CFS)

Towards success in your career...

  • CFS certification gives you the opportunity to develop the analytical tools and skills required for the success in your business and finance career. 
  • CFS certification is accredited on the UK's national qualifications framework and benchmarked against EQF. 
  • With the CFS designation after your name, you will be able to stand out from the crowd. 
  • In order to achieve the CFS designation, you need to pass a computer-based MCQ exam. The exam will assess your understanding of 'CFS Body of Knowledge'.

IQN CFS digital badge & digital certificate
IQN CFS recognised as SCQF level 7 and EQF level 5

Recognition

Certified Finance Specialist (CFS) certification is recognised in the UK as SCQF Level 7 qualification. It is recognised in the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) as Level 5 qualification. 

How to achieve CFS designation?

Step 1 - Free Registration

Step 1 - Free Registration

Step 1 - Free Registration

Click here to register and get your FREE copy of 'CFS Body of Knowledge' and practice book. Practice book contains exam-standard MCQs. You will not need any other materials for your exam preparation.

Step 2 - Study

Step 1 - Free Registration

Step 1 - Free Registration

CFS exam will assess your understanding of 'CFS Body of Knowledge'. You can study independently. We call it 'self-study' route. Alternatively, in selected countries, you may attend exam preparation classes at one of our registered centres.

Step 3 - Take the CFS exam

Step 1 - Free Registration

Step 3 - Take the CFS exam

Once your exam preparation is complete, you need to register for your CFS exam. Our exams are computer-based and available any time of the year. You can sit for the exam virtually from anywhere in the world.

Eligibility

If you have minimum one year work experience at any level of finance, accounting or related role, then you are eligible to sit for the CFS exam. One year experience is the only eligibility requirement. We will require you to provide your experience details (such as, name and address of your current/previous organisation) at the time of your exam registration.

Fees

No registration/initial fees

No annual or subscription fees

No annual or subscription fees

We do not charge any fees for study materials. 'CFS Body of Knowledge' and practice book are provided FREE. There is no initial registration or application fee either. 

No annual or subscription fees

No annual or subscription fees

No annual or subscription fees

After passing your exam, you become entitled to use the CFS designation for fifteen (15) years. There is no annual membership or subscription fee!

Exam fees

Re-sit exams

Re-sit exams

Exam fee is the only cost component in your investment towards gaining the designation. You will pay exam fees only when you will register for the exam. CFS exam fee is £149.

Re-sit exams

Re-sit exams

Re-sit exams

If you unfortunately fail in your exam, you will be able to register for re-sit exams. Up to four (4) re-sit exams can be attempted within six (6) months from the date of your first exam attempt. 

Re-sit fees £9 (valid for any re-sit until 31 December 2022).  

Re-sit fees £29 (valid for any re-sit from 1 January 2023).

Exam Structure

Duration & MCQs

Marks distribution

Marks distribution

Exam duration is 2 Hours.

There will be total 85 MCQs.

 Each MCQ will have 2 or 3 Marks

Marks distribution

Marks distribution

Marks distribution

30 MCQs x 3 marks = 90 Marks

55 MCQs x 2 marks = 110 Marks


(Total 85 MCQs and 200 Marks)

Pass mark

Marks distribution

Pass mark

Minimum 120 Marks required 

out of 200 

Exam Preparation

  • CFS exam questions are set from the 'CFS Body of Knowledge'. You are also required to study MCQs provided in the 'Practice Book'. 
  • Each MCQ will have one correct or best answer. There will not be any negative marking if you select wrong answer for any of the MCQs.
  • Time required for exam preparation will vary. If you are already familiar with finance and accounting concepts, you could straight away register for the exam! However, if you are new to finance, you may need to study for no less than three (3) months.  
  • Some students prefer to take exam preparation independently. We call it "self-study" route. Other students prefer to attend exam preparation classes with one of our registered centres.
  • Our registered centres provide excellent exam preparation support and services. However, IQN is NOT involved in the services provided by the registered centres. Any agreement is directly between the student and the respective centre.

CFS Body of Knowledge

IQN CFS Body of Knowledge

  • Introduction to Accounting
  • Company Financial Statements
  • Statement of Cash Flows
  • Interpretation of Financial Statements
  • Costing Systems 
  • Budgeting
  • Standard Costing
  • Cost Volume Profit Analysis
  • Decision Making Techniques
  • Pricing
  • Investment Appraisal
  • Working Capital Management
  • Sources of Finance
  • Islamic Finance
  • Capital Structure
  • Business Valuations
  • Business Restructuring

Digital Badge & Digital Certificate

  • We will issue the CFS digital badge and digital certificate as soon as you will successfully pass the CFS exam. 
  • Email ID provided by you at the time of exam registration must be absolutely correct since we will send instruction about your digital credentials to this email ID.   
  • Our digital credentials are issued through Credly. Organisations will be able to verify your credential online. You will be able to print your digital certificate through Credly account. 
  • Credly lets you share your digital badge to popular destinations such as LinkedIn. You may also copy the badge URL to paste on the resume and email signature.
  • In case you need a hard-copy certificate, additional fees (£99) will be applicable.

IQN digital badge & digital certificate

CFS Exemption

 We allow exemption on our qualifications. You need to complete an exemption application form.

Application for eligibility of exemption based on some predetermined criteria which are assessed on a case-by-case basis.


  • Exemption application assessment fee is £ 9. This amount is non-refundable.
  • CFS exemption fee is same as the CFS exam fee, i.e. £ 149. This amount will be invoiced if the application is accepted.
  • For claiming IQN professional certification exemption, you must attach your letter of experience (LoE) along with your academic and/or professional qualification.
  • Accepted applicants will be issued digital badges and certificates.


*This offer is valid until 31 December 2022.

Recertification Requirement

  • By successfully passing the CFS exam, you will become authorised to use the CFS post-nominal letters after your name for 15 (fifteen) years.  
  • We do NOT charge any annual membership or subscription fee. 
  • Maintaining the standards for the CFS designation is crucial for your professional growth and fluency within the industry. For recertification, you will need to appear in the CFS exam just once in every 15 (fifteen) years. 
  • Recertification ensures that all CFS credential holders are maintaining the required level of knowledge and competence.

Take the first step towards gaining the CFS designation!

Register now!
IQN CFS recognised in European Qualifications Framework (EQF) as Level 5 qualification
IQN CFS credit rated by UWS
IQN CFS recognised as SCQF level 7 qualification

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