Advanced Specialist-Level Recertification
ACAMS certified advanced specialists need to recertify every three years. Don’t lose your designation – recertify today.
Recertifying your advanced specialist-level certification demonstrates your expertise, experience, and commitment to professional development at the highest level.
Make recertification your next step.
Stay at the Top of Your Field
ACAMS certified advanced specialists are at the top of their field. But the AML world moves quickly, and professionals need to move with it. That’s why every three years, ACAMS certified advanced specialists recertify to demonstrate their continuing commitment to AML excellence.
ACAMS holds records of every certified member, so employers can confirm the credentials of future employees. If you choose not to recertify, you will no longer be able to use your designation and will need to reapply and retake the certification exam if you wish to become certified again.
By recertifying, you will retain your certification and everything that comes with it. That includes:
Your designation
An advanced specialist-level designation exemplifies your extensive knowledge and experience. If you chose not to recertify, you can no longer use your designation after your name.
Your community
Being a certified advanced specialist connects you with senior AML professionals across the world. Stay part of a community of professionals just like you – united in the fight against financial crime.
Your commitment to growth
When you recertify, you continue your commitment to learning and ensure your knowledge reflects the latest developments in the ever-evolving world of anti-financial crime.
The Recertification Process
The advanced specialist-level recertification process is quick and easy. You need to:
Maintain an active ACAMS membership
Meet the recertification credit requirements
Pay a recertification fee and submit an online application
For full details of the advanced specialist-level recertification process, download your certification’s candidate handbook. If you have any questions or need further assistance with your recertification application, please contact us.
Recertification Requirements
To complete your advanced specialist-level recertification, ACAMS asks you to provide evidence of your continuing education in the form of recertification credits. All of your credits must have been earned in the three years since you obtained your advanced specialist-level certification (or since your most recent recertification).
To recertify any of the advanced specialist certifications, you need 45 recertification credits. 15 of these must come from training provided by ACAMS.
You can earn recertification credits for:
- Each year you have held uninterrupted ACAMS membership
- Each year of relevant professional experience you have
- Each hour of relevant educational training you have completed (ACAMS and non-ACAMS provided)
- Other professional accomplishments
For details on applicable recertification credits, please refer to the recertification information inside your candidate handbook.
Recertification Fees and Deadlines
You need to complete your recertification three years after obtaining your advanced-specialist level certification, or three years after your most recent recertification. For example, if you obtained your certification in 2021, you would need to recertify in 2024.
We offer three recertification options, each with different costs:
Early application by Oct 1: US$200
For applications and payments submitted on or before October 1. If you obtained your certification in 2021 (during any month), your early application deadline will be October 1, 2024.
Regular application by Dec 15: US$250
For applications and payments submitted on or before December 15. If you obtained your certification in 2021 (during any month), your regular application deadline will be December 15, 2024.
Late application by Mar 31: US$300
If you miss the deadlines above, you can submit a late application. Your application and payment must be received by March 31. If you obtained your certification in 2021 (during any month), your late application deadline will be March 31, 2025.
If you miss the late application deadline, you can no longer submit an application. Your designation will expire, and to become a certified advanced specialist again you will need to reapply and retake the exam. For more information, please contact your account manager.
Advanced Recertification FAQs
You are due to recertify three years after achieving your advanced-level certification. For example, if Mary certified in July 2023, her recertification due date would be 15 Dec 2026. You need to continue to recertify every three years to maintain her Advanced Certification designation.
You can also login to your account to check your credential expiry date. Click here (P.14) and it will guide you to check your credential expiry date.
In order to recertify an advanced specialist-level certification, graduates must have an active ACAMS membership and meet the recertification credit requirements. You need a total of 45 credits, and 15 out of the 45 credits must be from ACAMS training, strictly initiated and hosted by ACAMS. An online recertification application must be submitted with all of the required information, and the recertification fee paid.
No. Members who obtained an Advanced Certification program only need to recertify their Advanced Certification designation. Maintaining your Advanced Certification designation will keep your CAMS designation active.
No, you do not need to recertify all of your Advanced CAMS designations – only the one that you earned most recently. By recertifying your most recent designation, you will maintain any previously earned Advanced CAMS designations as well as your CAMS designation.
Recertifying your Advanced Certification designation will maintain your CAMS designation only, but not your CGSS, CCAS or CAFS designation. CGSS, CCAS and CAFS are each different domains of knowledge that should be recertified independently. You will need to recertify your latest Advanced Certification designation and your CGSS, CCAS or CAFS designation separately – each during the due year.
You do not need to submit supporting documentation with your application. However, ACAMS conducts an audit of each recertifying class. Anyone selected to participate in the audit will need to provide all of their supporting documentation. Members who are not able to provide supporting documentation may be at risk of becoming decertified.
Yes, as long as the credits were earned after you passed the exam.
Yes – ACAMS has a full range of webinars for members to choose from as well as online certificate courses. Make sure you have active ACAMS membership to earn credits from free eligible webinars. Click here to start accruing your credits today.
Yes, the same credits can count towards the recertification credit requirements for each of your designations. The credits must meet the validity requirements for each designation. A credit is valid for recertification when it has been earned after the exam date, or after the last recertification date, and before the expiration date of the designation.
Members may use other professional certifications towards recertification as long as these are related to financial crime prevention or sanctions.
You do not need to record recertification credits earned through ACAMS events. However, please keep track of non-ACAMS credits earned through outside organizations as these cannot be registered on your ACAMS profile. Credits earned through professional experience are not registered on your profile either.
Please click here (P.12) and it will guide you.
You can pay the fee for recertification during your application submission. Once you have completed the application, you will be prompted for your payment option. You can use your credit card to make an online payment or alternatively, please click here to request an invoice.
Please click here (P.20) and it will guide you. Please use your current ACAMS account for recertification application. If you have issues accessing your account, please contact us. Do not create a new account for recertification.
Yes. A request must be submitted the year you are due for recertification; please refer to the candidate handbook under “Extensions for recertification’’.
If you lapsed a recertification cycle, please contact the Help Center to discuss your situation.