About the G-CFES certification
Globally Certified Financial Education Specialist (G-CFES) certification is awarded by the Global Association of Certified KYC Specialists (Global AKS), a globally recognized association acknowledged in over 180 countries.
Why professionals choose Global AKS
Global recognition across 180+ countries by financial institutions, fintechs and compliance teams, on a practice-based curriculum designed from real workflows used in leading global banks.
Who this course is for
- Financial educators and wellness leads in employers and community organisations — designing a programme from needs assessment to measured results, adapting it to culture, faith and income, and the laws that require or restrict financial education.
- Retail bank and branch staff — measuring a customer's financial health with simple ratios and a scorecard, explaining budgeting, debt and saving plainly, and keeping education separate from selling.
- New to client-facing finance — no prior training is assumed; budgeting, debt, investing and retirement come first, with the ethics of fiduciary duty and disclosure, but not the licence an adviser needs.
Requirements No prerequisites A desktop, laptop or mobile device with an internet connection
The G-CFES certificate
Recognition and awards
Accreditation
Gold-Tier Accreditation by ONRIGA
A verifiable quality signal for employers, against recognised benchmarks for professional education.
Accreditation ID: ONR-EC-GLD-2013-788dc6
Verify Global AKS on ONRIGA →Recognition
Recognised by the American CBM Association
Enhancing employer confidence and credibility.
Award
Best KYC Certification Awards
Featured in industry coverage of the best KYC certifications.
Read the ComplyFocus article →Award
Gold Standard in KYC Award
Recognising high-quality KYC education and professional standards.
Listing
Professional Designation Listed in FINRA's Database
Global AKS's G-CFES credential is also listed in FINRA's public, searchable Professional Designations Database. FINRA is the US securities and broker-dealer regulator.
Open FINRA Designations Database →What the certification covers, and what the final assessment draws on: the 5 modules and 20 chapters of the G-CFES study e-booklet.
Module 1
Module 1: Introduction to Financial Education
4 chapters
- 1.1Understanding Financial Literacy
- 1.2The Role of Financial Education in Personal Finance
- 1.3Financial Well-Being and Its Importance for Retail Clients
- 1.4Legal Framework for Financial Education
Module 2
Module 2: Fundamentals of Personal Finance
4 chapters
- 2.1Budgeting and Saving Strategies
- 2.2Managing Debt and Credit
- 2.3Retirement Planning Basics
- 2.4Investment Principles for Retail Investors
Module 3
Module 3: Educating on Investment Strategies
4 chapters
- 3.1Principles of Long-Term Investment
- 3.2Risk and Return in Investment Planning
- 3.3Understanding Different Asset Classes (Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds)
- 3.4Educating on Retirement Accounts (401k, IRAs, etc.)
Module 4
Module 4: Financial Wellness Programs
4 chapters
- 4.1Designing and Delivering Financial Wellness Programs
- 4.2Financial Wellness for Employees and Individuals
- 4.3Assessing Financial Health and Literacy Levels
- 4.4Strategies for Enhancing Financial Wellness in Retail Clients
Module 5
Module 5: Financial Advisor Training Techniques
4 chapters
- 5.1Methods for Training Financial Advisors in Retail Banking
- 5.2Building Confidence in Providing Financial Advice
- 5.3Client Communication and Engagement Techniques
- 5.4Ethical Considerations in Financial Advising
What this course contains, and what the assessment asks of you.
Step 1
Study e-booklet
The G-CFES study e-booklet: 5 modules, 20 chapters. There are no separate lessons — the e-booklet is the course, and its contents are on the Syllabus tab.
- FormatPDF e-booklet
- Modules5
- Chapters20
- AccessLifetime
- DownloadOn enrolment
Step 2
Mock exam
Not graded and issues no certificate — it shows you where you stand, on a separate paper from the final.
- Questions100
- Time limit100 minutes
- Attempts2
- GradedNo
Step 3
Final assessment
Graded. Passing issues the certificate and its credential ID straight away.
- Questions100
- Time limit100 minutes
- Pass mark85%
- Attempts2
- Skipped question−1
How the assessment works
- The mock and the final are separate papers. The mock is not graded, and sitting it never uses up a final attempt.
- The final is 100 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes, sat online whenever you are ready.
- The clock is kept by the server, not your browser: closing the tab does not stop it.
- Scoring: +1 for a correct answer, 0 for a wrong one, and −1 for a question left unanswered.
- Before your first attempt you confirm the name that will print on the certificate.
- You have 2 attempts, and can buy another for US$19 if you need it.
- Passing issues the certificate immediately, with a credential ID anyone can verify.
The final assessment is what earns the credential. It is multiple choice, taken entirely online, and you may sit it whenever you are ready — there is no waiting period after enrolling and no expiry on the attempts.
- Format
- Multiple choice · 100% online
- Passing score
- 85%
- Correct answer
- +1
- Incorrect answer
- 0
- Skipped question
- −1
- Attempts included
- 2 final · 2 mock
- Further attempts
- US$19 each
- When you may sit it
- Any time · no expiry
The mock exam
2 mock attempts are included. The mock is not graded and issues no certificate — it is there to show you where you stand. It is a separate paper from the final: sitting it, or running out of mock attempts, does not affect your final attempts in any way.
If you do not pass
2 final attempts are included. If you use them all, you can buy another for US$19 straight away — the option appears on your result screen, with no email and no waiting. Your access to the study material is unaffected.
On passing
The digital certificate is issued instantly, carrying a unique credential ID that any employer can check on the verification portal without an account.
Renewal
The certification is valid for 2 years. Renewal is required every 2 years, for a renewal fee of US$27. Curriculum updates are added regularly, based on input from compliance teams and investment banks.
Ready to sit it?
The final assessment is reachable from the Curriculum tab whenever you are enrolled — whether or not you have taken the mock.
See the curriculum →😊
Reviewed 8 February 2025