Step-by-Step Guide to AFIP Certification

Step 1 – Order Materials

Order your AFIP Certification Program at proshop.afip.com or through one of AFIP’s Industry Members. You’ll receive everything you need to study as part of the fee for certification (see your individual program of study for more details).

From the time you order your materials, you have up to six months to finish studying and pass the test (and submit your ethics workbook if you’re a Senior candidate). After that time, you may be required to order replacement materials or pay other additional fees in order to become certified

* To become AFIP Certified, you must have no felony convictions for pecuniary or fiduciary crimes.

Step 2 – Verify Licensing and Pre-Register

To become AFIP Certified, you must have or have applied for all licenses required by your state to perform your duties. This means you’re only required to have licenses if those licenses are required to do the job you're doing when you take the AFIP exam. If you later change jobs and are required to have new or different licenses, you must apply for and receive those licenses to maintain your AFIP Certification. Failing to have the licenses required by your state is a violation of the code of ethics and will result in disciplinary action, which may include the suspension of your AFIP Certification status

If you already have or have applied for your licenses, the next step is pre-registration. Pre-registration makes the process of signing up for the exam through PSI easier and gives us the information we need to create and ship your diploma. Please pre-register as soon as you get your materials, as it may take up to seven days to process. This is very important because it isn’t possible to expedite the pre-registration process. To pre-register, fill out this form. Please be aware that your pre-registration will NOT be transmitted to PSI until AFIP has received full payment for your course.

Step 3 – Study

You should set aside at least 40 hours over six to eight weeks (not more than six months; see step 1 above) to study for the exam. The how-to guide that comes with your materials shows you how to set up your online training account and walks you through the rest of the process step by step.

Step 4 – Schedule a Review

AFIP provides a detailed pre-exam review session to give you a chance to solidify your knowledge and ask any questions you may still have. If you’d like to join one of AFIP’s reviews, check our calendar to view our review schedule. Once you’ve decided which review you’d like to join, click the "Register Now" button in the top left corner (just above the calendar) to sign up (if you need ONLY a state review, please call 817.428.2434). (Schedule subject to change without notice.)

Step 5 – Take the Test & Submit Necessary Documents

You must be pre-registered to take the exam (see step 2 above) before you can complete this step.

AFIP has contracted with PSI (formerly LaserGrade) to offer the AFIP Certification exam at hundreds of testing centers around the nation. One testing session at PSI is included with your certification course at no additional charge. To locate a center near you, go to www.psionline.com and search by exam provider (Association of Finance & Insurance Professionals) and zip code. The website will display a list of the nearest testing centers. Select the center you’d like to use and call 800.211.2754 to set up your appointment.

Please note that Senior candidates must also submit their Applied Ethics Workbooks to AFIP to become a certified member. No candidate can become certified until AFIP has received all required documentation (your test with passing scores, electronically or hand-signed Code of Ethics, Senior candidate Applied Ethics Workbook, and any other documentation requested by AFIP).

Senior candidates are advised to submit their workbooks prior to testing to ensure there's no delay in receiving your recognition materials. If you've lost your workbook, you can download another one in the online training or at http://www.afip.com/ethicsworkbook.pdf.

Step 6 – Receive Your Results

You will receive a printout with your grades before you leave the center. This copy is for your records – PSI will transmit the results to AFIP. If you receive a failing grade (less than 80 percent on any section), you must pre-register again and retake only the section(s) you failed. You will be required to wait a minimum of two weeks between testing sessions – no exceptions.You also qualify for another review at this time. If you fail any section twice, you must contact AFIP to initiate remediation before you’ll be allowed to test again.

When you have passed all three sections of the test, you will receive your recognition materials. They will arrive via FedEx Ground six to eight weeks after you receive your grades. Because diplomas are personalized, we are unable to expedite this process.