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Certified Fund Specialist� (CFS�)

Searching for mutual fund training? Then you've come to the right place! Certified Funds Specialist�

ABTrainingCenter.com offers CFS^� training and certification courses for those individuals interested in earning the prestigious Certified Fund Specialist^� (CFS^�) designation.

The Certified Fund Specialist^� (CFS^�) designation demonstrates the advisor�s expertise and commitment to understanding mutual funds - to able to evaluate and compare financial measurements and benchmarks of the funds when constructing a portfolio.

Few advisors and brokers really understand how funds interact with other parts of the portfolio or how this investment vehicle should be analyzed.

CFS^� is fully accredited and is the oldest designation in the mutual fund industry - created in 1988. Since, over 9,000 members of the financial services community have gone through the program.

Curriculum

Students are given 12 months to complete the program, but the vast majority of the enrollees complete the materials within 15 weeks. There are four requirements for certification:

Pass three exams; each one covers two of the six modules (students can purchase a three month-extension for $40)
Complete one open-book case study (a one page set of facts based on a hypothetical client)
Fill out a registration form and complete a student questionnaire, and
Sign a code of ethics

Examination Requirements

Each exam is a 60 minute, 50-question, computer-administered exam - a passing score of 70% is required for each exam. Exams can only be taken sequentially, and the student needs to be notified of a passing grade before sitting for the next exam.

Exams are taken online, with a proctor (disinterested third party). There is no additional exam fee; it is included in the cost of your course tuition. If a re-take is necessary, a $75 charge will apply.

Additional Requirements

To earn this designation, candidates must have at least 2,000 hours of work experience in the financial services industry or a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. The designation will not be granted until the required minimum number of hours has been fulfilled or a bachelor's degree has been granted.

Continuing Education Requirements

Designees must report 30 hours of CE every 2 years directly to IBF. Designees have a wide range of topics and methods to choose from (e.g., attending seminars, reading books, completing other courses, teaching, writing articles, etc.). Also, each year designees must remit a $100 annual renewal fee.

Recommended Courses and Available Training Options

ABTrainingCenter.com offers the certification course for earning the CFS� designation. To pursue the Certified Fund Specialist^� (CFS^�) designation, select the recommended course below or search under "Designations" in the following search box for "CFS^� Certified Fund Specialist^�".

Recommended Books/CDs/Other Training Resources

Certified Fund Specialist� (CFS�)

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