The Capstone Modules & Writing the CFE: Timing is everything (2024)

FAQs

Can you do capstone 1 and 2 at the same time? ›

Take Capstone 1. Then, wait and do not take Capstone 2 immediately afterwards. The Day 1 case in Capstone 2 is different from the cases in Capstone 1 and the CFE; therefore, this route is not recommended.

Decide how much time you want to devote, depending on how quickly you aspire to attain your CFE. The ACFE suggests five hours a week to complete the course in 90 days. Take a look at their suggested study plans for 30 days, 60 days and 90 days.

Capstone 1 has no written exams. To pass it, you have to successfully complete a written report and a 30-minute oral presentation, both in a team setting.

Although every candidate is different, most people need about 330-440 hours of studying to pass the CPA Exam. Overall, the CFE exam requires much less total study time, at around 60 total hours.

Yes, you can fail a capstone course.

However, a capstone project may generally be considered less intensive than a thesis paper, as it typically involves the practical application of knowledge and skills, while a thesis paper requires extensive research and analysis of a specific topic.

The CFE Exam is relatively easy, but passing it and receiving the certification necessitate diligence and hard work. This involves the preparation of a strategy as well as some valuable guidance by the aspirant. A comprehensive plan and preparation suggestions can help the individual pass the exam on the first try.

The 71.3% and 73.6% pass rates are the combined averages of both the May and September CFEs. Overall, there is a decrease of 2-3% year-over-year, with 2022 CFE pass rate of 71.3%.

Quiz yourself with Flashcards: Use the provided flashcards to reinforce your knowledge of key concepts and terminology or create your own for targeted practice. Use the Fraud Examiners Manual to reinforce knowledge: When studying with the Prep Course, it is not necessary to pre-read the Fraud Examiners Manual.

Module delivery

Module formats are individual self-study and teamwork¹.To successfully complete Capstone 1, you must have at least 75% in individual coursework and attend the workshop and demonstrate team skills. You must also pass the written report and oral presentation². Teams are selected randomly.

Is capstone project difficult? ›

While a project of this scope and scale can be challenging, it can also be very rewarding. The capstone project is usually the final assignment and plays a vital role in preparing students for the world of work thanks to its practical applications and ability to help hone students' professional knowledge and skills.

Students have already spent time learning the course, but the capstone project extends it a little longer. It can be time-consuming because it requires planning and researching. Such a complex project can take longer to complete.

The CFE certification is no better than the CIA certification because they serve different purposes. Their relevancy depends on how well they align with your career goals. For example, if you want to pursue a job that focuses primarily on fraud, then the CFE certification is likely to be more ideal for you.

Getting your CFE credential can be a wise investment in your future if you want to work in fraud examination. Gaining the certification can improve your chances of landing a job, gain a competitive advantage, boost your credibility, and expand your earning potential.

Benefits of the CFE Designation

Those with the CFE credential are valuable to anti-fraud organizations because they have a unique set of skills. They are able to combine knowledge of complex financial transactions with an ability to understand methods, law, and how to resolve allegations of fraud.

The traditional pathway options are illustrated below. Candidates can complete Core 1 and Core 2 concurrently and/or two elective modules concurrently, though both core modules must be complete before starting the elective modules.

Students are not required to track the time they spend on their capstones. However, the expectation is that students spend no less than 30 hours working on the project.

Capstone 2

Students develop their enabling competencies in situations that simulate real-life projects and assignments that newly certified CPAs may encounter in their careers. The competencies developed in Capstone 2 are: case writing skills, including the ability to integrate technical competency areas.

The time it takes to complete a capstone project usually depends on the course's length. If you're in an undergraduate online program at SNHU, for instance, your capstone course would take eight weeks to complete, Czarnec said.