FAQ

 

Common Questions: Since the start of our business, we have sent and received more than 90,000 emails. Among those emails, we have found that a few questions come up over and over again. We created this page to help you quickly and easily learn all about our certification program through our most frequently asked questions.

Thank you for visiting us here at FinancialModelingCertification.com. If you can’t find an answer to your questions below please try our click to chat service, email us at Team@FinanceTraining.com or call us at (305)503-9050.

Please click on your question below to view the answer:

   1) When does your training program start?
   2) When are the exams offered?
   3) How long does it take to complete the course?
   4) How do I schedule my examination?
   5) How much does tuition cost?
   6) What are the benefits of completing your certification program?
   7) When and where do I take the exam?
   8) What if I have questions about the course material?
   9) When will I get my test results?
  10) Why should I consider hiring someone who has completed your certification?
  11) Do you offer tuition scholarships?
  12) What can I add to my resume or business card after passing the exam?
  13) I live outside of the United States, can I still earn one of your certification?
  14) What happens if I do not pass the exam?
  15) Is tuition refundable?
  16) Can I change my examination date?
  17) Where can I get the required books?
  18) Are there any program prerequisites?
  20) What score do I need to pass the examination?
  21) Do I need to pass each module of the test to pass the whole exam?
  22) I am currently a student. What are the benefits of earning your certification for me?
  23) What methods of payment are accepted for the tuition?
  24) How many hours should it take to go through all the course materials?
  25) How do I access the online training videos, audio resources, mock exam, etc.?
  26) Is the Certified Financial Modeling Specialist course accredited?

When does your training program start?

Registration for the Certified Financial Modeling Specialist program is open on a rolling basis, allowing you to join and begin our certification program at any time. You can complete the program in 1-2 months or over 12+ months, studying just 45 minutes a week, or 8 hours a week. Since our program is based on required readings, a study guide, and video modules, it can be completed at your own pace and on your own schedule.

The only set dates in our program are our examination dates. Our exams are held annually on the 1st Wednesday of every new month. No custom examination dates are offered. We do not and cannot allow any exceptions to this due to the volume of email inquiries and participants we work with. Once registered for the program, you will complete the course project (further explained in the study guide). After completing the program project and submitting it for grading, you will be able to choose your exam date from the twelve offered each year. Please send in the completed project and notify us of your exam date at least 2 weeks before the scheduled date.

When are the tests for the Certified Financial Modeling Specialist?

Our exams are held annually on the 1st Wednesday of every new month. No custom examination dates are offered. We do not and cannot allow any exceptions to this due to the volume of email inquiries and participants we work with.  Once registered for our program, you will complete the course project (further explained the study guide). After completing the program project and submitting it for grading, you will be able to choose your exam date from the twelve offered each year.

Please send in the completed project and notify us of your exam date at least 2 weeks before the scheduled date. You can schedule your examination and send in the completed project with our scheduling form here.

How long does it take to complete the program?

The Certified Financial Modeling Specialist program is 100% online and self-study, meaning you get to set your own schedule. We recommend ~100 hours of studying to prepare for an exam, but that can vary greatly depending on your past expertise and how you prepare. There are no deadlines to completing the program, and you can take as long as you need.


How do I schedule my examination?

Examinations must be scheduled at least 2 weeks before your desired examination date. Examination dates and deadlines to schedule your examination can be seen here. To schedule your examination, please use the scheduling form here.

Conversely, you are welcome to call, chat, or email, as well. If you do not use the scheduling form, please send your completed project to Team@FinanceTraining.com as well.

What is the tuition due for the program?

Registration for the program costs a flat fee of $999. There are no technology fees, testing fees, testing center fees, travel costs, or study aides to purchase. Tuition covers access to all online materials, the examination cost, grading fee, and the certificate when you pass. The only fee not included, as with most classes, is that of the text book. The book required for the program can be found at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Chapters, etc.

If you cannot afford tuition paid in full, we have a payment plan available. We also offer the opportunity to apply for a needs-based tuition scholarship. To do so, please submit our scholarship application.

What are the benefits of completing your certification program?

1) Add the Certified Financial Modeling Specialist (CFMS) section to your resume, showing tangible evidence of your dedication and education in the financial modeling industry, helping set you apart from others with your same level of more generic education.

2) Quickly gain specialized knowledge, learn the common models and words used in financial modeling, and gain confidence in what you know and don’t know.

3) Scientific studies have shown that earning a certification can increase your earning power permanently.

When and where do I take the exam?

Our program is offered 100% online. Examinations are held on the 10th of every month, giving you 12 options each year to complete your required examination(s). There are no testing centers, and no set time that you need to take your exam on the date of your examination, but you will only have 2 hours to complete the online test. You will be timed through our testing software online, and you will only be allowed to login once. Be sure you’re ready to begin your exam before you login! You will also need a stable Internet connection.

Your login and password for the exam will be made available to you the night before your scheduled exam. You will then have from 12am on the date of your scheduled exam to 12am the following day to begin and complete your exam. (This is based on Eastern Standard Time [GMT -6].) Please do not sign in until you are ready to complete the exam. To schedule your examination, please send your completed project and examination date request at least two weeks before the scheduled examination date.

What if I have questions about the materials before the examination?

If you have specific questions about the program, please visit the study guide and syllabus located on the “How It Works” page. If the study guide does not help, please review the rest of our FAQ here, or email our team at Team@FinanceTraining.com and we will help answer your question.

How long will it take to receive my grade after I have completed the examination?

Grading begins after you have completed your exam, and results will be sent to all participants 2 weeks after the date of your examination. For example, if your exam was taken on January 10th, you will get your graded project and examination score on January 24th, 2 weeks later.

If you passed, you will be sent our official certificate in the mail, so please be sure to confirm your mailing address when you receive your grade. If you fail, you are welcome to re-take the exam for $127. You can register to re-take the exam with us over the phone, with our form here, or by email at Team@FinanceTraining.com.

Why should I consider hiring someone who has completed the Certified Financial Modeling Specialist program?

Some professionals are pro-active and take their level of knowledge and career seriously. They constantly re-invest in themselves and improve how efficiently and effectively they can produce results for their employers. However some other professionals are very slick talkers and marketers of themselves and they can sometimes outshine the genuine hard working and well trained professionals who would help your company make more money. The certification program we offer is the most challenging in the business world and if someone has completed our program, it is because they have dedicated hundreds of hours in studying these concepts and best practices and at some level have mastered them.

Do you offer tuition scholarships for those who can’t afford tuition?

If you would like to apply for a needs-based scholarship discount please submit our scholarship application. 

What will I be able to add to my resume after completing this program? What tangible benefit will I receive from the Certified Financial Modeling Specialist program? In terms of positioning my knowledge and skills against others competing for similar jobs, how can this certification help?

Participants who complete our program and pass our challenging examination should be able to add a new entry to their resume or online business profile along with three bullet points which describe the new tactics, abilities, and strategies the participant has picked up within the program. Please login to FinancialModelingCertification.com after you have registered to view suggestions on what may be added to your resume once you have completed the specific program you have signed up for.

I live outside of the United States; can I still earn one Certified Financial Modeling Specialist certificates?

Yes, we have crafted the designation program that we offer so that you may take the test online from anywhere in the world. By using a dual layered IP tracking and password system, and by making the exam timed we allow participants to complete the examination from their place of work or home anywhere in the world. In the past 18 months alone we have had participants complete our program from the UK, Switzerland, China, India, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Russia, Brazil and more than 30 additional countries.

I have read that your certification program is very challenging and rigorous, what happens if I do not pass the exam? Can I take it again? 

Yes, anyone who has failed our program may take it a second or third time. Also if you miss your examination date this is considered a failing grade as well. If you miss your scheduled exam date or fail the exam there is a $127 fee to re-take the exam, complete this form by clicking here.

What if I register for the program and then change my mind. Can I get a full refund for the cost of the program?

Yes, you may receive a full refund if you decide not to complete the program. We provide a 100% no questions asked refund within the first 7 weeks regardless of the reason. This allows you to evaluate our study guide, required readings, and the industry tools and educational video content provided to you within FinancialModelingCertification.com. To cancel your registration, please send us your request via email to Team@FinanceTraining.com.

I would like to change my scheduled exam date.  Am I able to do so?

Of course! Just send an email at least 2 weeks before your scheduled exam. Please send this email to our team, and we can update our roster accordingly. Since we offer on-going registrations and the option to set your exam after you feel you have had sufficient time to prepare, you may not need to change your exam date except in the case of an emergency or schedule-change.

Please be sure to let us know if you need to move your scheduled exam at least 2 weeks before your scheduled exam. If you do not change your exam date at least 2 weeks before your scheduled examination and you miss your exam, you will be required to pay the $127 re-take fee. You can do that and complete the retake form here. This is the same fee paid by those who fail the exam, and to avoid this fee, please contact us in a timely manner. This policy had to be put in place as we now serve 1,000′s of participants and alumni, this means last minute changes are no longer possible.

Where can I buy the book that is required to study for the Certified Financial Modeling Specialist program you offer? 

First register for a program and then login to FinancialModelingCertification.com to gain access to the resource hub for this program. There you find will the multimedia resources, list of required readings, study guide, and tips for completing that specific certification program. Right now, every one of the required books are available on websites such as Amazon.com, Half.com, and BN.com, and if you are based within the United States most of these books may be obtained for free from your public library.

What are the prerequisites for completing your certification program?

There are no prerequisites to join the Certified Financial Modeling Specialist program.

What score do I need to pass the examinations offered within your program?

To pass you must earn a grade of 80% or higher between your examination and project. While the exam is designed to be rigorous and thorough most individuals who have read the required readings and invested a significant amount of time studying for the test should do well. The exam is offered 100% online so you may complete it from your place of work or from home if you wish. The exam uses a dual layered IP tracking and password system to prevent abuse and it has successfully been used with over 2,000 program participants in the past.

Your grade will be averaged from your examination score and project score, which are each worth 100 points. You must earn at least 160 of the 200 available points.

Do I need to pass each module of the test to pass the whole exam?

Just an overall grade of 80% is all that is required to pass the exam. These points can be earned in any section of the exam.

I am currently a student. What are the benefits of earning this certification for me?

Our program has been designed for experienced business professionals and students alike. As a student, you will gain critical knowledge needed to compete in this area of the finance space.  Our team provides networking, resume construction, resume templates, and internship video advice resources. Starting your career with this knowledge base can save you years of job experimentation within various roles.  As a Certified Financial Modeling Specialist certification holder, you have an advantage over others with the same degree. Employers seek those who have taken the initiative to gain additional knowledge relevant to their career.

What methods of payment are accepted for the tuition?

To ensure that everyone can register for our program, we offer a number of ways to pay for tuition. We accept web or fax-based credit card and debit card orders, payment by check, Western Union payments, or PayPal.  You can also call our offices during normal business hours to register for our program over the phone. Please feel free to call our office at (305)503-9050 , Monday through Friday, from 9am-5pm EST.

To register for our program online with our registration form, please click here.

How many hours should I study the required readings and audio/video resources before I take the examination?

Most professionals take ~75-100 hours to prepare for our exam. Your past experience and/or education can affect this, however, by reducing or adding an additional 25 hours to these estimates. We have built our program to be the most challenging program available. It is not easy and takes consistent studying, reading, and reviewing to complete. This lack of ease helps to build credibility and respect for those holding this professional designation. Programs that are easy to pass, not challenging, and low quality, do not increase or improve one’s professionalism.


How do I access the online training videos, audio resources, mock exam, etc.?

Once you’ve completed your registration, you will receive a welcome email within one business day. Therein, you will find a login and password for the training portal at Finance Training.com. Once logged in, you will have access to all the training videos, audio resources, practice exam, and study guide and syllabus. You will have life-long access to these materials as part of your registration.

Is the Financial Modeling Specialist Certification course accredited?

Our courses are accredited by The CPD Certification Service. The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is an accreditation platform working across all sectors, disciplines and further learning applications. CPD uses rigorous guidelines that must be met in order to provide accreditation. The CPD Certification Service works internationally with organizations ranging from small consultancy firms to large training providers such as Finance Training Institute.

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