Everything you need to know about the Ch.E® Certification

Seven specialist tracks can be paired with the general Ch.E® charter, each covering a distinct area of applied economics:

• Ch.FE® - Chartered Financial Economist
• Ch.ME® - Chartered Managerial Economist
• Ch.EE® - Chartered Energy Economist
• Ch.HE® - Chartered Health Economist
• Ch.PE® - Chartered Petroleum Economist
• Ch.IE® - Chartered Industrial Economist
• CEPA® - Chartered Economic Policy Analyst

Yes. The Chartered Economist® designation is fully global. It is recognised in 151+ countries through a network of 800+ accredited training providers, universities and business schools - and there is no country-specific or territorial examination. Candidates sit the same standardised assessment regardless of where they are based.

The designation is conferred by AAFM® USA, which means your Ch.E® charter holds the same international standing whether you practise in India, Singapore, the Gulf, Europe or the Americas.

In India, the Ch.E® certification is administered by AAFM India Private Limited, headquartered in New Delhi. AAFM India is the authorised Indian chapter of AAFM® and functions as a Standard-Setting Body responsible for curriculum design, candidate enrolment, examination oversight and certification in India.

The actual designation - the Chartered Economist® charter - is issued directly by AAFM® USA, giving every Indian holder a credential with full international recognition.

The Ch.E® programme has an inclusive eligibility structure:

• Graduates (any stream): Pass the Level 1 Chartered Economist exam to earn the general Ch.E® designation.
• Postgraduates in Economics (MA/MSc/MPhil/MBA/PhD): May pursue a specialist designation directly, without sitting the Level 1 general exam.

There is no restriction based on undergraduate discipline for the general Ch.E® - candidates from engineering, commerce, humanities and sciences all qualify.

The Ch.E® is delivered entirely online via AAFM®'s USA-ACER e-learning platform and is fully self-paced - you study on your own schedule. Most candidates complete the programme and clear the examination within approximately six months, though this depends on your existing knowledge and the time you can dedicate each week.

There are no fixed class times, attendance requirements or geographical constraints. Study materials - including 2,000+ pages of content, PPTs, mock tests and case studies - are accessible at any time.

Specialist designation exam fees are additional. Contact AAFM India for the complete fee schedule.

Results are awarded on a three-grade scale:

Candidates who do not achieve a passing score may book a retake examination. The retake can be scheduled through the Pearson VUE system after a minimum cooling-off period of 10 days from the date of the original attempt. There is no limit on the number of retake attempts, though the applicable exam fee applies for each sitting.

Yes. To maintain the Ch.E® designation in good standing, charterholder are required to complete continuing education activities annually. This keeps your knowledge current with developments in economic theory, policy, research methodology and industry practice - and is a core expectation of AAFM®'s professional membership standards.

Details of the annual renewal process, including the continuing education requirements and renewal fee, are provided to candidates upon certification.

The world's top 500 finance companies employ AAFM® designation holders. Across its training partner network, AAFM® has delivered certified programmes to professionals at Deutsche Bank, Citibank, HSBC, NASA, the US Navy, the US Securities and Exchange Commission, China Construction Bank, BAE Systems, the Government of Dubai, and hundreds of other leading organisations.

In India, the designation is increasingly valued by RBI and SEBI-regulated institutions, economic research think tanks, consulting firms, infrastructure companies and public-sector undertakings.