The FRM designation is a professional certification offered by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). The designation is viewed as the globally recognized gold standard for risk professionals. Since its inception in 1997, the FRM designation has rapidly grown in popularity, with enrollment in the program increasing year after year, and exploding in the years following the global financial crisis of 2008.

The improper handling of potential market and credit risks in the early part of the 21st century led to a huge demand for qualified risk professionals who were able to define a firm's risks clearly and accurately. Professionals holding the FRM designation are often viewed as some of the most qualified in the industry, which led to the enrollment boom.

In order to obtain the FRM designation, candidates are required to meet two key requirements:

• Successfully pass two separate FRM exams, and complete a minimum of two years of full-time work experience in the field of financial risk, or related areas.
• The work experience can be related to fields like portfolio management, industry research, trading, faculty academic and risk consulting.
• Since the FRM designation relates primarily to the field of finance, only finance-related vocations are considered as acceptable work experience.

A 100 question multiple choice exam, the FRM Exam Part I focuses on the tools used to assess financial risk: quantitative analysis, fundamental risk management concepts, financial markets and products, and valuation and risk models. Part I is always offered in the morning and must be completed in four hours or less.

Exam Details:

The Financial Risk Manager (FRM®) Exam Part II is the second of two exams that comprise the FRM Program. The FRM Part II Exam, in addition to other requirements, must be passed in order for an individual to become a Certified FRM. The FRM Exam Part II focuses on the practical application of risk management tools covered in Part I to specific areas of risk management such as credit risk, market risk, and operational risk. In addition, the FRM Exam covers the application of risk management tools and techniques to the investment management process. Questions are designed to be practical and related to real-world work experiences and candidates are expected to understand risk management concepts and approaches as they would apply to a risk manager's day-to-day activities.

Exam Details:

Scoring & Results

There are no penalties for wrong answers. Passing scores are determined by the FRM Committee. Exam results are pass/fail and are emailed approximately six weeks after the exam. Candidates will receive quartile results comparing their performance to other candidates.

 Please note that if a candidate elects to take Part II on the same day as Part I, their Part II Exam will not be marked by GARP unless they first pass Part I.