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Financial Risk Manager (FRM®) Certification

 

Join the 90,000 professionals who have completed the FRM Certification.

Registration for the May 2025 FRM Exam opens on December 1. 

About This Program

The FRM Certification is the true standard for educational excellence in risk management and a gateway to achieving new career heights in the risk profession. Be a part of an elite network that spans 90,000 individuals employed at the world’s top banks, asset management firms, consulting firms, and regulators. 

Professionals who complete their FRM Certification will:

Prove they're able to assess, measure, and monitor risk in real-world situations

Gain transferrable knowledge applicable across industries and functional roles

Be in a strong position to improve their job performance and advance their careers

Join an exclusive global network of top risk managers

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The FRM Certification: Designed to Evolve

When the FRM Certification launched 25 years ago risk management was more of a loosely defined function than a profession. From the beginning GARP made sure the program was shaped by top risk minds, guaranteeing it would evolve to meet the real-world needs of both practitioners and their firms. Risk management took a leap forward following the Global Financial Crisis, and the FRM program cemented its status as the gold standard of risk certifications by preparing candidates to succeed in this newly prominent field. We look forward to the challenges of the next 25 years.

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2024 Candidate Guide

Download the comprehensive FRM Candidate Guide, which includes information about sitting for the Exam, earning the Certification, and using the designation to further your career in risk. 

Stand Out to Top Employers

FRM certified professionals are constantly in demand by the world’s leading companies and banks. Our FRM certified professionals are currently employed in more than 190 countries and territories worldwide.

TOP 10 COMPANIES EMPLOYING THE MOST FRM certified professionals*

  1. ICBC
  2. Bank of China
  3. HSBC
  4. Agricultural Bank of China
  5. Citigroup
  6. KPMG
  7. Deutsche Bank
  8. Credit Suisse
  9. UBS
  10. PWC

*companies ordered by the number of FRM employees

TOP 10 GLOBAL BANKS EMPLOYING FRM certified professionals*

  1. ICBC
  2. China Construction Bank
  3. Agricultural Bank of China
  4. Bank of China
  5. JP Morgan Chase
  6. Wells Fargo
  7. HSBC
  8. Citigroup
  9. Bank of America
  10. Banco Santander

*banks ordered by the article below

Source: Chen, Liyan. "2015 Global 2000: The World's Largest Banks." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, May 6, 2015. Web. July 23, 2015.

Comparable Degree Levels

According to an independent benchmarking study conducted by Ecctis, the FRM Certification is comparable to a Master's degree in fourteen national and regional educational systems. Based on this highly specialized content, complex candidate requirements, and industry-based curricula, the FRM Certification was deemed equivalent to:

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DEGREE LEVEL

United Kingdom Comparable to RQF Level 7*
United States Comparable to US Master's degree standard
Canada Comparable to OQF Level 12*
India Comparable to NSQF Level 9*
Hong Kong Comparable to HKQF Level 6*
Singapore Comparable to Singaporean Master’s degree standard
Australia Comparable to AQF Level 9*
Brazil Comparable to Título de Mestre (Brazilian Master’s degree standard)
China Comparable to the Chinese Master’s degree standard
Japan Comparable to the Japanese Master’s degree standard
South Africa Comparable to NQF Level 9*
UAE Comparable to QFEmirates Level 9
Mexico Comparable to Mexican Master’s degree standard
Taiwan Comparable to Taiwanese Master’s degree standard

  * Comparable to RQF Level 7 (Master’s degree standard)

Benefits for Chinese Candidates

The FRM Certification is approved by the Occupational Skill Testing Authority (OSTA) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) in China as a National Vocational Qualification Certificate. More than 25,000 FRM-Certified Professionals are currently employed by every major Chinese financial institution. Upon successful completion of the program, candidates in China will receive a certificate acknowledging their achievement and inclusion among a select group of global risk managers. They will also receive a certificate in Chinese and verify their certification status at http://gjzs.osta.org.cn to be listed as globally certified risk professionals.

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Employment Benefits of Earning the FRM Certification

As the field's leading designation, the FRM Certification is the key indication of candidates with proven ability and experience. To earn it, you must not only pass two challenging and rigorous exams, but also spend at least two years working in the field. By earning your FRM Certification, you will prove your skill at identifying, analyzing, and mitigating risk at a high level, and showcase your ability to add value to firms in a number of specialized areas.

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Global Practice Analysis Report 2021

View an analysis on GARP’s comprehensive survey of 1,500+ financial risk management professionals to learn what they do, where they work, and the skills and knowledge they need to perform their jobs amid a changing environment for risk management.

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Ready to take the next step toward your certification?

Registration for the May 2025 FRM Exam opens on December 1. 

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We are a not-for-profit organization and the leading globally recognized membership association for risk managers.

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