Requirements & Prerequisites

FRM (Financial Risk Manager) Requirements & Prerequisites

Everything you need to know before registering for the FRM (Financial Risk Manager), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.

Cost

$1,500-$2,000 total

Provider

GARP

Validity

Lifetime

Available

Global

Prerequisites & Eligibility

Education

Check official exam requirements

Experience

3-5+ years of professional experience typically required

Specific Requirements

  • There are no educational or professional prerequisites to register for the FRM Exam. GARP states this directly in its FRM FAQs.
  • Certification, as opposed to registration, requires three things: passing Part I, passing Part II by December 31 of the fourth year after passing Part I, and submitting two years of full-time relevant risk management work experience.
  • The work experience must be full-time and must involve identifying, measuring, monitoring or managing risk as a meaningful part of the role. GARP names risk analysis, model validation, trading, portfolio management, treasury, audit and consulting as examples.
  • Internships, part-time jobs and student teaching do not count, and experience completed during school is excluded.
  • You have 10 years after sitting Part II to submit the work experience, and experience from up to 10 years before passing counts. Miss that and you re-enrol as a new candidate and retake both exams.
  • You cannot use the FRM designation after your name in any manner until GARP has certified you.
Exam Format

Number of Questions

FRM Exam Part I has 100 equally weighted questions. FRM Exam Part II has 80 equally weighted questions

Duration

Four hours for each part

Question Format

Multiple choice, equally weighted, no partial credit, Computation items where GARP provides no formula sheet, Application questions in Part II built on the tools introduced in Part I

Passing Requirement

GARP does not publish a passing score. Both exams are graded pass or fail, and candidates also receive quartile results comparing their topic performance with other candidates

How It Is Delivered

Computer-based testing at a test center. Candidates in China Mainland, Hong Kong SAR China and Thailand schedule through ATA; all other candidates schedule through PSI. Seats are first come, first served

Languages Offered

American English, Simplified Chinese, which GARP offers to candidates in Mainland China on designated dates

Difficulty: Very HardSalary Impact: $100k-$180k
How to Register
1

Visit the official GARP certification page

2

Create an account and select your exam

3

Choose a test center or online proctoring option

4

Pay the exam fee and schedule your date

What to Bring on Exam Day
  • Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
  • Appointment confirmation email
  • For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
Frequently Asked Questions

What are the prerequisites for the FRM (Financial Risk Manager)?

There are no educational or professional prerequisites to register for the FRM Exam. GARP states this directly in its FRM FAQs.. Certification, as opposed to registration, requires three things: passing Part I, passing Part II by December 31 of the fourth year after passing Part I, and submitting two years of full-time relevant risk management work experience.. The work experience must be full-time and must involve identifying, measuring, monitoring or managing risk as a meaningful part of the role. GARP names risk analysis, model validation, trading, portfolio management, treasury, audit and consulting as examples.. Internships, part-time jobs and student teaching do not count, and experience completed during school is excluded.. You have 10 years after sitting Part II to submit the work experience, and experience from up to 10 years before passing counts. Miss that and you re-enrol as a new candidate and retake both exams.. You cannot use the FRM designation after your name in any manner until GARP has certified you..

How much does the FRM (Financial Risk Manager) cost?

The FRM (Financial Risk Manager) exam costs $1,500-$2,000 total. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.

How do I register for the FRM (Financial Risk Manager)?

Visit the official GARP certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date

What should I bring to the FRM (Financial Risk Manager)?

Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.

Ready to prepare for FRM (Financial Risk Manager)?

Get the complete exam guide with study plan, tips, and practice questions.

View FRM (Financial Risk Manager) Guide