CTP Exam - The term certified treasury professional (CTP) refers to a financial designation granted to individuals experienced in cash management and who pass an exam demonstrating their expertise by the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP). The Certified Treasury Professional course or CTP exam will be offered by the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP).
LATEST: Register for CTP exam upcoming testing window
The CTP Examination consists of 170 multiple-choice questions and is based on concepts and experiences corresponding to treasury management. The content/theme areas are situated in the CTP Test Specifications.
Toward the back globally perceived affirmation which is a chief capability for finance, bookkeeping and treasury professionals around the world. So as to acquire accreditation status, candidates are required to successfully clear the CTP exam which is a four-hour exam comprising multiple-choice questions on an assortment of subject areas associated with bookkeeping, finance and treasury management. The CTP exam will be administered the world over at various Pearson VUE test centers and is offered in two test windows every year.
Item | Details |
Name | Certified Treasury Professional |
Abbreviation | CTP |
Governing body | Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) |
Exam type | International certification |
Test centre administration | Pearson VUE |
Exam duration | 4 hours |
Number of questions | 170 questions |
Question type | Multiple-choice type (MCQs) |
Certification validity | 3 years |
The various CTP exam dates are regularly published by AFP which is the conducting body for CTP. The CTP exams are offered in two different windows annually which are:
June/July
December/January
The CTP exam schedule is usually generic and does not change year on year. The important dates for both of the testing windows for CTP exams have been listed below.
Category | July session | December session |
Testing Window | June 1 - July 31 | December 1 - January 31 |
Early application deadline | March 20 | September 27 |
Final application deadline | April 24 | November 1 |
Re-exam registration deadline | April 24 | November 1 |
Cancellation/refund request deadline | May 17 | November 17 |
Transfer/deferral request deadline | July 31 | January 31 |
Candidates need to provide proof of various academic requirements, professional work experience and/or teaching experience in order to meet the various CTP requirements for eligibility. The AFP has specified five different categories of individuals who are eligible for the CTP exam based on different requirements regarding work experience, teaching experience and/or education. Here, the three terms signify specific CTP requirements, which are:
Work experience: This implies full-time professional work experience based in cash/treasury management or any corporate finance-related role. Internships and volunteer work do not qualify as valid full-time work experience.
Teaching experience: This implies full-time teaching experience at university or collegiate level in a finance-related area of study.
Education: This implies any graduate or masters qualification in the domain of finance, business or accountancy.
Eligibility category | Work experience | Teaching experience | Education |
A | At least 2 years | None | None |
B | At least 1 year | None | Completed |
C | At least 1 year | At least 2 years | None |
D | None | At least 2 years | Completed |
E | None | At least 4 years | None |
Once a candidate meets the CTP requirements for eligibility, he or she may carry out the following steps for CTP registration.
The CTP registration is to be carried out in the online mode and candidates are required to fill an application form online. The application form requires information regarding various personal, academic and professional details associated with the candidate. Additionally, candidates will be required to submit their testing window preference for the forthcoming CTP exam, either June/July or December/January.
Upon successful CTP registration for the certification exam, candidates can chose to buy and download the available CTP study materials for exam preparation.
Candidates will then be able to pick the specific date after CTP registration for the exam. As the CTP exams are administered by Pearson VUE, the dates are selected according to the Pearson VUE test centre availability within the selected CTP exam 2-month window.
On the test day, candidates are required to carry their CTP registration confirmation and hall ticket along with a valid government issued photo ID.
Every new CTP exam application is valid for three years or six consecutive CTP testing windows. Candidates can submit re-examination, transfer and deferral requests for any exam session within these testing windows without going through the CTP registration process repeatedly.
The various CTP certification costs associated with the CTP course include the application fee, study material fees etc. The requisite CTP certification cost for CTP has been published by AFP. The application fees differ for AFP members and non-members as the non-member application fee is also inclusive of the cost of a one-year AFP membership.
CTP course fees | AFP member | AFP non-member |
Early application | USD $925 | USD $1,320 |
Regular application | USD $1025 | USD $1,420 |
Study material - Essentials of Treasury Management | USD $185 | USD $285 |
Study material - Exam PrepPlatform | USD $860 | USD $960 |
Re-examination/re-registration fee | USD $250 | |
Deferral | USD $0 | |
No-show penalty fee | USD $90 |
The CTP course comprises a total of 170 questions which are of multiple-choice type in nature. The overall duration of the exam is 4 hours. Out of these, 3.5 hours are allotted for solving the 170 MCQs in the question paper. The remaining 30 minutes have been allotted for the review of answers, an optional 20-minute tutorial and a short questionnaire.
For the duration of the CTP exam, test-takers have the option of changing, marking and skipping questions as per their preference. Answers can be reviewed during any time of the test and upon completion of the allowed time for the test, all the answers will contribute towards the final score calculation regardless of the order in which they have been marked.
The CTP exam consists of 170 multiple-choice questions which cover a number of concepts associated with treasury management. Most of the questions are derived from the Essentials of Treasury Management, 5th edition.
Subject area | Topics | Number of questions | |
The Corporate Treasury Function | Role of treasury management | 4-6 | 30-35 |
Treasury organizational structure | 3-5 | ||
Financial and regulatory environment | 5-7 | ||
Relationship management | 5-7 | ||
Financial accounting and reporting | 3-5 | ||
Risk management | 4-6 | ||
Corporate governance | 3-5 | ||
Cash and Liquidity Management | Cash management and forecasting | 16-19 | 37-42 |
Payment and collection systems | 19-21 | ||
Working Capital Management | Working capital philosophy and tools | 14-17 | 32-35 |
Short-term investing and borrowing | 10-12 | ||
Financial supply chain | 4-6 | ||
Market effects on working capital | 2-3 | ||
Capital Markets and Funding | Capital structure and dividend policy | 2-4 | 22-24 |
Sources of capital | 5-7 | ||
Capital market investments | 5-7 | ||
Financing decisions and management | 7-9 | ||
Treasury Operations and Controls | Treasury systems | 4-6 | 21-24 |
Operational risk management | 8-10 | ||
Treasury procedures | 5-7 | ||
Ethics and accountability | 2-3 | ||
Unscored Questions | 20 |
There are a number of study resources for prospective Certified Treasury Professional candidates which have been provided by AFP. It is essentially for CTP exam aspirants to go through these preparatory materials in order to be fully prepared and subsequently succeed in the CTP exam. The resources offered by AFP are:
Sample test questions and prep guide: this includes various test taking tips and strategies to score better in the CTP exam along with sample questions and the corresponding answer key.
AFP Treasury Learning System: This is essentially a Certified Treasury Professional online course which comprises various materials such as flashcards and practice tests. Additionally, it contains the entirety of the CTP exam syllabus and body of knowledge from which questions are framed.
Essentials of Treasury Management: this is ideal for candidates who desire access to the entire body of knowledge which contains the CTP exam syllabus.
Instructor-led courses: For candidates who want the intensive environment of a Certified Treasury Professional online course, they can opt for instructor-led courses for the AFP Treasury Learning System.
Webinars: AFP provides a number of live webinars for prospective Certified Treasury Professional candidates to enhance their subject knowledge.
CTP exam preparation blog: the CTP exam blog contains various tips and tricks for prospective Certified Treasury Professionals.
Collaborate community: the collaborate community is a live forum for CTP exam aspirants and professionals to communicate and interact with each other.
Other resources include the International Partnerships and Regional AFP and TMA Prep Classes.
For prospective Certified Treasury Professionals, an important aspect of preparation for the certification exam is understanding the CTP exam difficulty and type of questions. All of the questions in the CTP exam will be multiple-choice questions and there will be no negative marking for incorrect answers but the CTP exam difficulty is a difficult area to pinpoint.
In order to help prospective candidates to comprehend the CTP exam difficulty, AFP has published an exam preparation guide which features a number of CTP exam sample questions. Certified Treasury Professional aspirants can download the CTP sample questions and the answer key below.
Sample Questions | Download here(file added to folder) |
Answer Key | Download here(file added to folder) |
All the questions of the CTP exam hold equal weight and there is no negative marking for incorrect answers. The total number of questions is 170; of these 170 questions, 150 are scored while the remaining 20 questions remain unscored. The overall scaled score of the CTP exam candidate will be calculated from the raw score. The raw score is generally the total number of questions which the candidate has answered correctly. The scaled score for the CTP exam will be determined on a 200 to 500 point scale where 300 is considered the passing mark. As the score is a scaled score, the number of questions which need to be answered correctly in order to obtain 300 may vary with the CPT exam difficulty.
As the CTP exam scores are compared with the predetermined passing standard and not the performance of candidates, the CTP exam pass rate often tends to vary with the CTP exam difficulty. Due to the standard which needs to be maintained, the CTP exam pass rate can range from anywhere between 0% and 100% as the performance of all candidates is judged independently. In recent testing windows, as reported by AFP, the CTP exam pass rate has ranged from 43% to 51%.
At the end of the exam at the specific Pearson VUE test center, candidates will be provided with a printed copy of their CTP exam result which will include the candidate’s name, title of the examination and whether the candidate passed or failed. The actual score will not be reported if the candidate has passed the CTP exam. In case the candidate does not pass the CTP exam, then he or she will be provided with the actual test score along with the performance in the various constituent knowledge domains. In order to maintain security and confidentiality, AFP does not release the results of individual CTP exam candidates. However, AFP does publish a list of successfully Certified Treasury Professionals.
CTP certification is 'a benchmark of competency in the finance profession'.
CTP stands for Certified Treasury Professional.
Yes, it can be said that CTP certification is worth the cost as it provides higher incomes, greater job security and professionals can market themselves better in the industry with this designation.
Budget analysis, in a nutshell, entails thoroughly analyzing the details of a financial budget. The budget analysis aims to better understand and manage revenue. Budget analysts assist in the achievement of financial targets, the preservation of profitability, and the pursuit of long-term growth for a business. Budget analysts generally have a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a closely related field. Knowledge of Financial Management is of prime importance in this career.
The invention of the database has given fresh breath to the people involved in the data analytics career path. Analysis refers to splitting up a whole into its individual components for individual analysis. Data analysis is a method through which raw data are processed and transformed into information that would be beneficial for user strategic thinking.
Data are collected and examined to respond to questions, evaluate hypotheses or contradict theories. It is a tool for analyzing, transforming, modeling, and arranging data with useful knowledge, to assist in decision-making and methods, encompassing various strategies, and is used in different fields of business, research, and social science.
An underwrite plays crucial roles in the finance and insurance industry and works for mortgage, loan, and insurance companies. He or she analyses applications for insurance policies and assess the risk capacity to decide whether to approve application or reject. He or she assesses and evaluates the risk of another party for a fee in the form of commision or premium.
Underwriters have strong analytical skills and they understand the insurance principle to evaluate the health of potential clients. They collaborate with agents, brokers, and to their clients to collect information and explain the insurance product details. They work on all kinds of insurance like mortgage, health insurance, life insurance, automobile, and several other kinds of insurance.
Finance Executives manage money, overseeing a company's income, expenses, and investments. They monitor financial transactions, create and assess reports like cash flows, and strategies to enhance profit margins and reduce expenses. Their role is crucial for staying competitive and making wise market decisions in response to current dynamics.
Finance Executives establish strategic financial goals, objectives, and performance criteria. Strong accounting and analytical skills are fundamental to this role. While often working fixed hours, they may extend their work hours to meet deadlines. This career is well-suited for individuals with a keen understanding of finance, attention to detail, and the ability to navigate complex financial landscapes.
A product manager is a professional who determines what a product should do and how it should look like. A product manager analyses customer needs and combines them with company goals to develop a product that satisfies everyone. He or she works in coordination with different departments like engineers, salespersons, and product designers to ensure everyone works towards achieving the company's goals.
A product manager develops strategies and plans to help the employees work towards a common goal that is to develop a product that the customers demand. He or she plays the role of the first point of contact in the organisation for anyone who needs to know about the product. Concerning larger programmes, they work with Technical Program Managers to deliver results.
Operations manager is tasked with supervising the financial and business experts involved in the production of goods and services. A career as operations manager needs to supervise many divisions and coordinate daily activities. The role of operations manager is to oversee and manage diverse activities which is part of a profession as an operations manager.
All levels of an organisation's operational activities are overseen by an operations manager. He or she is in charge of selecting candidates, imparting instruction, and managing quality control programmes. Operations managers also develop plans for process improvements to ensure that everyone finishes their work on schedule. He or she must regularly evaluate budgets, manage costs, and analyse data and statistics.
A stock analyst is an individual who analyses and evaluates various stocks and securities in the financial market. He or she in the stock analyst career forecasts stock market results, normally with an emphasis on the securities that a company or firm invests in. He or she also prepares scientific reports on financial forecasts, predictions, and recommendations based on a stock's expected profit.
Individuals who enjoy learning and data processing, are good problem solvers, and have a strong work ethic will excel in the stock market analyst sector. Students can pursue a BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration), MBA (Master of Business Administration), M.Stat (Master of Statistics) to opt for a career in stock market analysis
A Researcher is a professional who is responsible for collecting data and information by reviewing the literature and conducting experiments and surveys. He or she uses various methodological processes to provide accurate data and information that is utilised by academicians and other industry professionals. Here, we will discuss what is a researcher, the researcher's salary, types of researchers.
Welding Engineer Job Description: A Welding Engineer work involves managing welding projects and supervising welding teams. He or she is responsible for reviewing welding procedures, processes and documentation. A career as Welding Engineer involves conducting failure analyses and causes on welding issues.
A Quality Assurance (QA) Manager, synonymous with a Quality Assurance Manager, holds a pivotal role in ensuring products meet predefined standards. Responsible for planning, directing, and formulating control policies, the QA Manager safeguards company efficiency and profitability. By scrutinizing products for flaws and ensuring compliance with internal and external requirements, they uphold quality, validating the effectiveness of quality assurance teams in maintaining high standards before product release.
A quality controller plays a crucial role in an organisation. He or she is responsible for performing quality checks on manufactured products. He or she identifies the defects in a product and rejects the product.
A quality controller records detailed information about products with defects and sends it to the supervisor or plant manager to take necessary actions to improve the production process.
A Production Manager oversees manufacturing processes, ensuring timely and budgeted delivery of products. Responsible for safe, cost-effective production meeting quality standards, their role adapts to the production system. Also known as an Operations Manager, they manage human and material resources, contributing to efficient production and service delivery.
A product manager is a professional who determines what a product should do and how it should look like. A product manager analyses customer needs and combines them with company goals to develop a product that satisfies everyone. He or she works in coordination with different departments like engineers, salespersons, and product designers to ensure everyone works towards achieving the company's goals.
A product manager develops strategies and plans to help the employees work towards a common goal that is to develop a product that the customers demand. He or she plays the role of the first point of contact in the organisation for anyone who needs to know about the product. Concerning larger programmes, they work with Technical Program Managers to deliver results.
A QA Lead is in charge of the QA Team. The role of QA Lead comes with the responsibility of assessing services and products in order to determine that he or she meets the quality standards. He or she develops, implements and manages test plans.
A Structural Engineer designs buildings, bridges, and other related structures. He or she analyzes the structures and makes sure the structures are strong enough to be used by the people. A career as a Structural Engineer requires working in the construction process. It comes under the civil engineering discipline. A Structure Engineer creates structural models with the help of computer-aided design software.
The Process Development Engineers design, implement, manufacture, mine, and other production systems using technical knowledge and expertise in the industry. They use computer modeling software to test technologies and machinery. An individual who is opting career as Process Development Engineer is responsible for developing cost-effective and efficient processes. They also monitor the production process and ensure it functions smoothly and efficiently.