How to Apply for the Chartered Economist Certification
The Ch.E® programme is open to graduates and professionals across economics, management and finance. Registration is online, study is self-paced and the exam is available at 5,000+ Pearson Vue centres globally — including centres across India.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility for the Ch.E® Certification
The Chartered Economist (Ch.E®) is designed for graduates and working professionals who want to establish or deepen their credentials in applied economics. The programme is open to a wide range of educational backgrounds.
Academic Qualifications
The Ch.E® programme is suited to candidates holding degrees or diplomas including:
- PhD, MPhil — in Economics, Finance, Management or related disciplines
- MBA, MA, M.Sc. — Economics, Finance, Banking, Statistics, Mathematics, Business Administration, Agricultural Economics, Logistics and Supply
- B.A., B.Sc., B.Com, B.Ed. — with a background in Economics, Accounting, Management, Banking and Finance, Statistics, Mathematics or Marketing
- Relevant Diploma holders — in Economics, Accounting, Management, Banking and Finance, Statistics or related fields
Professional Backgrounds Welcome
The programme is explicitly designed for candidates who are already in the workforce, as well as for recent graduates. Ideal candidates include:
- Economists and economic advisers
- Research analysts and heads of department
- Credit and risk analysts
- Corporate financiers and financial analysts
- Investment bankers
- Wealth and fund managers
- Individuals involved in economic policy formulation
- Actuarists and managers in BFSI
- Students and fresh graduates seeking a professional economics designation
If you are unsure whether your background meets the eligibility criteria, contact AAFM India for a free counselling call before you apply.
Well Suited for the Ch.E®
- Graduate in Economics, Finance, Management or Statistics
- Working professional in banking, consulting or government
- Research analyst seeking formal credentialling
- MBA or M.Sc. graduate wanting applied economics skills
- Policy analyst or public sector professional
Speak to a Counsellor If You Are
- Still completing your undergraduate degree
- From a discipline unrelated to economics, finance or management
- Considering a specialisation (Ch.FE.®, Ch.PE.®, etc.) with a different eligibility threshold
- Uncertain about minimum marks or work experience requirements
Application Process
How to Enrol — Step by Step
The Ch.E® enrolment process is straightforward and entirely online. Follow these steps from initial enquiry through to examination scheduling.
Schedule a Free Career Advisory Call
Begin with a free career advisory call with an AAFM India counsellor. The counsellor will review your background, clarify eligibility for the Ch.E® or a specialisation pathway, explain the fee structure and answer any questions about the programme and examination before you commit.
Register with AAFM India
Complete the online registration form on the AAFM India website and submit the registration and programme fees. Your student account is activated on receipt of payment and AAFM India approval. This is your access point for the USA-ACER e-learning portal.
Access the USA-ACER E-Learning System
Log in to the USA-ACER portal to begin self-paced study across 5 modules: Applied Microeconomics, Advanced Macroeconomics, Quantitative Techniques for Economics, Statistical Techniques for Economics, Industrial and International Economics, and Applied Economics. The portal includes 2,000+ pages of reading, PPTs, mock tests and case studies.
Submit the Examination Form and Fee (after 30 days)
After a minimum of 30 days from registration, complete the online exam form in your student account on the AAFM website and pay the examination fee of Rs. 3,000. AAFM India reviews and approves your application before forwarding to Pearson Vue.
Receive Your Pearson Vue Account
On AAFM India approval, Pearson Vue auto-generates your web account and sends a welcome email with your login credentials and an "Authorisation to Test" email. This email contains instructions on scheduling your examination at a Pearson Vue centre near you.
Schedule Your Examination
Schedule your exam online or via the Pearson Vue call centre for test dates on the 10th or 20th of any month. Scheduling is open from the 1st to the 10th (for the 10th test date) and from the 10th to the 20th (for the 20th test date). The exam is 115 minutes, computer-based, with results shown immediately on submission.
Submit Project Work
On passing the examination, you must submit a project within the time frame specified by AAFM India. The project demonstrates real-world application of the skills and knowledge developed during the programme. AAFM India reviews and approves the submission.
Pay the Certification Fee and Receive Your Ch.E® Certificate
After project approval, submit the certification fee to AAFM India. Your Chartered Economist (Ch.E®) certificate and membership are then formally conferred and issued directly by the American Academy of Financial Management (AAFM), USA. You may then use the Ch.E® designation on your professional materials.
After You Register
What Happens Once You Are Enrolled
Once registered, you control the pace of your learning. The programme is built for working professionals who need flexibility without compromising depth.
Self-Paced Online Learning
The Ch.E® programme is 100% online, with no attendance requirements at a fixed classroom. You access the USA-ACER e-learning system at any time that suits your schedule. AAFM courses are designed by instructors with over 31 years of economics training experience drawn from work at leading global banks and institutions.
Study Materials Included
Your registration gives full access to: five curriculum modules with hundreds of PPT presentations and video support material; 2,000+ pages of reading content; mock tests and quizzes; and case studies enabling application of economic theory to real scenarios. You can return to materials at any time, including after certification, for professional development.
Examination Preparation
AAFM India provides a practice exam on the AAFM website to familiarise candidates with the look and feel of the Pearson Vue computer-based format. The actual exam is 115 minutes, covers 55 questions across three sections — 30 one-mark, 15 two-mark and 10 four-mark questions — with no negative marking. A score of 50% or above is required to pass.
AAFM India Support
Throughout the programme, the AAFM India team is available to answer questions about study progress, examination scheduling and project submission. The counselling team can also advise on moving to a specialisation designation after completing the base Ch.E®.
Completion Checklist
Requirements to Earn the Ch.E® Designation
The Ch.E® is not awarded on exam performance alone. AAFM requires candidates to demonstrate both knowledge and professional commitment before conferring the designation.
Complete All E-Learning Modules
Demonstrate mastery of all five curriculum modules through completion of course materials, quizzes and module assessments within the USA-ACER system.
Pass the Ch.E® Examination
Clear the computer-based Pearson Vue examination with a minimum score of 50% (no negative marking). The exam covers 55 questions across six subject modules in 115 minutes.
Submit and Pass Project Work
Submit one project within the time frame set by AAFM India. The project must be approved by AAFM India before the certification fee is accepted and the designation is conferred.
Agree to the AAFM Code of Conduct
All Ch.E® candidates must formally agree to the AAFM Code of Conduct, committing to the highest standards of professional ethics and client-first practice.
Pay the Certification Fee
On approval of project work, submit the certification fee to AAFM India. The Ch.E® certificate and membership are then issued directly by AAFM USA.
Meet Continuing Education Requirements
After certification, Ch.E® holders are required to meet AAFM continuing education requirements to maintain the designation — ensuring you remain current as the economics profession evolves.
Exam Day
Documents Required at the Examination Centre
Before your Pearson Vue exam, ensure you have the correct identification documents. Names on IDs must exactly match those provided during registration.
Acceptable Primary IDs (with both Photo and Signature)
- Driver's licence
- Passport
- Election card / Voter ID
- PAN card
- Photo identity issued by a school, college or university
- UID / Aadhaar card
- SC/ST certificate with photograph
- Employee ID with photo and signature
Additional Requirements at the Centre
- Appointment confirmation letter received from Pearson Vue after scheduling
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled exam time
- Only original IDs accepted — photocopies not permitted
- A Casio FC 200V financial calculator is the only calculator permitted in the exam room
- Mobile phones must be switched off and kept outside the testing room
- An erasable note board and pen are provided for rough work at the centre
Late arrival of up to 30 minutes is accommodated if the test centre can still seat you; candidates arriving beyond this window may be turned away and marked as a no-show, forfeiting the examination fee.
Ready to take the first step? Fill the enquiry form below to book a free career advisory call with an AAFM India counsellor, or review the fee page to understand your full investment before you register. You can also explore the curriculum to see exactly what you will learn.
Explore every step of the Ch.E® journey
The Chartered Economist pathway is a connected set of pages — start anywhere, each links back here.
Become a Chartered Economist® — apply economics to real decisions
Give a course advisor 15 minutes and walk away with a clear plan, fee options and your next batch date — no pressure, no jargon.
Admission and Eligibility Questions
The Ch.E® programme is designed for graduates and professionals with a background in economics, management, finance, banking, statistics, mathematics or related fields. Eligible qualifications include PhD, MPhil, MBA, MA, M.Sc., B.A, B.Sc., B.Com, B.Ed. and relevant Diplomas. For exact minimum eligibility requirements applicable to your specific qualification, please contact AAFM India.
Yes. The Ch.E® is 100% online and self-paced, designed specifically for working professionals. You access the USA-ACER e-learning system on your own schedule, and exams are available at Pearson Vue centres on the 10th and 20th of every month across India and 150+ countries.
The programme can be completed in as little as six months. You must allow at least 30 days after registration before scheduling your examination through Pearson Vue. Actual duration depends on self-study pace and examination scheduling.
Examinations can be scheduled through Pearson Vue only after 30 days from the date of registration with AAFM India. You must submit the exam form and fee to AAFM India first, and on approval, Pearson Vue generates your account and sends your authorisation to test.
Candidates may retake the examination 10 days after any attempt, regardless of whether they passed or failed. Each retake requires the examination fee of Rs. 3,000. There is no stated limit on retake attempts. Results are displayed immediately on screen on exam submission.
Yes. In addition to passing the examination, candidates must submit a project within the specified time frame. On approval of the project work by AAFM India, the Ch.E® certification is formally conferred and the certificate is issued directly by AAFM USA.
Start your Ch.E® journey today
Request a call back and our counsellors will share the full syllabus, specialisations, fees, batch options and the next start date — and help you choose the right path.